About the Author
In 1977, Dr. Ben Gravely established Gravely Research Corporation
(GRC) to pursue various optical and thermal inventions for solar energy
systems, for which two patents were granted.
Other inventions include a range of thermal energy products including
thermal storage systems, heat exchangers, a thermal engine, and a high
sensitivity, low cost, flow sensing device. He founded Astron
Technologies, Inc. in 1980 to manufacture and distribute solar and other
energy products developed by GRC.
Dr. Gravely also created a universal logic control system to interface
thermal energy systems to different heating applications, and off-peak
thermal storage units for utility load leveling. He has developed off-peak thermal storage
equipment and computer programs to simulate hour-by-hour performance. The methodologies
and equipment were adopted by several utilities for thermal storage field testing programs.
GRC solar systems have been installed on hundreds of private residences, federal post offices,
state park visitor centers, highway rest stations, military barracks, US Air Force bases, VA
hospitals, police headquarters, jails, public pools, public health facilities, schools, public housing
projects, motels, car washes, and many more.
Dr. Gravely has written computer programs to analyze energy requirements, solar performance,
and economic benefit that were recognized as authorized analytical methods by HUD, the NC
Energy Division, and the US Army Corp of Engineers. He has presented numerous papers in
this field, and was appointed by the governor of North Carolina to be a founding director of the
NC Advanced Energy Corp. His work in this area has been recognized by commendation from
the governor, ASME, TVA, and the NC Sustainable Energy Association, of which he is a co-
founder.
Through his website, http://www.solarhotwater-systems.com, Dr. Gravely hopes to share the
valuable knowledge he has accumulated over three decades with solar thermal designers,
installers, and project owners in order to strengthen the growth of the industry.
In 2008 he cofounded Holocene, LLC and serves as Technical Director. The company is
engaged in the design, manufacturing, installation, and financing of commercial solar thermal
systems. For more information, go to http://www.holocene-energy.com.
Dr. Gravely has a broad background in many scientific disciplines. His experience includes
research, invention, design, and development in Plasma Physics, Ophthalmology Diagnostic
Imaging, Laser Physics, Automatic Stages, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Robotic Vision
Systems, Electron Optics, Electro-Optical Microscopy, Image Analysis, Cystic Fibrosis Therapy
Devices, Electrical Power Connectors, Medical Hyperthermia Instruments, Microscale Thermal
Storage and Heat Transfer, and Solar Energy.
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Solar Installation Manual
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