Researchers Create a Sollar Collector That Does Not Lose Heat

The device was developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It differs from the previous models in one small detail.

Many country house owners are interested in alternative energy sources including sun energy. Today, there are two types of devices powered by the sun: the first one is represented by well-known power generating solar panels and the second one by solar collectors focusing sun light for direct heating of water.

The main problem of such collectors is that they lose the accumulated heat over time. The solution has been recently found by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

A collector consists of reflectors directing sunlight onto the heat-absorbing material. Between these two parts of the device there is a glass layer helping to keep the accumulated heat, although some of it still gets lost to the environment.

The solution proved to be rather simple: glass needed to be replaced with an aerogel layer that lets in a large amount of light, but almost does not let out any heat. The innovation was successfully tested on the roof of the institute and showed excellent results.