Question 1

What is Solar Thermal Technology?

Accepted Answer

Solar radiation has different components,  electromagnetic radiation consisting of light, heat or thermal energy, Ultra violet radiation and others. Solar thermal technology deals with the harnessing and utilisation of solar thermal energy for human use. Like process requirement ofheat, water heating, steam generation, cooking or space heating and cooling, and also to generate electricity. It’s unlike photovoltaic (PV) power, which converts a portion of the sun’s electromagnetic radiation directly to electrons and electricity.

Question 2

What is a Clean Energy?

Accepted Answer

Clean energy is energy that comes from renewable, zero Carbon emission sources that do not pollute the atmosphere when used, as well as energy saved by energy efficiency measures.

Question 3

What is qualified as Green Energy?

Accepted Answer

Renewable energy derived from natural processes that are replenished constantly.  Included in the definition is electricity and heat generated from solar, wind, ocean, hydropower, biomass, geothermal resources, and biofuels and hydrogen derived from renewable resources.

Question 4

Is Thermal Radiation Natural and Safe?

Accepted Answer

Thermal radiation is electromagnetic radiation generated by the thermal motion of particles in matter. All matter with a temperature greater than absolute zero emits thermal radiation.
Solar thermal radiation is natural as it is the radiation for sun that causes it. The maximum intensity of heat energy reaching the top of the atmosphere directly facing the sun is about 1,360 watts per sq. meter, as per the measurements made by the most recent NASA satellite missions, that is not at all harmful to the human beings and is extremely safe.

Question 5

What is a Traditional/ Conventional cooling technology?

Accepted Answer

The Conventional cooling technology could be classified in to Evaporative cooling and Vapour compression cooling. An evaporative cooler, sometimes referred to as a swamp cooler, or desert coolers, utilizes water-soaked pads to cool the air. This process works because a fan pulls hot air into the unit, sending it through a series of pads that helps evaporate the water and the resultant damp air is used to cool the atmosphere. This will be effective in a very dry climate places like, Rajasthan, Delhi, Hyderabad, Middle East countries etc.
The most commonly used Conventional cooling is using Vapour Compression chillers to cool the space. The compressor takes in a low temperature, low pressure refrigerant vapor, and compresses it into a high temperature, high pressure vapor. The heat from the source boils off the refrigerant through phase change heat transfer, and the low temperature, low pressure gas enters the compressor, completing the cycle.

Question 6

What are the natural affects due to the use of Conventional cooling technologies?

Accepted Answer

The Hydro Chloro Fluoro Carbon and Hydro Fluoro Carbon refrigerant used in the Conventional cooling technology, are toxic or explosive and thereby dangerous to people's health. There are other problems associated with these Refrigerants. 
1. The leakage of Refrigerant gases in to the Atmosphere cause Ozone Depletion and contribute to global warming. 
 2. The Conventional cooling systems consume higher levels of Electrical energy, that increases the CO2 emissions and contribute to global warming by absorbing infra-red radiations and by holding it in the atmosphere.

Question 7

What are the Conventional cooling technology components and its negative effects on climates?

Accepted Answer

The Conventional cooling system, namely Vapour compression system have four components: a compressor, a condenser, a thermal expansion valve, and an evaporator. The negative effects have been described under Pt. 6. And is shown in the diagram below

Question 8

Is negative carbon generated and affecting the climate using the Conventional cooling technologies?

Accepted Answer

Yes.
The Conventional cooling systems use consume higher levels of Electrical energy, that increases the CO2 emissions and contribute to global warming by absorbing infra-red radiations and by holding it in the atmosphere.

Question 9

Provide Conventional cooling technology components and its climate affecting negative carbon generation data?

Accepted Answer

Given under Pt.7

Question 10

What is a Conventional Heating technology?

Accepted Answer

The Conventional heating technology consists of either a hot water or a Boiler that uses, fire wood, coal, gases, diesel, Furnace oil or other Fossil fuels or electricity to heat the water. This hot water and steam can be used for coolking, heating of the homes, process heating requirements in the Industry and other purposes.

Question 11

What are the natural affects due to the use of Conventional Heating technologies?

Accepted Answer

The conventional heating methods use fuels that are not sustainable in the sense they are not renewable sources of energy. These fossil-based fuels produce smokes that are high in CO2 and CO emissions contribute to global warming by absorbing infra-red radiations and by holding it in the atmosphere.
The diagrams below give the details.

Question 12

What are the Conventional Heating technology components and its negative effects on climates?

Accepted Answer

The Conventional heating technology consists basically of a water heater or a boiler and various secondary equipment depending on the application. The conventional heating methods use fuels that are not sustainable in the sense they are not renewable sources of energy. These fossil-based fuels produce smokes that are high in CO2 and CO emissions contribute to global warming by absorbing infra-red radiations and by holding it in the atmosphere.

Question 13

Is negative carbon generated and affecting the climate using the Conventional heating technologies?

Accepted Answer

The conventional heating methods use fuels that are not sustainable in the sense they are not renewable sources of energy. These fossil-based fuels produce smokes that are high in CO2 and CO emissions contribute to global warming by absorbing infra-red radiations and by holding it in the atmosphere.

Question 14

Provide Conventional heating technology components and its climate affecting negative carbon generation data?

Question 15

What are all the data points of current and Conventional technology effects on the earth and the climate?

Accepted Answer

The Conventional heating technology consists basically of a water heater or a boiler and various secondary equipment depending on the application. The conventional heating methods use fuels that are not sustainable in the sense they are not renewable sources of energy. These fossil-based fuels produce smokes that are high in CO2 and CO emissions contribute to global warming by absorbing infra-red radiations and by holding it in the atmosphere.
The Conventional cooling systems use consume higher levels of Electrical energy, that increases the CO2 emissions and contribute to global warming by absorbing infra-red radiations and by holding it in the atmosphere.

Question 16

What is Natus Solar Clean Energy?

Accepted Answer

Natus Clean energy is energy that comes from Sun, that is a renewable, zero emission sources that does not pollute the atmosphere when used.
Also there a considerable energy gets saved by using Natus Solar energy efficient solutions.

Question 17

What technology is invented and used by Natus Solar?

Question 18

What components are used by Natus Solar versus Conventional and current technologies?

Accepted Answer

All the three systems of Natus Solar Systems
Conventional system
Hot water generation system
Conventional Steam generation System

Question 19

Is Natus Solar systems not generating any negative carbon foot print?

Accepted Answer

No. Natus Solar does not generate any negative Carbon foot print.

Question 20

How do you prove that Natus Solar systems are not generating any negative carbon foot print?

Accepted Answer

Please find given the charts comparing the conventional and the Natus chiller systems. Carbon foot prints come only from the usage of fossil fuels like coal, gas, diesel, Furnace oil or Electricity generated using Fossil fuels. Natus Solar systems use the thermal energy from the sun to generate hot water and use it as the power source for air conditioning, hot water for the processes and steam. Hence Natus solar systems save Carbon emissions and do not contribute for the CO2 emissions and the resultant Global warming.

Question 21

Is Natus Solar systems generating positive carbon foot print?

Accepted Answer

There is nothing like generating positive carbon foot print. The conventional systems using Fossil fuels generate negative carbon foot prints, as explained above, but Natus solar products and technology save the CO2 emission and thus contribute positively to the Eco system.

Question 22

How do you prove that Natus Solar systems are generating any positive carbon foot print?

Accepted Answer

We can only show they do not contribute to the negative carbon emissions, as they do not use any Fossil fuels or derivatives.

Question 23

Compare Conventional cooling, heating technologies versus Natus Solar technologies?"

Accepted Answer

Enter your answer here

Question 24

Compare Conventional cooling, heating technology components versus Natus Solar technology components?"

Accepted Answer

Enter your answer here

Question 25

Is really Natus Solar technologies and systems makes a difference in the clean and green energy field?

Accepted Answer

Yes. By stopping the negative Carbon emission that leads to Global warming, and by using neutral refringent, water that cannot deplete the ozone layer.

Question 26

How do you distinguish Natus Solar technologies and systems from the current and Conventional technologies?

Accepted Answer

Air conditioning systems

Question 27

Why one should buy and use Natus Solar technology-based systems for cooling and heating?

Accepted Answer

It saves around 85% to 90% on the power, and fuels used in cooling and heating.
It saves on CO2 emissions and hence contribute positively for the Global warming.
It does not use Hydro Chloro Fluoro carbon and Hydro Fluoiro Carbon based Refrigerants and hence positively contributes to the reduction of Ozone Layer depletion.

Question 28

What benefits Natus Solar systems does provide?

Accepted Answer

It saves around 85% to 90% on the power, and fuels used in cooling and heating.
It saves on CO2 emissions and hence contribute positively for the Global warming.
It does not use Hydro Chloro Fluoro carbon and Hydro Fluoiro Carbon based Refrigerants and hence positively contributes to the reduction of Ozone Layer depletion.

Question 29

Can we measure the effects of Natus Solar technology and Systems?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Saving in power consumption and fossil fuel consumption can be measured, and this is in direct proportion to the CO2 emission saving.
The reduction in the contribution to reduction in ozone layer depletion cannot be directly measured.

Question 30

Can the Natus Solar Systems work and generate energy 7x24x365?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Thermal storage systems are provided in the Natus Solar Systems to store sufficient heat or cold energy from the solar heat during the sun shine hours, that can be used during non-sun shine hours thus making the Natus Solar Systems generate energy 7x24x365.
It is similar to using batteries in the PV power generation systems for storage of power.

Question 31

If yes, how the excess energy is used without wasting the generated energy?"

Accepted Answer

The thermal insulation systems are very well developed and the thermal storage systems used by Natus Solar have less than 5% energy loss. In case of large thermal storage systems, the tanks are built underground to further reduce the losses and the cost of storage.

Question 32

Will the Natus Solar systems work in the winter season of the cold countries?

Accepted Answer

Yes.
Even in winter season in Cold countries, there is still an amount of solar radiation that supplies heat, though very small. 60% of this solar thermal radiation still gets converted to heat and gets stored as hot water in the Natus Solar Systems.
For example, let us look at Boston, one of the coldest cities in USA with a fair amount of snow and freezing ambient temperatures in winter.
You can see that when in the months of Jan and Feb, when the Ambient temperatures become sub-zero and freezing, there is still a fair amount of solar radiation, falling on the earth surface shown as GHI up to around 3 kw-hr/m2/day and this gets converted in to heat and stored as Hot water by the Natus Solar System.
Natus Solar system will produce enough heat to heat the rooms using this radiation.
We have installed such system in the Embassy of Switzerland building in Delhi and in the thermal power plant in Gujarat, for heating during winter and the same system cools during summer times.

Question 33

Will the Natus Solar systems work in the stormy weather conditions?

Accepted Answer

Even during snow and other storms, there is a reasonable radiation of thermal energy from the sun that can be captured by the Natus solar system.

Question 34

Will the Natus Solar systems work in the icy and snowy conditions of the cold countries?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Boston is an example that we have given in Pt. 34

Question 35

What is the cost of the Natus Solar system?

Accepted Answer

Natus Solar system costs will vary with the location, that is solar radiation dependent, the space available for mounting the panels and the distance from the location for other components that is distance dependant.
Notwithstanding these variations, as a thumb rule, it can be roughly be as follows.
Solar Air conditioning –                             around USD 6,500/TR
Solar Hot water generation-                      around USD 4,600/Eq. Tr or
                                                                       around USD 920/kw-hr.th
Solar Steam generation-                           around USD 13,500/Eq. TR
                                                                       around USD 2,700/kw-hr.th

Question 36

What is the cost of the Conventional and current technology systems?

Accepted Answer

Conventional systems cost vary with the type of chillers in case of solar air conditioning, and depends on the fuel used in the boilers and the efficiencies of the boilers and many other factors.
Notwithstanding these variations, a ball park figure could be given as follows.
Solar Air conditioning –                              around USD 1,200/TR
Solar Hot water generation-                       around USD 1,000/Eq. Tr
Solar Steam generation-                            around USD 4,500/Eq. TR

Question 37

How is the ownership cost of Natus Solar systems compared to current and Conventional Systems?

Accepted Answer

As there is around 85 to 90% of energy saving compared to the conventional systems, the pay back of the incremental initial cost of Natus Solar System, compared to the Conventional Systems is around four to seven years depending upon the nature of the system and hence the ownership costs become zero after that and there is a saving coming through every year, over the life cycle of around 20 to 25 years, in case of Natus solar systems.

Question 38

Provide data points for the same?

Accepted Answer

Actual representative figure given

Question 39

How is the Natus Solar systems generated energy is measured?

Accepted Answer

In case of Solar air conditioning, Energy meters are used to measure both the TR generated and the electrical power saved.
In case of the Solar hot water and the steam generation systems, Energy meters and flow meters are used to find the thermal energy generated and the total energy saved.
In all cases, pyranometers and temperature sensors and flow meters are used to measure the solar conversion value and the efficiency.

Question 40

How is the Conventional and current technology systems generated energy are measured?

Accepted Answer

In case of Solar air conditioning, Energy meters are used to measure both the TR generated and the electrical power saved.
In case of the Solar hot water and the steam generation systems, Energy meters and flow meters are used to find the thermal energy generated and the total energy saved.
In all cases, pyranometers and temperature sensors and flow meters are used to measure the solar conversion value and the efficiency

Question 41

How do you compare the energy level and energy generated by Natus Solar Systems Versus the Conventional and current technology systems?

Accepted Answer

From the measurements made and recorded, the electrical power or Fossil fuel energy required to generate 1 unit of output in TR for Cooling or Mwhr.th in case of heating is calculated for Natus solar and the conventional systems and compared.

Question 42

How the market can adopt the Natus Solar systems and technologies?

Accepted Answer

The market has to be educated on the Natus solar system, its advantages and the benefits, and the market has to be shown the actual examples of installations. They also have to be educated as to how retro fittings can be made with their existing systems so that with minimal changes, they can derive the benefits of the Natus Solar Systems.

Question 43

How easy or difficult to adopt Natus Solar technologies and Systems?

Accepted Answer

It is very easy to adopt Natus Solar Systems.

Question 44

What it would take to implement this?

Accepted Answer

A dynamic marketing infrastructure, robust design and project planning and implementation and sufficient working capital arrangement.

Question 45

What is the easy or difficult level of having this technology?

Accepted Answer

In a scale of 1 to 10 of the difficulty level, with 10 as the most difficult level, Natus Solar Systems may be termed as level 4.

Question 46

What is the maintenance level?

Accepted Answer

But for the pumps, that also have redundancy built in, there is hardly any rotating parts and hence hardly any maintenance is involved. The other maintenance involved will be hose cleaning of the collectors that too only a few times a year, depending on the dust levels involved. The maintenance costs would be less than 0.5% of the project cost/ annum, that is negligible.

Question 47

What space is required to implement this technology and systems?

Accepted Answer

The collectors occupy around 10 sq. meters or 110 sq. feet per 1 TR of cooling or equivalent TR of heating. Other equipment occupies additionally around 1 sq. meter or 11 Sq. feet per TR of cooling or Eq. TR of heating.

Question 48

Compare space and other requirements for Natus Solar systems versus the Conventional and current technology systems?

Accepted Answer

Space requirement in the conventional system could be around 2 sq. meter or 22 sq. feet per TR compared to 11 sq. meter or 121 sq. feet for the Natus Solar systems

FAQ

Frequently asked questions