Application and development of solar energy in building industry and its prospects in China

Solar water pumping

A number of attempts have been made by scientists to utilize solar energy for irrigation water pumping. It is mainly a problem of conversion of heat energy available from the sun, to mechanical energy. Some ingenious methods have been devised to utilize the available energy at low temperatures. This paper reviews past efforts to develop solar thermal water pumping systems which employ either conventional pumps or unconventional pumps, and emphasizes how the system modifications were made to suit different pumping conditions and requirements.

Solar thermal water pumping systems: a review

Solar thermal-driven heat engines for water pumping have been previously reviewed for some authors in the past century. However, some devices have not been treated as metal hydride-based systems or the pumping subsystems of solar thermal-driven reverse osmosis desalination systems. Following the typical classification given in the previous literature, in this work an update of the solar heat engines for water pumping based in thermodynamic methods (conventional and unconventional) is presented. Besides small remarks about systems previously quoted by other authors, new designs found in the literature are described. In general, the main characteristics of these systems is their low efficiency, low power output and, in the case of unconventional designs, its simplicity. This work in conjunction with previous review papers make up reference point for the knowledge of the use of solar thermal energy for liquid pumping purpose.

Solar thermal heat engines for water pumping: An update

James R. Jenness

Papers

Some considerations relative to a solar-powered savery water pump

The effect of surface coatings on the solar radiation equilibrium skin temperature of an earth satellite

Recommendations and suggested techniques for the manufacture of inexpensive solar cookers

Comment on selective black coatings