Solar Water Heaters

Using solar energy is a great way to reduce the impact to the environment through clean energy production. Solar energy is produced by capturing energy from the sun and uses it to heat air or water. This is achieved by using different components of solar panels, solar cells, solar collectors and solar water heaters. All these components can work by themselves or in combination with each other, to capture, store and make useful energy from the sun.

Types of solar water heaters

There are three main types of solar water heaters. They are flat plate collectors, systems of collection and storage, and evacuated tube collectors. Each of these solar water heaters work differently to achieve the goal of capturing the sun’s energy and use it as hot water. Flat solar collectors or use insulated boxes with an absorber plate to heat the water. When used to heat water in swimming pools can do without the insulated box. The collection and storage systems operate by allowing cold water to pass through the solar collector, which heats the water slowly. The evacuated tube collectors use glass and metal tubes to heat water. These types of heaters are often used for commercial purposes rather than residential.

Solar water heaters, passive and active

Water heating systems can be both passive and active. The advantage of using passive systems is that they are less expensive than active and generally last longer. The disadvantage of using passive systems is that the type of system is not as efficient as an active system. There are two other types of passive solar heaters. The collection and storage are ideal for residential use, but should be used where temperatures do not go down beyond the 0 °. Thermosyphon systems are expensive collection systems and storage and work by allowing the hot water rises through the system and for cold water to be heated.

The active solar water heating systems can be direct or indirect circulation. In a direct circulation system circulates water through the collectors and then into the house. Such systems work best in temperate climates where frosts do not occur. Indirect circulation systems are ideal for homes in areas where the experience of frequently. These systems pump heat transfer through a fluid through the solar panels to achieve the exchange of heat. This is what heats the water in the system.

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