Technology

Solar Thermal Energy Systems are inherently more efficient than PV (photovoltaic) systems as well as being the most well developed and widely used of all solar technologies.

Our high performance solar collectors can heat water to as much as 205°F. Our Absorption Chillers use this hot water, and not electricity, to produce cooling.

We have successfully operated three solar thermal air conditioning systems in Sacramento for over 20 years. Absorption Chillers, which have no moving parts, have been known to operate continuously for over 40 years with little maintenance.

A “cool” thing about our equipment is that it produces more cooling in the early afternoon, just as the day gets hotter. As the temperature rises, so does the chiller’s capacity.

Absorption Chillers

The basic principle of a heat-driven absorption chiller and a conventional air-conditioner are the same. The cooling effect is achieved by evaporation of a refrigerant at a lower pressure; condensing the refrigerant at a higher pressure rejects the heat. The conventional air-conditioner accomplishes this by electric energy while an absorption chiller uses heat energy and the chemical affinity of water for a salt (Lithium Bromide). Read more.

Evacuated Tube Collectors

Because the absorption chiller requires hot water at temperatures up to 205o F, we recommend that evacuated tube collectors be used in our systems. An array of these collectors is constructed on your building’s roof. Read more.

System Schematic

This is a general representation of our system showing all of the major components. Heat from the sun is collected and stored as very hot water in a tank. Think of this hot water tank as the system’s fuel tank, which is replenished every sunny day. Read more.