Module description

Solar Thermal Systems

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency - Management, Engineering and Application, Master (PO-2026)

Unique module number	ETechn-9130-M
Module number / code	W-UK-04
Module name	Solar Thermal Systems
Type of module	Elective module
Learning outcomes, acquired competencies and qualification goals	After the successful participation in the course Solar Thermal Cooling the students are able to: understand the use of solar thermal energy for air conditioning analyze the size of solar thermal plants for air conditioning (as components and as total system) and the connection of the system to the building After the successful participation in the course Concentrated Solar Thermal Systems the students are able to: reflect the fundamental characteristics and capabilities as well as impacts of concentrating solar power (CSP) stations within national electricity supply schemes understand the fundamentals of international cooperation for solar electricity export and long-distance transmission assess the technical and economic potential of CSP in a country and to identify the best sites for project development
Course types	VLmP (2 SWS); VLmP (2 SWS)
Content	Solar Thermal Cooling Solar thermal cooling and solar thermal assisted air conditioning: space cooling and refrigeration cooling and dehumidification energy demand for cooling and dehumidification Fundamentals and basics of absorption cooling: energy and mass balance of absorption cycle, solution field thermodynamics and efficiency working pairs enthalpy-concentration chart Basics of cooling towers, humid air, cooling tower concepts: wet cooling towers/dry cooling towers absorption cycles using LiBr-water or other working pairs like NH3-water and organic pairs, cycle schematic Balances of the components: evaporator, condenser, absorber, desorber, solution heat exchanger, pump, expansion valves figures of merit, performance coefficient, pump work ratio, design and technical details typical component design, crystallisation prevention, maintenance of vacuum System integration, control, characteristic equation, buffer and storage tanks, solar fraction, primary energy rate, water consumption, economics; state of the art of absorption chilliers and new developments Solid sorption, basics of absorption cooling, energy and mass balance of absorption cycle, thermodynamics and efficiency; working pairs, Silicagel-water, Zeolite-water, Ammonium salts, state of the art and new developments Further thermally driven cooling systems: open desiccant systems, solid desiccant systems, basics, design, working pairs, application, liquid desiccant systems, basics, design, working pairs Application: jet-cycle systems, double-effect absorption cycle, examples of installed systems Concentrated Solar Thermal Systems Fundamentals: solar meteorology principles of solar electricity generation fluctuating and balancing power, storability short and long-term reserve capacity environmental impacts of CSP plants Assessment of CSP potentials: mapping and time series of direct-normal irradiance (DNI) mapping of site characteristics with geographic information systems simplified modelling of CSP performance mapping and evaluation of CSP potentials Creating scenarios for sustainable electricity: target definition and sustainability quantify the perspectives of electricity demand quantify renewable electricity potentials other electricity sources how to match time series of electricity load and supply, technical and economic learning curves least cost optimization Concentrating solar power for seawater desalination: water demand perspectives in the Middle East and North Africa concepts for solar powered seawater desalination scenarios for sustainable freshwater supply economic and environmental impacts Trans-Mediterranean interconnection: CSP in the European electricity mix opportunities of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) long-term perspectives of CSP in Europe MENA and worldwide economic and environmental impacts
Title of courses	Solar Thermal Cooling Concentrated Solar Thermal Systems
Teaching and learning methods	lecture (Solar Thermal Cooling) lecture (Concentrated Solar Thermal Systems)
Usabilitiy in other programs
Duration	1 Semester
Frequency of module offer	annually in summer semester
Teaching language	English
Recommended (knowledge) prerequisites
Required prerequisites for participation	none
Student workload	120 hours (60 h course attendance, 60 h self-study)
Required course work	none
Prerequisites for examination(s)	none
Module examination(s)	Examination P1: Solar Thermal Cooling - written exam (90 min) Grade weighting P1: 50% Examination P2: Concentrated Solar Thermal Systems - written exam (90 min) or report (5-6 pages) Grade weighting P2: 50%
Credit points (ECTS)	4 cp
Teaching unit	Elektrotechnik
Responsible person	Prof. Dahlhaus
Lecturer(s)	Salman Ajib, Adel Khalil
Media used	black board and beamer, lectures and power point presentations
Recommended literature	J.A. Duffie and W.A. Beckman, Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes, Wiley, 3rd edition, 2006. H.-M. Henning, Solar-Assisted Air-Conditioning in Buildings: A Handbook for Planners, Springer; 2nd edition, 2007. Lecture notes on Solar Thermal Systems I. Concentrating Solar Power for the Mediterranean Region, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, Section Systems Analysis & Technology Assessment, 2005, downloadable from www.dlr.de/tt/med-csp. Trans-Mediterranean Interconnection for Concentrating Solar Power, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, Section Systems Analysis & Technology Assessment, 2006, downloadable from www.dlr.de/tt/trans-csp Concentrating Solar Power for Seawater Desalination, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, Section Systems Analysis & Technology Assessment, 2007, downloadable from www.dlr.de/tt/aqua-csp Selection of published papers on concentrated solar thermal power will be announced.
Comments	4 cp (2cp - Solar Thermal Cooling; 2 cp - Concentrated Solar Thermal Systems)