Definition

Noun: A solar thermal system is a technology designed to capture energy from sunlight and convert it directly into usable heat. This heat is typically used for space heating, to provide hot water, or for industrial processes. Unlike photovoltaic systems that convert sunlight into electricity, a solar thermal system directly harnesses the sun's thermal energy.

Usage

A solar thermal system is used to describe the complete installation and technology for solar heating. It is a countable noun. - The homeowner installed a solar thermal system to reduce their dependence on gas for hot water. - A well-designed solar thermal system can provide over 60% of a building's annual hot water needs.

Advanced Usage

• Active vs. Passive Systems: An active solar thermal system uses pumps and controllers to circulate a heat-transfer fluid, while a passive system relies on natural convection and requires no mechanical components.
  • For their new build, they opted for an active solar thermal system with integrated smart controls.
• Concentrating Solar Thermal (CST): This refers to large-scale systems that use mirrors or lenses to concentrate sunlight onto a small receiver to generate high-temperature heat, often for electricity generation.
  • The power plant uses a concentrating solar thermal system to produce steam for its turbines.

Variants and Related Words

• Solar Thermal Collector (n): The specific component, often a panel or tube, that absorbs solar radiation and converts it to heat.
  • Flat-plate and evacuated tube collectors are the two main types of solar thermal collectors.
• Solar Water Heater (n): A common application of solar thermal technology specifically for domestic hot water.
  • Their solar water heater is part of a larger solar thermal system that also pre-heats water for the radiators.

Synonyms

• Solar Heating System: A general term often used interchangeably with solar thermal system.
• Solar Thermal Collector Array: Refers specifically to the assembly of collectors, which is the core part of the system.

Related Phrases

• Solar Thermal Energy: The form of energy harnessed by the system.
  • The project aims to increase the use of solar thermal energy in the district heating network.
• Solar Thermal Efficiency: A measure of how effectively a system converts sunlight into heat.
  • The key to a cost-effective installation is high solar thermal efficiency even in diffuse light conditions.

Noun

1. a system that converts sunlight into heat