| Preface | ix |
1 | Introduction to Solar Energy Conversion | 1 |
| Availability of Solar Energy | 4 |
| Limitations of Solar Energy | 6 |
| The Economics of Solar Systems | 11 |
| References and Suggested Readings | 12 |
2 | Fundamentals of Solar Radiation | 13 |
| The Physics of the Sun and Its Energy Transport | 13 |
| Thermal Radiation Fundamentals | 14 |
| Sun-Earth Geometric Relationship | 22 |
| Solar Radiation | 39 |
| Estimation of Terrestrial Solar Radiation | 43 |
| Models Based on Long-Term Measured Horizontal Solar Radiation | 55 |
| Measurement of Solar Radiation | 63 |
| Solar Radiation Mapping Using Satellite Data | 71 |
| Problems | 75 |
| References and Suggested Readings | 77 |
3 | Methods of Solar Collection and Thermal Conversion | 81 |
| Radiative Properties and Characteristics of Materials | 82 |
| Flat Plate Collectors | 89 |
| Concentrating Solar Collectors | 120 |
| Solar Concentrator Summary | 161 |
| Problems | 166 |
| References and Suggested Readings | 169 |
4 | Thermal Energy Storage and Transport | 173 |
| Thermal Energy Storage (TES) | 173 |
| Types of Thermal Energy Storage | 176 |
| Design of Storage System | 180 |
| Energy Transport Subsystems | 187 |
| Problems | 207 |
| References and Suggested Readings | 208 |
5 | Solar-Heating Systems | 211 |
| Calculations of Heating and Hot Water Loads in Buildings | 211 |
| Solar Water Heating Systems | 222 |
| Liquid-Based Solar-Heating Systems for Buildings | 227 |
| Solar Air-Heating Systems | 236 |
| Methods of Modeling and Design of Solar Heating Systems | 244 |
| Problems | 254 |
| References and Suggested Readings | 256 |
6 | Solar Colling and Dehumidification | 259 |
| Solar Space Cooling and Refrigeration | 259 |
| Solar Desiccant Dehumidification | 284 |
| Summary | 290 |
| Problems | 290 |
| References and Suggested Readings | 294 |
7 | Passive Methods for Heating, Cooling, and Daylighting | 297 |
| Introduction | 297 |
| Passive Space-Heating Systems | 298 |
| Passive Space-Cooling Systems | 307 |
| Daylighting Fundamentals | 316 |
| Problems | 333 |
| References and Suggested Readings | 335 |
8 | Solar Thermal Power and Process Heat | 337 |
| Historical Perspective | 337 |
| Solar Industrial Process Heat | 340 |
| Examples of SIPH Systems | 342 |
| Long-Term Performance of SIPH Systems | 350 |
| TRNSYS-Computer Simulation Program | 359 |
| Thermal Power | 359 |
| Examples of Rankine Solar Thermal Power Plants | 372 |
| Stirling Cycle | 376 |
| Solar Distillation of Saline Water | 393 |
| Nonconvecting Solar Ponds | 398 |
| Problems | 405 |
| References and Suggested Readings | 408 |
9 | Photovoltaics | 411 |
| Semiconductors | 412 |
| Analysis of Photovoltaic Cells | 419 |
| Manufacture of Solar Cells and Panels | 430 |
| Design for Remote Photovoltaic Applications | 434 |
| Problems | 443 |
| References and Suggested Readings | 446 |
10 | Solar Photochemical Applications | 447 |
| Photocatalytic Reactions | 447 |
| Solar Photocatalytic Detoxification | 451 |
| Solar Reactors | 452 |
| Kinetic Models | 459 |
| Useful Insolation | 465 |
| Catalyst Development | 466 |
| System Design Methodology | 467 |
| Gas Phase Photocatalytic Detoxification | 472 |
| Commercial/Industrial Applications | 473 |
| Solar Disinfection of Water and Air | 476 |
| Summary | 477 |
| Problems | 477 |
| References and Suggested Readings | 478 |
11 | Capturing Solar Energy Through Biomass | 483 |
| Introduction | 483 |
| Biomass Feedbacks | 484 |
| Thermodynamic Calculations for Biomass Energy | 492 |
| Conversion of Biomass to Gaseous Fuels | 501 |
| Liquid Fuels from Biomass | 507 |
| Conversion of Biomass to Electricity | 513 |
| Economic Assessments | 520 |
| Problems | 523 |
| References and Suggested Readings | 524 |
12 | Introduction to Economic Analysis | 527 |
| Overview of Solar Economics | 527 |
| Life-Cycle Costing | 528 |
| Principles of Discounted Cash-Flow Analysis | 529 |
| Solar-System Life-Cycle Costs | 536 |
| Cost-Benefit Analysis and Optimization | 544 |
| Problems | 559 |
| References | 561 |
| Appendixes | 563 |
| Index | 681 |