Wake Forest University researchers say a new solar
thermal device could deliver up to 40 percent savings to the
cost of heating
Researchers at Wake Forest University have developed a new
type of polymer solar-thermal device that combines photovoltaics
with a system that captures the Sun's infrared radiation to
generate heating. By taking advantage of both
heat and light, researchers say the device could deliver up
to 40 percent savings on the cost of heating, as well as helping
reduce power bills by producing electricity.
The hybrid cell is designed with an integrated array of clear
tubes, five millimeters (approx 1/4 inch) in diameter. Lying
flat, visible sunlight shines into the clear tube which is
filled with an oil blended with a proprietary dye, heating the
oil which then flows into a heat pump to transfer the warmth
inside a home.
Electrical current is produced via a polymer photovoltaic
sprayed onto the back of the tubes.
The result is a solar-thermal device with an impressive 30
percent conversion efficiency.
In comparison to flat solar cells, the tube design also has
the advantage of being able to capture light at oblique angles,
so it can accumulate power for a much longer stretch in the day
and be more readily integrated into building materials – it
could be produced to resemble a roofing tile for example.
The research team aims to produce a 3 foot square solar
thermal cell over the coming months, a key step in bringing the
technology closer to market.
"It's a systems approach to making your home ultra-efficient
because the device collects both solar energy and heat," said
David Carroll, Ph.D., director of the Center for Nanotechnology
and Molecular Materials at Wake Forest University. "Our
solar-thermal device takes better advantage of the broad range
of power delivered from the sun each day."
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