Entry requirements

120 credits in science/engineering, including thermodynamics.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• explain the technical and physical principles of solar collectors and solar thermal systems,
• describe solar collector components uding analytical models and use these to evaluate collector performance,
• design solar collectors and solar thermal systems using computerised tools,
• present, in English, technological and socio-economical issues on solar collectors in a concise and comprehensible way.

Content

Solar radiation theory, including the properties of sunlight and the spectral distribution of sunlight. Optical and thermo-dynamical properties of solar collectors. Efficiency and useful energy gain of a solar collector. Solar thermal system design for different applications. Main system components, including storage and load. System analysis using computerised tools.

Instruction

Lectures, teaching sessions, computer labs and group project.

Assessment

Written examination at the end of the course (3 credits) as well as active participation in computer labs and project work (2 credits).

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding targeted pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.

Other directives

The course can not be included in the same degree as 1TE028 or 1TE206, Solar Energy - Technology and Systems.