A review of the state-of-the-art of solar thermal collectors applied in the industry

Abstract

The energy consumption associated with the industry sector represents 38% of the global energy demand, being an important aspect that marks the development of a country. In this sense, it is extremely important to diversify the different energy sources and incorporate the use of renewable energy sources, such as solar energy, not only with the idea of ensuring energy supply, but also as elements that enable the reduction of energy emissions generated by the use of fossil fuels. This work addresses the main solar collector technologies that may be incorporated into different types of industries, based on experiences and research in other countries. Based on this review, it has been seen that an important part of the industries worldwide requires temperatures up to 250 °C in their processes, which makes suitable the use of solar energy technology. Depending on each industry, flat plate, vacuum tube, Fresnel type or parabolic trough solar collectors may be used. Finally, the savings associated with some facilities are detailed and the challenges related to this sector are addressed.