Heat pipes application to solar energy systems

Abstract

Today widespread application of energy-saving equipment based on heat pipes makes a significant contribution to the task of resources saving. Using the heat pipes as heat transfer and heat exchange design elements allows creating new effective equipment generation for solar energy systems. Heat pipes are widely used both to improve the outdated equipment, increase its efficiency, reliability and lifetime and in the creation of new high-quality and economic technology samples. Up to the present day there are the following systems and solar energy equipment where heat pipes are widely used: photovoltaic-thermal solar collectors, solar thermal collectors, concentrating photovoltaic and concentrating solar plant. The article presents an analysis of the current state and prospects of heat pipes using in solar energy systems.