Solar power is energy from the sun. Although the sun
is 150 million kilometres away it is still extremely powerful. The
amount of energy it provides for the earth in one minute is large enough
to meet the earth’s energy needs for one year. The problem is in the
development of technology that can harness this ‘free’ energy source.
Solar collectors are one way of focussing the
suns rays to heat up fluids. A typical array of solar collectors is seen
opposite. They are basically unusually shaped mirrors (parabolic in
shape) that focus the heat of the sun on a pipe carrying a special
fluid. The temperature of the fluid in the pipe increases as it flows
down the pipe, along the solar collectors. The pipe extends the entire
length of the mirrors.This type of set up works at its best in desert areas
where there is no shortage of sunlight and very little cloud. The hot
fluid in the pipe can be used, through a system of heat exchangers, to
produce electricity or hot water.
The special fluid inside the pipes can be replaced
with water. The concentrated heat from the parabolic collectors turns
the water into steam. The jet of steam is used to turn turbines
producing electricity. This system works well in desert regions due to
the hot climate.
