An up-to-date introduction to solar energy that is specifically designed for junior- and senior-level science and engineering students who want a thorough
understanding of the principles behind solar energy, as well as a solid preparation for more advanced study, this book is divided into four parts. The first three chapters deal with the sun, its apparent motion across the sky, and the insulation it provides at the earth's surface. Chapters 4 and 5 survey the principles of heat transfer and optics, and present the background material for the next two chapters. Chapters 6 and 7 cover solar heaters with applications to space heating and hot
water supply systems, and include topics such as flat plate collectors, arrays, thermal storage, and solar assisted systems. Chapters 8 and 9 discuss thermodynamic and photovoltaic conversion of solar energy to useful work. Two appendixes are included. One summarizes the formulas for the sun's motion, and the other derives approximate equations for diffuse solar flux. |
