Methods of collecting and storing solar energy vary depending on the uses plan for the solar generator. In general, there are three types of collectors and many forms of storage units. (1). Flat-plate collectors. (2) Focusing collectors. (3) Passive collectors.
Flat-plate collectors are the most commonly used type of collector today.
They are arrays for solar panels arranged in a simple plane. They can be of nearly any size and have an output that is directly related to a few variables including size, facing and cleanliness. These variables all affect the amount of radiation that falls on the collector. Often these collector panels have automated machinery that keeps them facing the sun. The additional energy they take is due to the correction of facing more than compensates for the energy needed to drive the extra machinery.
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Focusing collectors are essentially flat-plate collectors with optical devices arranged to maximize the radiation falling on the focus of the collector. These are currently used only in a few scattered areas. Solar furnaces are examples of this type of collector. Although they can produce far greater amounts of energy at a single point than the flat-plane collectors can, they lose some of the radiation that the flat-plane panels do not.
Radiation reflected off the ground will be used by flat-plane panels but usually will be ignored by focusing collectors. One other problem with focusing collectors in general is due to temperatures. The fragile silicon components that absorb the incoming radiation lose efficiency at high temperatures, and if they get too hot they can even be permanently damaged. The focusing collectors by their very nature can create much higher temperature and need more safeguards to protect their silicon components.
Passive collectors are completely different from the other two types of solar energy collectors. The passive collectors absorb radiation and convert it to heat naturally without being designed and built to do so. All objects have this property to some extent but only some objects (like walls) will be able to produce enough heat to make it worthwhile. Often their natural ability to convert radiation to heat is enhanced in some way or another (by being painted black, for example) and a system for transferring the heat to a different location is generally added.
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