Advances in Solar Energy Technology

1 Solar Cookers.- 1.1 Introduction.- 1.2 History of solar cookers.- 1.3 Solar cooking.- 1.4 Types of solar cooker.- 1.5 Direct or focussing type solar cooker.- 1.6 Indirect or box type solar cooker.- 1.7 Advanced solar cookers.- 1.8 Performance of solar cookers.- 1.9 Testing of solar cooker.- References.- 2 Solar Desalination.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 History.- 2.3 Single effect basin type solar still.- 2.4 Tilted tray solar still.- 2.5 Wick type solar still.- 2.6 Multiple effect diffusion solar still.- 2.7 Multistage flash distillation.- References.- 3 Solar Food Drying.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 History of solar drying.- 3.3 Basics of solar drying.- 3.4 Types of solar dryers.- 3.5 Theory and simulation models.- 3.6 Energy requirements for grain drying.- References.- 4 Solar Powered Water Pump.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 History of solar pumps.- 4.3 Components of solar energy pumps.- 4.4 Typical solar pump systems.- References.- 5 Solar Greenhouses.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 History.- 5.3 Basics of plant growth.- 5.4 Greenhouse design.- 5.5 Energy conservation techniques.- 5.6 Heating and cooling of greenhouses.- 5.7 Typical greenhouse designs.- 5.8 Performance prediction of crop yield and thermal environment in greenhouse.- References.- 6 Solar Cells.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 History.- 6.3 Fundamentals of photovoltaic conversion.- 6.4 Efficiency losses.- 6.5 Efficiency of solar cell.- 6.6 Basic modelling of solar cells.- 6.7 Silicon solar cells.- 6.8 Gallium arsenide solar cells.- 6.9 CdS/Cu2S solar cells.- 6.10 Cadmium telluride solar cell.- 6.11 Photovoltaic sunlight concentrators.- References.- Appendices.- Appendix 1 Conversion factors.- Appendix 2 Physical properties of some solid materials.- Appendix 3 Physical properties of some building and insulating materials..- Appendix 4 Physical properties of some liquids..- Appendix 5 Physical properties of some liquid metals..- Appendix 6 Physical properties of saturated water..- Appendix 7 Physical properties of saturated steam..- Appendix 8 Physical properties of some gases..- Appendix 9 Physical properties of dry air at atmospheric pressure..- Apprndix 10 Freezing points of aqueous solutions..- Appendix 11 Properties of typical refrigerants..- Appendix 12 Extraterrestrial solar spectral irradiance at mean Sun-Earth distance..- Author Index.