SOLAR THERMAL Unit

OUR SOLAR THERMAL UNIT

This unit is focused on harnessing solar energy to generate thermal energy for use in industry, residential and commercial sectors. This unit has developed some protoypes of solar energy food processing dryers as well as solar manure dryers in order to improve handling, storage and utilization of agricultural produce.

In terms of water utilization and cooking technology, solar water heaters of various capacities ranging from 100litres to over 500 litres as well as solar cookers have been developed. In the area of chicken production, the the unit pioneered research into the use of passive solar energy in poultry brooding technology

Pollution free, environmentally friendly solar energy chicken brooders have been developed . It has also developed mini size solar incubators..
Specific Activities and Programmes

• Carrying basic research on solar dryers and solar water heaters
• Mathematical modeling of solar Photo-catalytic collector for water treatment
• Installation and performance evaluation of solar water heaters in some hotels in municipal cities in the South East, Nigeria.
• Development and evaluation of a thermo-siphon driven Photo-catalytic reactor for portable water production for households.
• Optimization of the existing passive solar water heating systems in some hotels in Enugu municipal city.
• Strengthening and consolidating of research collaborations with local and international bodies.
• Hosting of an international workshop on Solar Water Heating Systems and applications in collaboration with ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE).
• Optimization of various Solar Thermal systems developed in the Centre.
• Training of Scientists, Engineers, Technologists and Technicians on the application and fabrication of solar thermal devices.
• Development and dissemination of solar thermal devices such as solar water heaters, solar dryers, solar egg incubators, solar chicken brooders, solar still, incinerators, etc.
• Development of market-ready solar photo-catalytic reactor for portable water production.
• Evaluation of air heaters with locally developed solar thermal storage mediums.
• Development of a solar refrigerator using parabolic concentrators and absorption processes.
• Acquisition of comprehensive equipment for characterization of solar thermal systems under irradiance variation, humidity stress and temperature variation.
• Development of a market-ready solar cooling system for food preservation and comfort cooling.