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How Solar Water Heaters Work?

January 8th, 2010

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Solar water heater can be a cost effective solution to generate hot water at home, while making use of a natural free resource, the sun. The solar water heating systems basically include storage tanks and solar collectors. How these two combination work together to heat up and generate hot water at home?

In general, there are two types of solar water heating systems in the market: the active type, which has pumps to circular and control the heat flow; and the passive type, which without the pumps. You can choose to install one-tank system or two-tank system. The key different of extra one tank in two-tank system is the water will be preheated before it enters into the conventional water heater. While one-tank water heating system costs cheaper in set-up and installation, it may not fully utilize the solar power efficiency. For example, if the hot water is being used during the evening and depletes of storage tank of hot water, the system need to use the backup heating system generated from electric or gas to heat up the tank. On the next day, when there is sunshine, the tank is warm and the efficiency of using solar for heating is greatly diminished. Therefore, the two-tank solar water heating system will have higher efficiency to fully utilize the solar power to generate hot water with its preheated tank.

The solar water heating systems use solar thermal collectors to receive heat from the sun. There are 3 types of solar thermal collectors, which are commonly used in residential solar water heating systems:

1. Flat-plate collectors

Flat-plate collector is the key component in active solar heating systems. It best suits for application where the demand temperature is 30 degree to 70 degree such as the water heating systems used for winter months. The function of flat-plate collectors is to circulate fluid to a pre-set temperature.

2. Evacuated-tube solar collectors

This type of solar collectors is commonly used for commercial application or at home that requires a highly reliable source of hot water. It has parallel rows of transparent glass tubes and each tube consist of an outer tube which made from glass and metal absorber tube that is attached to a fin. The fin is coated with materials that is good at absorbing solar energy while inhibiting radioactive heat loss. Therefore, it provides very reliable source of hot water. But, the price of Evacuated-tube solar collectors is more expensive if you compare to other 2 types of solar collectors; that’s why it is more frequently used for commercial applications.

3. Integral collector-storage systems (ICS)

It is a batch system that featured one or more black tanks insulated in a glazed box. The cold water is preheats by the solar collectors and then go into the conventional backup water heater to provide a reliable source of hot water. This system works better in mild freeze climates as the pipes that are installed outside may get freeze in cold whether.

Summary

The solar water heating systems consist of combination of storage tanks and solar collectors that work together to generate hot water using the power from the sun.

Renewable energy from the sun and the wind are very cost effective energy sources, but the installation can be expensive, unless you do-it-yourself. Visit Dave Stilman at http://www.wind-solar-power.info to find the best renewable energy guide with step-by-step guide to build a solar power system or wind power system yourself at a minimum cost.

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Succinct Details of Solar Water Heaters

December 18th, 2009

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In the 1970?s and 80?s Solar Energy first emerged as a potentially viable and cost-effective alternative to traditional heating sources such as fuel oil, natural gas, coal, wood, and electric. Unfortunately, these first generation solar
collectors were expensive, inefficient, and delivered long payback periods and lower returns on the initial investment than expected.

In the following decades leaders in the Solar Energy Industry went back to work, striving to create more efficient, more affordable, and more cost-effective Solar Water Heaters that would not only be a viable alternative to traditional heating sources, but would be able to supplant the majority of our heating needs, lowering the world?s dependence on non-renewable energy sources, which cannot be replaced once they are depleted.

Today, there are three main types of Solar Water Heater available. These collectors are for more efficient and cost-effective than their predecessors, and are well-suited for a number of applications such as small residential installations and pool heating, all the way to large commercial, industrial and municipal installations across the United States, and around the world. These three collectors are Evacuated Tube Solar Collectors, Flat Plate Solar Collectors, and Unglazed Solar Collectors.

Evacuated Tube Solar Collectors ? these collectors are typically the most expensive of Solar Thermal Collectors. The unique tube design of these collectors makes them extremely efficient at collecting and transferring heat energy to your home?s hot water. Because of the unique design, Evacuated Tube Solar Collectors, unlike Flat Plate Collectors, are great at operating at
high efficiency earlier and later in the day than other solar technologies, and during the winter months when the days are shorter and the sun is a far lower elevation in the sky. This makes Evacuated Tube Solar Collectors far more cost-effective in these climates and locations.

Flat Plate Solar Collectors ? these collectors are typically less expensive than Evacuated Tube Solar Collectors, but in warmer, southern climates, can just as, if not more efficient and cost-effective. Flat Plate Solar Collectors are not
particularly freeze protected, and like a Solar Panel for PV Energy, require the sun to be directly overhead at as close to a 90 angle as possible in order to operate with decent efficiency. Because of these factors, Flat Plate Solar Collectors particularly ineffective during the winter months in northern, cold climates where freezing is a problem, the days are extremely short, and the sun is at extremely low angles every day. However, in southern climates where winters are mild, the days remain long, and the sun remains at a relatively high angle, because of their lower initial cost, Flat Plate Solar Collectors are one of the most cost-effective Solar Water Heaters available.

Any of these Solar Water Heaters can save the average American homeowner hundreds of dollars a year, and thousands of dollars over the lifetime of the system once it is installed and operational. Today, home and water heating costs account for almost 40% of our annual energy bills, and these Solar Water Heaters can replace 65-80% of these costs for an initial investment of just a few thousand dollars. In fact, purchasing and installing a Solar Water Heater often costs as much as installing a new traditional heater, but through energy savings, will pay for itself in as little as 3-5 years.

Neha Live is an associated with Indyalive, author of the article Succinct Details of Solar Water Heaters And provides information Solar Water Heater, Solar Lightings, Solar Home UPS,
Solar Home Lighting System.

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Tags: Climates, Cost Effective Alternative, Details, Flat Plate Collectors, Gas Coal, Heat Energy, Heaters, High Efficiency, Initial Investment, Municipal Installations, Non Renewable Energy Sources, Payback Periods, Renewable Energy Sources, Residential Installations, Solar, Solar Collectors, Solar Energy Industry, Solar Technologies, Solar Thermal Collectors, Solar Water Heater, Solar Water Heaters, Succinct, Tube Design, Unique Design, water

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Can Solar Panels Save You Money?

October 2nd, 2009

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As the prices of oil and gas continues to go up and up, the installation of solar panels is giving many families solace and stability. The sun offers an almost infinite source of energy. No wonder so many people are rushing to install solar panels. Indeed, their popularity is increasing so rapidly that manufacturers of solar panels are having difficulty keeping up with demand.

* Two Types Of Solar Panels

Predominantly, solar panels come in two types. There are solar energy panels in the form of ’solar thermal collectors’. These focus solar energy into a liquid medium, usually water, heating the liquid that is then utilized as and where it is required. The other of the two types of solar panels is known as the photovoltaic module. These solar panels convert the sun’s energy into electricity, which can then be distributed immediately or stored within a battery to be used later.

Solar panels have been commonplace for decades. Think of calculators and watches. Many swimming pools have been heated using solar panels for years. These days, the electricity to homes and offices often comes from the cleaner alternative energy source of bigger, better, more efficient solar panels.

The influence of solar panels has spread so wide that even the National Grid take some of their power from solar energy panels.

* How Do Solar Panels Work?

Both photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal solar panels are made of special materials, most frequently silicon. They act as semiconductors. When sunlight hits the solar energy panels, some of the energy is absorbed within the semiconductor material. That energy knocks electrons within the silicon loose, allowing them to flow freely.

Once the electric fields within solar panels are freed by light energy, they force electrons to flow in one specific way. This flow of electrons is also known as a current. By simply placing metal contacts on the top and bottom of the solar energy panels, the current can be drawn off as electricity to be used externally.

The solar panels have built-in electric fields that, when combined with the current described above, will give us what we call a wattage. We use this to describe the power of our solar energy panels.

Why Solar Panels?

There are lots of great reasons to install solar panels in your house. Top of the list is the huge savings you will make on your utility bills. Many people feel good that they are reducing their carbon footprint. Solar panels give off almost zero carbon dioxide emission. Solar panels reduce our carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 1.2 million tonnes per annum.

Another benefit is the freedom of not being tied to the National Grid. With solar panels fully fitted, power cuts and unexpectedly increased electricity bills become a thing of the past.

Solar panels are perfect for those living in remote areas with limited coverage by the National Grid.

* Installing Solar Panels On Your Home

Though there are some very good guides to making your own solar panels and then installing them into your home on a DIY basis, it is advisable to seek out a professional solar panels installation company. Ideally, the installers of your solar panels should be certified by the Low Carbon Buildings Program.

It is not advisable to try to install solar panels without full training. Make certain that your solar panels conform to the local standards laid out by the authorities there. There is a number of complex technical electrical issues to be resolved as well as full safety codes required.

Because of their weight, solar panels often need to be attached to a separate roofing support system.

Professional installers of solar panels should have gone through all the red tape and complicated issues so you don’t have to.

* Getting Planning Permission For Solar Panels Installation

Solar panels are most frequently fitted to the roof or along an external wall of the home. Be sure to check with the local council before doing this. The local authorities in most countries agree that it is acceptable to install roof mounted solar panels. Some places do require detailed listed criteria though.

In England, for example, solar panels of up to 100mm in depth can be laid across a tilted roof without requiring planning permission. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the local authorities have not finalized their legislation relating to solar energy panel, so be sure to check before you go rushing in.

*The Outlook For Solar Panels

As people become more and more aware of global warming and climate change, so the demand for good quality solar panels is increasing. The momentum among people is to move away from old-school fossil fuels in favor of alternative, more sustainable energy options. These include hydrogen, hydro-electricity, solar power, wind and wave.

Solar power is one of the most bountiful of the possible energy supplies that we have here on Planet Earth. As the technology behind solar panels improves in terms of their efficiency, so the cost of installing solar panels is falling. When added to a range of governmental subsidies, tax credits, rebates and grants, the widespread installation of solar panels onto the average householder’s roof is becoming more and more realistic. As the prices are falling further thanks to local competition in the marketplace, so, it would seem that the future of solar panels is very bright indeed.

Sam Deane has been around the world in his role as a travel magazine editor and publisher, life coach and trainer. Nowadays, he is an authority on solar panels, running an important and lively blog about solar power. http://www.gosolarpowerforhomes.com

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