subject: Solar Hot Water Heaters And Solar Energy Collection Systems [print this page] Solar hot water heaters are an excellent choice for anyone that desires to create less of an effect on the environment while at the same time saving money on electricity costs. It is necessary, however, to understand how these systems work, so that you'll guarantee that your heater is working at maximum efficiency and you choose the one that's right for your home and climate.
There are three different strategies employed in collecting energy from the sunlight that heats your water. These include integral collector storage systems, flat plate collectors, and evacuated tube solar collectors. All of them have the identical function in the scheme of solar hot water heaters, but they each operate a touch differently.
Evacuated Tube Solar Collectors
This collection system is typically more applicable to industrial buildings, but can also be employed in solar hot water heaters in residential settings. They make use of a row of clear glass tubes containing another tube created of metal that acts as the absorber. These are all connected to a fin that also has absorbing capabilities.
Flat Plate Collectors
These are what we typically think of once we hear ?solar energy.? The flat plate collectors include a dark plate that's lined by plastic or glass, and insulated. They are waterproofed, and can be used in any kind of weather. These collectors are far less expensive than the evacuated tube solar collectors, so are more suited for solar hot water heaters in domestic settings.
Integral Collector Storage Systems
These collection systems are also called batch systems, and operate a bit differently from the flat plate collectors. They utilize a dark-coloured, insulated reservoir that contains water after it's been passed through and to start with heated by means of the solar collector. The tank features a form of ?back-up? heater, and proves to be very efficient and reliable. However, these shouldn't be used in regions where the likelihood of water freezing in the tubes is high.
Again, there are a variety of reasons to switch to solar hot water heaters, and understanding the technology can make you more at ease and permit you to agree on which system is best for you.
