The role of solar air heaters in the heat power industry and the prospects of their development in the Republic of Uzbekistan

The article presents the world forecast for the development of the heat and power industry for the production of heat and electricity. It is noted that the increase in the production of types of energy is associated not only with an increase in the consumption of fossil fuels, but also with the deterioration of the environmental situation. Taking into account the foreign experience of using solar installations producing thermal energy and favorable climatic conditions of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the prospects of using solar air heaters for heating existing residential buildings were discussed. providing residential buildings and drying plants with heat energy without expensive constructive and technological solutions, as well as carrying out rapid heating of premises. Such a collector, despite the fact that the air has a lower heat capacity, can provide an even distribution of heat, it is well regulated both in temperature and in the amount of air supplied. In addition, collectors operating under natural convection conditions can be successfully combined with a traditional heating system.

At the same time, the article also shows a positive experience of using air heaters in drying technology. In particular, an industrial prototype of a solar air heater was used to dry the windings of transformers used in pumping stations of irrigation systems for the water sector of the Republic. It is shown that the use of air heaters allows saving not only significant fuel, energy and monetary resources, but also strengthening the energy security of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

SUMMARY

On the article "The role of solar heaters in the thermal energy industry and the prospects for their development in the Republic of Uzbekistan"

The article discusses the use of solar heaters in the conditions of the Republic of Uzbekistan during the heating season to support traditional heating systems.

As is well known, solar energy is the most prepared form of all existing alternative energy sources, which can be used, partial and in some cases completely, as a replacement to the heating system in the residential or public buildings. More acceptable devices that provide this heating can be considered solar air heaters.

Such a collector, despite air’s low heat capacity, can provide an even distribution of heat, well-regulated both by temperature and by the amount of air supplied. The Republic of Uzbekistan is in a favorable geographical area for such collector because solar energy in the country can be practically used for 10 months of the year, of course, considering the variable nature of solar insolation. 

The author of the article shows that with the volume of housing stock of Uzbekistan at 507,5 million m2 (private housing fund is 504,1 million m2 as of January 1, 2018), 4 months’ heating cost during the heating season can make up 4,6 trillion soums.

Preliminary calculations show that the use of solar air heaters in buildings heating systems, at least as an auxiliary source of thermal energy, provides significant savings in natural gas.

For example, during the coldest months in the country – December and January- the savings can comprise 0,26 to 0,23 trillion soums. The article presents an experimental sample of the solar air heater, as well as describes the positive results of using solar air heaters for drying transformer windings.