Solhotair

Heat directly from the sun

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Solhotair is a company developing air solar collectors that convert solar radiation directly into thermal energy. The air heated in the collector can then be used for heating and ventilating buildings as well as in drying processes. The solution can be applied in industrial and warehouse buildings, public facilities, farms, and installations designed for drying biomass, grain, wood, fruit, or herbs, among others. The collectors can be mounted on building walls and roofs or form part of autonomous solar dryers.

A key element of the technology is the way air is conducted through the collector. Using turbulent flow instead of classic laminar flow increases air contact with the heated absorber surface and allows solar energy to be transferred more effectively to the heated air stream.

WHAT NEEDS DOES THE INNOVATION ADDRESS?

Heating buildings and drying processes in industry and agriculture require significant amounts of thermal energy, which in many cases is still generated using fossil fuels. At the same time, solar energy can be used not only for electricity production but also directly for heat generation.

Air solar collectors enable thermal energy to be obtained without an intermediate electricity production stage. During periods of sunshine, the system can supply fresh, filtered, and heated air to the building interior or support the drying process of products requiring large amounts of heat.

According to Solhotair data, the use of collectors can reduce annual thermal energy expenditure by an average of approximately 30–40%. Actual savings will depend on sunshine conditions, building characteristics, operating method, and installation configuration, among other factors.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES

The most important distinguishing feature of Solhotair technology is the high efficiency of solar energy conversion to thermal energy. The collectors achieve efficiency of up to 83%, and this result has been confirmed in studies by Fraunhofer Institut für Solare Energiesysteme ISE in Freiburg. The result is also confirmed by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development.

High efficiency is achieved in part through the use of a vortex generator, which forces turbulent air flow inside the collector. The solution increases contact between the flowing air and the absorber surface, improving heat transfer.

The technology is protected by intellectual property. Solhotair indicates Polish patent no. 230038 and European protection, and the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland lists the solution concerning a vortex generator in an air solar collector in the company’s patent portfolio. An additional advantage is the possibility of using the same solution in different applications—from heating and ventilating buildings to drying agricultural products, wood, and biomass. The modular design allows collectors to be combined into larger systems with capacity tailored to a specific installation.

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