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History of Thermosolar Energy
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In China and ancient Greece, people used solar rays with
mirrors or glass to light fires.
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In wartime, this same technique was used to set enemy
ships on fire.
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In the beginning of the 20th century, simple machines had
been invented which were able to function thanks to the
concentration of solar heat.
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In 1913, the American Franck Shuman developed the first
thermosolar punt station Meadi, Egypt. This system functio-
ned with 5 large reflectors, each measuring about 62 me-
tres in length, with glass mirrors forming a parabolic-shaped
cylinder. Each reflector concentrated sunlight through a tube
along its length, heating the water inside. The steam that
was generated fed an engine connected to a pump. This
system was able to distribute 6,000 gallons of water per mi-
nute from the Nile River to nearby sites.
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The modern history of thermosolar energy began in the se-
venties coinciding with the oil crisis. Former U.S. President
Jimmy Carter promoted the use of Solar Energy Generating
Systems (SEGS) and decided to install thermal solar collec-
tors on the rooftop to heat water at the White House.
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The first SEGS was built in California in 1984. This type of
plants functions with a parabolic-cylinder collector system.
SEGS consist of a solar field of parallel parabolic cylinder co-
llectors connected in series in order to convert solar energy
into thermal energy, thereby heating the oil flowing through
the absorbent tubes of the solar collectors. The hot oil is sent
to a heat exchanger which generates overheated steam that
turns on the turbo alternator thereby producing electricity.