b. Solar Thermal

Solar thermal is the technology that utilizes the heat energy from the sun for heating or for electricity production. The difference from PV is that solar thermal power plant generates electricity indirectly. The heat from the sun’s ray is collected and used to heat a fluid and the steam produced from the heated fluid powers a generator that produces electricity. For this laboratory, De Lorenzo has designed some trainers that can satisfy many requests. One of them is a basic system with small components enclosed in a case, as for the solar PV system, and it is addressed for those who want to learn the basics of solar thermal technology. There are other three big identical systems that differ only with the solar panel: one with a real solar panel, one with a simulator and one with both and all have a main module, a convector heater and software for data acquisition from the solar controller and processing. They are dedicated to schools, high schools and first years of university.