Triangular Duct Solar Panel

A solar panel suitable for panelized building construction as an integral part of a roof is described. The solar absorber plate of the panel consists of a thermally conductive sheet folded along a plurality of parallel lines to form sharp vees or corrugations. The folded solar absorber plate is attached to or formed as part of a flat sheet, also with high thermal conductivity. The folded absorber plate with its vee-shaped corrugations in combination with the flat sheet form a plurality of contiguous triangular ducts through which the fluid to be heated flows. The fluid is in direct contact with the solar absorber plate and the flat thermally conductive plate which together form the triangular ducts. A pliable insulating board may be provided as a backing member to the triangular duct assembly, said insulating board serves as an elastic mounting means for the solar panel on a building roof or wall. The triangular ducts may be oriented in an East-West direction to maximize the number of reflections of solar radiation between the ducts

Energy Fact Sheet: Air-Type Solar Collectors for Agricultural and Residential Use

This publication provides information on three basic air-type solar collectors for the purpose of explaining the characteristics of each. The collectors may be purchased assembled or constructed on the site. In either case an efficient collector of the right type should be selected for a given application

Solar Fluid Heater with Electromagnetic Radiation Trap

A solar fluid heater including a radiation trap for concentrating solar radiation which has been focused on or near a line at the center of a transparent pipe assembly containing the fluid to be heated is described. The pipe assembly may include one or more transparent pipes containing one or more sets of reflective fins which are disposed in direct heat exchanging contact with the fluid to be heated. The focused radiation entering the pipe assembly experiences multiple reflections off one set of reflective fins therein, thus concentrating the solar radiation. The reflective fins are made absorptive near the apex to provide for absorption of the solar radiation, thereby converting it to heat. The fins are in direct contact with the fluid to be heated, thus, maximizing the transfer of heat to the fluid

Solar Energy for Heating Farm Structures in Kentucky

This report is intended to summarize the important decisions which must be made by farmers in Kentucky, who are considering the utilization of solar energy for heating farm buildings or drying grain

Passive Solar Heating

There are 4 basic passive solar construction techniques

Energy Fact Sheet: Residential Solar Heating

Heating a residence and the domestic water supply with solar energy is technically feasible in Kentucky. However, it is not feasible to provide 100 percent of the heat requirements. Some backup system is needed for continuous heat during cloudy weather and the cold part of winter. Both passive and active solar heating systems are technically feasible

Active Residential Solar Heating

This outline on active solar heating has been prepared for extension agent use in Kentucky. It includes some judgments by the authors based on their best professional opinion and the current state of knowledge concerning active solar heat systems

Drying High Moisture Alfalfa Hay

We all recognize the value of alfalfa in horse, dairy and beef rations. That\u27s why we harvest over 17 million acres of this crop in the United States every year. Hay is a good way to harvest alfalfa because it stores well, provides long fiber in rations and we can market the surplus as a cash crop. Higher yields and higher quality mean more profit so we push to be sure we use the best management practices. All too often though, we lose part of all of a crop to rain damage. Some yield and quality is lost due to leaf shatter and respiration no matter how ideal the conditions. The goal of our research program is to develop hay harvesting and storage systems that minimize these losses at the lowest possible cost

The Interface Between Invasive Species and the Increased Incidence of Tick-borne Diseases, and the Implications for Federal Land Managers

Includes information on the dynamics of tick-borne disease, factors affecting the occurrence and density of ticks, matrices of ties between habitat, human activities, invasive plants, and ticks, federal resources and programs related to ticks and vector-borne disease in the United States, with references and an annotated bibliography of literature on ticks, vector-borne diseases, and invasive species