Solar Water Heater System
Solar water heater system becomes an important thing in our life, moreover when the winter is about to come. Since this is one of the mandatory home appliances, then no matter how much budget we have, we have to buy one to supply comfortable water temperature for our family. Here are the three common types of solar water heating system, we can find in the market from the low-budgeted to high-budgeted solar heater. To explain the types of water heating system, generic terminologies are used, so it can be understood easier.
The First Type of solar water heating is passive solar water heating system. This is the most affordable type of solar water heater. The solar water heater is using two elements: hot water tank and flat plate collector. The hot water storage tank is element works as an insulated hot water reservoir. Usually, the plat is completed with auxiliary heater that is turned on automatically during the cloudy day. The next element is flat plate solar collector. This is a rectangular casing with insulated sealed system. On the bottom part of the flat plate, we will find absorber sheet. Right above the sheet, we will be able to find thin pipes coil that will run the water to the tank. The top part of the solar water heater can be made from transparent polymer that we usually call as polycarbonate or glass sheet. The common sheet is glass sheet. The glass will let the sunlight shines through the glass and reaches the bottom plate of the absorber. After that, the absorber temperature will increase and emit the heat result. The heat radiation will heat the water in water pipes to serve us hot water. The top sheet of this solar water heater system is transparent and visible for light. However, it is not clear for infrared wavelength. It means the heat will remain inside the closed casing.
The Second Type is active solar water heating system. This solar water heater is not as affordable as the first type, but the price is not so expensive. The solar water heater is completed with three elements: the two elements are similar to passive solar water heater, which are flat plate solar collector and solar hot water tank, but this solar water heater is also completed with a pump. Well actually, this solar water heating system is also completed with solar heat exchanger, but it is optional. Solar heat exchanger is installed in the hot water storage tank to anticipate when the collector to tank loop uses glycol or the anti-freeze fluid. The flat plate solar collector and solar hot water tank work in the same method as ones we can find in the previous solar water heating system.
Active solar water heater pump : this pump is using AC supply, DC batteries or photovoltaic panel that generates the DC power. During the mild weather, water is used as the fluid to prevent freezes between the tank and collector. This method is called as direct or open system. In the more expensive version, we can use anti-freeze fluid to replace water. The fluid works as occasional anti-freeze. The system is called as indirect or closed system. One thing to remember, if the solar water heater is using anti-freeze fluid, then heat exchange should be used as well. Thermostat is needed, so when the water temperature has reached the safety limit, the circulation can be turned off automatically.
In the active solar heating with pump, the collector is installed in higher level above the storage tank. The common situations are indoor tank that is usually put in the attic, condo installation or concealed tank. Since the active solar water heater system is more complicated that passive solar water heater, moreover on the collector system, then a controller is needed. The controller will be used to turn the components on and off if it is needed.
Last, but not least is vacuum tube solar water heating system. It is often called as evacuated tube solar collectors. They are the second generation of flat plate collector. However, unlike the previous generation, the collector is using some solar collectors with cylindrical shape. The collector can be said as more effective during the cloudy or colder condition. It is because the collectors are able to catch the sun radiation from various angles due to the circular shape of the collector. Not only that, the collectors can also catch the sunlight starts from the early in the morning to the late afternoon before the sun is set. It means, the collectors are able to collect more light. It suits the area with low sunlight like in the northern area. The price of this solar water heater system is definitely quite expensive. The solar water heater requires hot water tank and pump. Not only that, anti-freeze fluid and heat exchange are also become the important parts of the solar water heater tank.
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