soraurinkolämmitys

Soraurinkolämmitys, a Finnish term translating to "gravel solar heating," is a renewable energy technology used for heating buildings and domestic hot water. It utilizes the principle of solar thermal energy storage within a gravel bed. The system typically consists of solar collectors, often mounted on a roof, that heat a fluid. This heated fluid is then circulated through a network of pipes embedded within a large underground gravel mass.

During sunny periods, the solar collectors absorb sunlight and transfer the heat to the circulating fluid. This warm fluid then passes through the pipes in the gravel bed, gradually heating the gravel. The gravel acts as a thermal mass, storing the captured solar energy. When heat is needed, for example, during the evening or on cloudy days, a heat pump extracts the stored heat from the gravel bed. The heat pump then elevates the temperature of the extracted heat to a level suitable for space heating and hot water production.

The effectiveness of soraurinkolämmitys depends on factors such as the size of the gravel mass, the efficiency of the solar collectors, and the insulation of the storage. This system offers a way to utilize solar energy beyond the immediate daylight hours, reducing reliance on conventional heating methods and fossil fuels. It is particularly suited for climates with significant seasonal variations in solar radiation and heating demand.