Here in this article passive solar energy examples,their applications,types and detailed facts are going to be illustrated.
Passive solar energy system basically depends upon its walls,roofs,windows and thermodynamics to collect,store,reflect and disseminate heat. It does not need any other mechanical equipment to collect and store heat like active solar energy. It helps in heating smaller houses like green houses.
20+Passive solar energy examples,their applications,types and detailed facts are written below
- Heat storage
- Insulation
- Double Glazing window
- Equator facing glass
- Roof angle glass and skylights
- Angle of incidence of solar energy
- Operable shading and insulation devices
- Materials and colours reflecting and absorbing
- Sustainable gardening
- Sustainable landscaping
- Sustainable landscape architecture
- Passive solar lighting systems
- Passive solar water heating systems
- Skyscrapers
- Direct passive solar systems
- Indirect passive solar systems
- Thermal storage walls
- Solar roof systems
- Hybrid direct or indirect passive solar systems
- Isolated passive solar systems
Passive solar energy system can not perform well in places where the weather is rainy or cloudy. In a greenhouse the sunlight enters at the daytime through the glass walls of the house and keeps the weather warm inside the house. The glass walls work like an insulator and traps the heat inside the house. So even in winter the weather inside the greenhouse remains warm.
Passive solar energy applications
Heat storage
Sunlight cannot be obtained for a whole day hence its energy should be preserved to maintain warm weather inside a building. It needs thermal walls, a concrete floor,a cistern and a waterfall. This heat storage is also known as thermal mass which is used in subarctic regions where sunlight cannot be obtained for long terms.
Insulation
Insulation from heat energy is done in passive solar systems in order to curb the leakage of heat. Passive solar buildings use this insulation process sometimes.
Double Glazing window
A window that is built by insulating glass is known as a double glazing window. There are two or more window panes that have a space in between them to stop heat flow across the window panes. This space sometimes is filled with argon that gives a good insulation effect. This is one of the well known passive solar energy examples.
Other than that different gasses or vacuum is also used to fill this space.
Equator facing glass
This is also one of important passive solar energy examples. Reflective coatings of the windows and uses of multiple panes of a window decreases effective passive solar energy.
Roof angle glass and skylights
Skylights are used to increase the intensity of the solar energy. It depends upon the angle of incidence of the roof. In the winter season the sun remains low in the horizon making the angle of incidence of the roof parallel to the glass in the morning and afternoon. For this reason maximum energy reflects off.
In summer the angle of incidence of the roof remains perpendicular to the glass which in turn helps in obtaining the maximum solar energy.
Angle of incidence of solar energy
The amount of solar energy that is obtained by us depends upon the angle of incidence of the solar energy. Computer software that is based on passive solar energy helps in detecting the best combinations of angle of incidence and the maximum energy obtained.
Operable shading and insulation devices
Equator facing glasses transfers more heat on winter day and night. Heat that is stored on the surface of the earth is the reason behind thermal lag. These shading and insulation devices can be operated and controlled by automation systems that have the capabilities of monitoring temperature ,time, performance of solar energy etc.
Materials and colours reflecting and absorbing
To what extent passive solar energy can be absorbed is also determined by the exterior colours. Materials and colours absorb and reflect solar energy.
Sustainable gardening
These types of gardening do not cause harm to nature and culture. Precautionary measures are followed by them. This used to use conservation and preservation hierarchy. They also use a collaborative and ethical approach.
Sustainable landscaping
It is designed to keep balance with climate and environment. It is eco-friendly in nature. It usually prevents air,water and soil pollution and reduces wastes. Resources and energy are conserved in this type of landscaping.
Sustainable landscape architecture
In this type of architecture economic well being, social equity and environmental protections are maintained.
Passive solar lighting systems
These systems help in getting natural light and reduce the use of artificial lights. A building should be designed in a proper way and windows should be made at the right places to collect light.
A drawback of this system is many windows can lead to excessive heat absorption or excessive heat loss.
Passive solar water heating systems
Passive solar energy can be used in many ways to heat water for domestic purposes. These types of systems do not use pumps or any other electrical or mechanical equipment to collect or store heat. They are very cost effective in nature.
Skyscrapers
Passive solar energy techniques are being used in the skyscrapers. The large surface areas of the skyscrapers are used to increase their efficiency. Thermal mass is used to stop fluctuations of temperature inside the building. This is one of the most important passive solar energy examples.
Types of passive solar energy
There are four types of passive solar energy that are written below
Direct passive solar systems
The space inside a direct type passive solar system acts as the collector,absorber and distributor of heat. In this type of a system more thermal mass is required to prevent fluctuations of temperature within a building.
Indirect passive solar systems
The thermal mass located in this type of a system stops solar radiation from entering the building and there is no direct heating in this. There are two types of indirect passive solar systems.
Thermal storage walls
This is one type of indirect passive solar system. These walls are usually located behind the south facing glass. They absorb the heat indirectly and release it within the building at night.
Solar roof systems
This is another type of indirect passive solar system. It is mostly used in desert environments to manage the temperature of water stored on the roof. This is another one of most important passive solar energy examples.
Hybrid direct or indirect passive solar systems
In this type of a system solar radiation is not stopped from being entered into the building. Sunlight can enter through double glazed windows.
Isolated passive solar systems
In this type of a solar system the indoor space of a building is completely isolated from the collector and storage of heat.
Also, please click to know about 20+ Biomass Energy Examples.
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Hi…I am Ankita Biswas. I have done my B.Sc in physics Honours and my M.Sc in Electronics. Currently, I am working as a Physics teacher in a Higher Secondary School. I am very enthusiastic about the high-energy physics field. I love to write complicated physics concepts in understandable and simple words.