Solar Thermal Active Air Heating
Active solar heating systems use solar energy to heat a fluid either liquid or air and then transfer the solar heat directly to the interior space or to a storage system for later use.
Solar thermal active air heating. During the heating cycle the trombe wall radiates stored heat. Active solar heating works under the same basic principle as passive solar. From solar pool heating systems to solar water heating systems active solar energy is a cost effective way for homeowners to take advantage of solar energy this solar energy technology is called active because you are actively gathering and using energy from the sun for your solar home heating needs. The heat could be used to heat up a thermal mass inside the building so that even when it is cloudy the mass.
The perforated cladding system figure 1 is a bare plate solar collector that uses fans to draw air through thousands of tiny holes in a layer of unglazed dark metal plating which acts as the solar absorber. Other active solar in addition to solar panels there are a number of more specialist active solar systems. If the solar system cannot provide adequate space heating an auxiliary or back up system provides the additional heat. However that s about the end of their similarity.
A pv panel powers the air circulation fan which is controlled by a simple thermostat in the conditioned space. During the ventilation cycle sunlight stores heat in the thermal mass and warms the air channel causing circulation through vents at the top and bottom of the wall. Active solar heating uses the hot rays of the sun to heat water or air which is them moved inside the building warming up the interior. The major difference between the two is that an active solar system has an active element which moves the heat from the collector and absorber to the thermal mass or.
Active solar air heating systems a more recent development use fans to draw in circulate and exhaust air. Some provide a contribution towards space heating for example by pre heating air for a warm air central heating system or contain specially designed collectors in a solar wall. That s where active solar comes in. The system provides 1500 watts equivalent heating capacity and since it comes ready to mount out of the box its designed for the diy installer.
A trombe wall is a passive solar heating and ventilation system consisting of an air channel sandwiched between a window and a sun facing thermal mass.