Solar Pool Heating

Low temperature solar thermal technologies, especially those that do not generate electricity, rely on the scientific principles behind the Greenhouse Effect to generate heat. Electromagnetic radiation from the Sun, including visible and infrared wavelengths, penetrates into the collector that is absorbed by the surfaces inside the collector. Once the radiation is absorbed by the surfaces within the collector, the temperature rises. This increase in temperature can be used to heat swimming pools.

Solar Pool Heating

Solar pool heaters are one of the simplest methods of solar heating. A large area of unglazed pipes (usually black to increase adsorption of solar energy) is positioned on the north facing side of the roof (see Figure 1). Pool water is pumped through the collector gaining heat as it travels through the piping. A relatively large area of piping, typically half the surface area of the pool, is required due to the low thermal efficiency of the unglazed piping. Glazing the pipe work, whilst increasing the thermal efficiency, is not cost effective as only a small temperature rise is required.

Low Temperature Solar Thermal Technologies in Australia

For some of the research in solar thermal technologies in Australia click here

Further Information

RISE Resources - Information regarding available renewable energy resources.

RISE Technologies - An extensive collection of information regarding renewable energy technologies.

RISE Applications & System Design - Renewable energy application information and system designs.

RISE System Displays - Case studies and information on installed renewable energy systems & performance data.

The Energy Resources Institute – Solar Thermal

The Solarserver – Solar Thermal Technologies in the United States

Australian National University – Solar Thermal Energy Research

Wikipedia – Solar Energy

Renewable Energy Commercialisation in Australia – Solar Thermal

References

None.