A study of using solar energy to cure concrete bricks

Abstract

Use of renewable energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy, tidal energy, etc. are important solutions in the trend for sustainable development. The purpose of this research is to build tunnels using solar energy to cure concrete bricks at saturated steam condition. Heat supply system and temperature monitoring of the tunnels consists of three main parts: solar thermal collector to heat water, heat trapping structure, and temperature measurement system with internet connection. The test operation of tunnels in industrial scale was conducted at a factory in Ho Chi Minh City. The results show that it can achieve temperatures above 50°C met curing requirements of concrete bricks. This can confirm the feasibility to use solar energy curing concrete bricks in plants with areas corresponding climatic conditions.