Figure 7: Sun-lite thermal storage tubes (Solar Components, 2019)
The water acts as a thermal mass and heats passively with solar energy. This energy can then be used for heating and cooling homes. Colour pigments are also added to some silos to tint the water dark blue, thus absorbing more heat without significantly blocking the sunlight. The more sun exposure, the more heat the system absorbs. Therefore, more heat can be radiated into the house during the cooler evenings (Bainbridge 2015). 2.4.3 3D printed modern Trombe wall The system in Figures 8 and 9 is 3D printed from translucent recycled PET plastic. The system is a double-layered, hollow-cored design with phase changing material (PCM) in the core to absorb solar heat during the day and radiate heat into the room during the evening.
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