Definition

Noun: A device designed to absorb sunlight and convert it into heat energy. A solar collector typically consists of a surface that captures solar radiation, often using a system to transfer the collected heat to a fluid or air for practical use, such as heating water or spaces.

Usage

A "solar collector" is a technical term for a key component in solar thermal systems. It is used to describe the apparatus that gathers and retains solar energy as heat. - The house uses a solar collector on the roof to heat water for the showers. - Installing a solar collector can significantly reduce energy bills for heating a swimming pool.

Advanced Usage

• "Flat-plate solar collector": A common type of collector consisting of an insulated, weatherproofed box containing a dark absorber plate under a transparent cover.
  • A flat-plate solar collector is efficient for domestic hot water systems.
• "Evacuated-tube solar collector": A more efficient type featuring rows of parallel glass tubes, each containing an absorber tube within a vacuum.
  • For higher temperature applications, an evacuated-tube solar collector is often recommended.

Variants and Related Words

• Solar thermal collector: A more precise, synonymous term.
• Collector: In technical contexts, "collector" can be used as a short form when the solar application is clear from context.
• Solar panel: While often used interchangeably in casual speech, "solar panel" more accurately refers to photovoltaic panels that generate electricity, not heat.

Synonyms

• Solar thermal device
• Sun trap (informal)

Related Phrases

• Solar collector system: Refers to the complete setup, including the collector, pumps, storage tank, and controls.
  • The efficiency of a solar collector system depends on proper installation and sunlight availability.
• Solar collector efficiency: A measure of how effectively a collector converts sunlight into usable heat.
  • The engineer discussed ways to improve the solar collector efficiency.

Related Concepts

• Renewable energy: Energy from sources that are naturally replenished, like sunlight, which solar collectors harness.
• Insolation: The amount of solar radiation reaching a given area, a critical factor for solar collector performance.

Noun

1. a concave mirror that concentrates the rays of the sun; can produce high temperatures