Solar thermal & CSP


Are you interested in a tailor-made training?

The following sample training courses give an overview of possible topics we cover in our tailor-made trainings. The sample trainings can be used as basis to develop a tailor-made training for your company or organisation. If you are interested in a tailor-made training, please fill out this questionnaire and send it to Manolita Wiehl.

Manolita Wiehl
Head of Division
International Business Development and Sales
Tel: +49 (0)30 58 70870 63
Fax: +49 (0)30 58 70870 88
Email: wiehl[at]renac.de

Face-to-face training

Residential solar thermal systems: from design, to installation and operation

Residential-scale, thermosiphon, forced circulation, collector and store sizing, installation, commissioning and fault-finding
 


Content:		 
  • Introduction to solar thermal technology and applications: The energy debate focuses mainly on electrical power generation, although 50% of global energy demand is heat. Solar thermal, already very widely used, could make a huge contribution to our future clean energy mix.
  • Analysis of solar resource and site selection
  • Functionality of solar thermal collectors, storage tanks and other system components
  • Solar thermal system types (thermosiphon and forced circulation)
  • System configurations (open/closed, direct/indirect)
  • Basic system design (collector and store sizing) and system simulation using T*Sol
  • Sizing of main system components (piping, pump, expansion vessel, pressure relief valve, heat exchanger).
  • Practical installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance aspects; common faults and how to identify and remedy these
  • Controller operation
  • Project management and system economics
 

Learning objectives:		 
  • Explain how solar thermal technology has the potential to meet many of our energy demands
  • Describe different solar thermal components and system types, and their pros and consSelect the most appropriate system type and components depending on the hot water demand and application
  • Draw a system schematic with all components
  • Perform basic system design calculations and system simulation
  • Perform an economic analysis
  • Perform system commissioning and fault-finding
  • Describe critical points in the planning, installation and operation of solar thermal systems
 
Target group:

This training suits those who:

  • are involved in residential solar water heating projects who want to gain experience in designing and installing solar thermal systems
  • wish to offer their customers a “one stop shop” for residential-scale solar thermal systems
 
Duration:5 days

Large-scale solar thermal systems

Forced circulation, pressurised systems detailed, system design, component sizing/selection, installation, commissioning and fault-finding project management and economics
 


Content:		 
  • Introduction to solar thermal technology and applications: The energy debate focuses mainly on electrical power generation, although 50% of global energy demand is heat. Solar thermal, already very widely used, could make a huge contribution to our future clean energy mix.
  • Analysis of solar resource and site selection
  • Functionality of solar thermal collectors, storage tanks and other system components
  • Large-scale system configurations (open/closed, direct/indirect)
  • Basic large-scale system design (collector and store sizing) and system simulation using T*Sol
  • Detailed large-scale system design: collector array, hydraulics, piping, flow rates and pressure losses, pump, expansion vessel, pressure relief valve, heat exchanger
  • Practical installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance aspects; common faults and how to identify and remedy these
  • Controller operation
  • Project management and system economics
 

Learning objectives:		 
  • Explain how solar thermal technology has the potential to meet many of our energy demands
  • Describe large-scale solar thermal components and system types, and their pros and cons
  • Select the most appropriate system type and components depending on the hot water demand and application
  • Draw a large-scale system schematic with all components
  • Perform basic large-scale system design calculations and system simulation
  • Perform detailed large-scale system design and sizing
  • Perform an economic analysis
  • Perform system commissioning and fault-finding
  • Describe critical points in the planning, installation and operation of large-scale solar thermal systems
 
Target group:

This training suits those who:

  • wish to offer their customers a “one stop shop” for large-scale solar thermal systems
  • are involved in large-scale solar water heating projects who want to gain experience in designing and installing such systems, such as project and facility managers or energy consultants
 
Duration:5 days

Online trainings

Solar thermal - application

Flat plate collectors, evacuated tube collectors, thermosiphon, forced circulation, open and closed, direct and indirect, system components, basic system design
 


Content:		 
  • Fundamentals of solar thermal energy
  • How solar thermal works
  • Solar thermal collectors
  • System types
  • Solar thermal system components
  • Basic system sizing
  • Installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance
  • Economics
 
Learning objectives:

After completion of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Present the relevance of solar thermal in the energy mix and its basic economics
  • Explain how solar thermal systems and their system components work
  • Distinguish between different types of solar thermal systems and solar thermal collectors
  • Describe basics of system sizing, installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance
 
Target group:This training suits those who are interested in renewable energy technologies
Duration:Ca. 1 - 2 weeks
Study time:Ca. 10 hours

Planning of large-scale solar thermal systems

Collector configurations, detailed system design, system selection, component sizing and selection, commissioning, frequent faults, economics
 


Content:		 
  • Solar thermal collectors       
  • Storage cylinders and other system components               
  • System types
  • Sizing                    
  • Design example
  • Implementation
 
Learning objectives:

After completion of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Explain how large-scale solar thermal systems work and describe different system components and their respective performance standards
  • Differentiate large-scale system configurations and their area of application,
  • Manage the designing of a large-scale system and the sizing specification of components
  • Guide and supervise installation, commissioning, fault finding and maintenance
 
Target group:This training suits those who are from the energy sector, engineers, installers, building services managers
Duration:Ca. 2 - 3 weeks
Study time:Ca. 25 hours

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)

Parabolic trough, power tower, heat transfer fluids, thermal storage, technology comparison
 


Content:		 
  • Market
  • CSP Technologies
  • Other components of CSP plants
  • Comparison of CSP technologies
  • The future of CSP
  • Trigeneration
 
Learning objectives:

After completion of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Explain the functioning and global potential of concentrated solar power (CSP) plants
  • Distinguish the different CSP technologies including their functionality, current state of the technology and advantages / disadvantages
  • Describe various components of CSP plants
  • Present CSP costs and cost trends
 
Target group:This training suits those who are interested in renewable energy technologies
Duration:Ca. 1 - 2 weeks
Study time:Ca. 10 hours

Heat pumps for heating & cooling - technology & applications

Coefficient of performance, environmental parameters, application in climate zones, refrigerant fluids


Content:		 
  • Definition of a heat pump, its components and its working cycle
  • Introduction to the parameters related to environmental and financial performance
  • Existing heat pump technologies and their applications
  • Heat pumps and their application in their climate zones
  • Refrigerant fluids
 
Learning objectives:

After completion of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Describe a heat pump, including its components and working cycle,
  • Classify different heat pump working modes,
  • Evaluate efficiencies, to compare technologies and use cases,
  • Explain and evaluate economic and environmental parameters,
  • Describe different heat pump technologies, and their applications in terms of their performance and use in different climate zones and
  • Classify refrigeration fluids according to their application, global warming potential, and method of disposal.
 
Target group:

This training suits those who

  • Need a comprehensive overview of the operating principles for heat pumps used for cooling and heating,
  • Would like to get an overview on heat pump applications and costs
  • Want to get information about the environmental impact of heat pumps
 
Duration:Ca. 2 - 3 weeks
Study time:Ca. 15 hours

Solar thermal - thermosiphon systems


Content:		 
  • Potential of solar energy and physics of thermosiphon systems
  • Collectors, system configurations, solar storage tanks, system components and where they are used
  • Installation
  • Stagnation and system design
  • System commissioning and frequent faults and errors
  • Solar thermal market and economics
  • Best practice: Macaw Lodge, Costa Rica
 
Learning objectives:

After completion of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Explain the physical principle of the thermosiphon effect
  • Name thermosiphon systems components
  • Compare different system configurations
  • Identify different installation options
  • Optimise system performance
  • Avoid typical mistakes
  • Describe the market situation
 
Target group:This training suits those who are from the energy sector, engineers, installers, building services managers
Duration:Ca. 2 - 3 weeks
Study time:Ca. 25 hours