How it works

System Overview

The Power-Spar® arrays track the sun in one or two axes.

• Animation of single axis tracking (1.8 MB MPEG file)
• Animation of two axis tracking (4.0 MB MPEG file)

Using patented technology, the Power-Spar® panels reflect and concentrate solar rays onto an absorber that runs the length of the spar units. Within the absorber, there are channels containing a heat transfer fluid (typically propylene glycol). The fluid is heated by the sun's energy and is then pumped to the building.

The heated fluid is either used directly (for process heat or steam) or passed through one or more heat exchangers to transfer energy from the fluid to space heating applications, domestic hot water pre-heat, etc. This system can supply up to 70% of your heating energy requirements from free solar energy.

Surplus heat energy is transferred to a thermal storage tank. The mass of water in this tank allows for effective retention and distribution of energy even during prolonged 'non-solar' periods (i.e., at night or on cloudy days).

The following image gives a more detailed view of the system.

For a more detailed view of the Power-Spar® panel, see the image below.

The Power-Spar® Controller

All components of the Power-Spar® are activated and monitored using a state-of-the-art controller. The controller is configured to know the placement of the spar units and automatically tracks the sun position so as to make the most of the available energy. System information is logged at five minute intervals.

The system is self-monitoring and will automatically report any operational issues to a 24/7 on-call technician. It will even send you a monthly notice detailing the exact amount of free green energy delivered to your building.

The controller includes an embedded web server which allows you to gain real-time insight into how your system is operating. This interface includes trend logs that can be downloaded in a variety of formats. Click here to get more information about the Spar-Net interface. You can even connect to the Power-Spar® system running on the Menova Energy office rooftop!

The Power-Spar® Panel

Since the Power-Spar® concentrates the sun's rays onto a small absorbing area, the heat loss of the entire system is minimized. This is one of the reasons that allows the Power-Spar® system to yield extremely high winter heating efficiencies.

In addition to the glycol fluid, optional high efficiency multi-sun solar cells can be added on the Power-Spar® absorbers. By placing the PV cells in the concentrated light, their electric current is amplified significantly - a three watt solar cell can produce up to 10 watts. Effectively lowering solar cell costs by a factor of three.