Solar Water Heaters: Affordable Hot Water Solutions
Understanding Solar Water Heating Technology
Solar water heaters offer a cost-effective, environmentally friendly way to generate hot water using free sunshine.
Types of Solar Water Heating Systems
- Pumped Systems
- Include circulating pumps and controllers
- Provide reliable service
- Allow homeowners to optimize functionality and maximize savings
- Thermosiphon (Passive) Systems
- No circulation pumps required
- Water flows naturally through temperature differences
- Collector must be installed below the storage tank to enable water circulation
Solar Collector Technologies
Flat-Plate Collectors
- Consists of an absorber, transparent cover, frame, and insulation
- Uses low-iron safety glass to maximize solar radiation absorption
- Prevents wind cooling through transparent cover
Evacuated-Tube Solar Collectors
- Contains a copper heat pipe inside a vacuum-sealed glass tube
- Heat pipe filled with freeze-resistant liquid
- Sunlight converts liquid to hot vapor, transferring heat to water manifold
