Solar panels for heat have been around for about a hundred years and in that time they have developed by a process of continuous improvement. The solar panels that you can buy today are, in many cases, very different from ones that were used 20 years ago. Some manufacturers have not improved the panels at all while others have made tremendous strides, so if you are in the market for solar panels for water or pool or space heating look for the latest panel type.
At the heart of every good panel is the absorber. This is the black looking surface which reacts to light to generate heat energy. On every panel there is such a surface which when light strikes it there absorber’s surface molecules vibrate, which causes friction. Friction creates heat and thus the process of vibration turns the energy in light into heat, which is captured by the panels.
There are different types of absorber surface. (more…)
Filed under: carbon emissions, climate change, energy, global warming, heat, microgeneration, solar energy, solar panels | Tagged: absorber coatings, alumium oxide, black chrome, black paint, differences in absorbers, heat demand, how solar panels work, titanium oxide | 10 Comments »
