IMPROVING THE SOLAR PANELS’ PAINT (TERMISOL)
Characteristics of the project
• An innovative project which solves the main inconvenients of the standard black solar paints;
• A high performance through the optimization of the paints’ photothermal proprieties;
• Long-term durability and life-span thanks to the right choice of components for these paints, and the innovative compositions;
• Concerning the classical inorganic selective surfaces:
• Use of easy methods of application for small workshops;
• Reduction of the manufacturing costs;
• No use of heavy metals.
Partners: Spain, Italy, Turkey, Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt.
Duration of the project:October 2006 to January 2010.
Framework of the project:
Project TERMISOL aimed to develop and improve the paints, with a high capacity to convert solar radiation to heat (thermal conversion) sin order to provide the energy necessary for water heating especially in big buildings such as hospitals and hotels. These paints do not contain heavy metals, and are profitable and competitive on the technological and commercial levels. They also have industrial advantages (easy to use in workshops and industries).
The thermal solar systems, which convert solar radiation to heat (thermal conversion), are flat collectors mainly. Their most important and critical part is the absorbing surface which is normally very costly. The technological treatments are mainly based on the application of heavy metals.
The new paints, which have been developed within the framework of this project, provide structured-morphology surfaces, whose thickness intervals are defined by a verification application method. They also provide a combination of multilayer painting systems to optimize the performances of the whole system.
The project has developed a low-priced technology that could be applied everywhere, but which is specially adapted to the Mediterranean countries where there are optimal solar radiation conditions, and a growing demand for such infrastructures. All this is done while taking into consideration the specific needs of remote areas, rural zones, and villagesand providing the basic water-heating needs of public buildings such as hospitals and hotels.