The Future Of The Energy Star

Getting a solar hot water heater system is an excellent way to save money without sacrificing the staple modern luxury of hot water. However, if your system breaks or springs a leak, you’re looking at the potential of lost money. There are ways to repair your heating system on your own, however, so you can get back to your warm showers and keep your cash in your wallet where it belongs. For problems besides leaks, consult with a professional for repairs.

Find the problem and source of the leaks. Most solar water heaters use a radiator pattern, which use many bends along the interior pipe. This bending can break over time.Turn off the main water source to the vacuum tube solar collectors. Drain the water completely from the system.Remove the solar water heater from its mounts and unhook the pipes on either side. Be aware that residual water will run out as pipes are removed and the water heater is moved.Open and remove the plastic cover, giving you access to the winding pipes inside. Use a towel to remove excess water; then set it out to air dry completely.

Find the damaged or leaking section of pipe. The inside pipes come in two types, either a copper pipe or a PVC pipe. Simple fixes for copper pipes would be adding a strong suitable sealant to the hole or leak. If the damage is more extensive to the copper solar thermal collectors, the section will need to be cut out and removed and a replacement section welded in place. For PVC piping, leaks tend to occur at their joints. The glue will corrode or fail over time. Remove the joint and reapply new glue. Attach the joint and allow to fully cure. Follow the directions on the glue for how long to wait.

Repaint all the areas you repaired or replaced black to match the rest of the piping. Touch up where the pipe paint has chipped or peeled over time. Close the lid of the water heater. Reinstall the solar water heater to the mounting location. Reattach the piping, closing the system. Turn back on the water and run the system for a full 24 hours to fully test the repairs.

Next post:Air Source Heat Pump

Air Source Heat Pump

Categories: Air Heater Pump

Description:

Air Source heat pump hot water system (Air source water heater system) is made up of a water storage tank and a heat pump. The heat pump is either mounted on top of, or adjacent to, the water storage tank. The heat pump consists of a condenser located around the outside of the water storage tank, a compressor and an evaporator.
Work Principle: Like an air conditioner in reverse cycle, the heat pump works by absorbing
heat from the air into the refrigerant gas within the evaporator. The compressor increases
the pressure and temperature of the gas, and sends it through the condenser which is located
in the water tank casing. Here heat energy is transferred to the water, the gas cools and then
flows back to the evaporator in a continuous cycle.
Heat pumps do not require direct sunlight, and therefore produce hot water using the same
method rain, hail or shine. A heat pump can produce ample hot water for any household
situation and has the added advantage of using approximately one-third of the electricity of an
electric storage hot water system.
Air source water heater is usually used in the places of family house, bathing spot and hotel.

Click here ,you can know more imformation about Haining Joyon Solar Water Heater Co., Ltd.

The overall performance of solar system vacuum tubes depends on several factors. This type of collector has better insulation than other collectors, allowing better performance during cold months of the year. Performance alone, however, should not be the sole determinant in choosing the right solar collector for your home.

Vacuum tube solar evacuated tubes are used in solar water heating applications. They also are called evacuated tube collectors. This type of solar panel features transparent glass tubes filled with water or liquid that absorbs radiant heat from the sun. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, vacuum tubes cost twice as much as their counterpart, flat-plate collectors.

An article in “Homepower” magazine states that vacuum tube solar panels reach an efficiency range of about 80 percent. Vacuum tube solar panels have a double layer of glass and a looping circuit, which result in a lower efficiency rating than conventional flat-plate collectors.

Solar system vacuum tubes can achieve extremely high temperatures of 170 to 350 degrees F, making them more appropriate for cooling applications on the industrial and commercial scale. This is primarily due to the vacuum tube’s superior insulation and heat retention technology.

Sources of Information:The Future Of The Energy Star Blog

Name:Copper Coil Solar Water Heater

Copper Coil Solar Water Heater
1.certificate:CE,ROHS,CCC ISO9001:2000 
2.JISHEN Solar & OEM 
4.15years for system

Features: 
1) Reliable and efficient twin-glass solar tubes; 
2) Copper heat pipes for rapid heat transfer; 
3) Easy plug-in installation; 
4) Free maintenance; 
5) Suitable for mains pressure water (up to 1.0 bar); 
6) Corrosion resistant silver brazed copper header; 
7) Aluminum frame; 
8) Powder coated (black, brown or silver) aluminum casing; 
9) Stable solar conversion during the day; 
10) The perfect solar collector for domestic solar water heater systems; 
11) Ideal for commercial solar water heating applications.

Work Principle:
1) The operation of the solar collector is very simple. 
2) Solar absorption: solar radiation is absorbed by the solar tubes and converted into heat. 
3) Solar heat transfer: heat pipes conduct the heat from within the solar tube up to the header pipe 
4) Solar energy storage: water is circulated through the header, via intermittent pump cycling.Each time the water circulates through the header, the temperatures is raised by 5-10C. Throughout the day, the water in the tank is gradually heated.

The source of solar product:Zhejiang Wakin Solar Technology Co.,Ltd.,The company also have Folding Solar Water Heater,Solar Hot Water Heater and so on.Believe that you won’t miss it.

Solar water heating system

Categories:Solar hot water - High Pressurized Solar hot water heater

Specifications

1,certification:ISO9001,CE 
2,high quality with best price 
3,beautifull design 
4,15years warranty

Advantages: 
1). Highly efficient absorber of high performance with daily average efficiency over 50%; 
2). Start up quickly, heat pipe transfer the heat energy into the storage tank in one direction. 
3). Withstand pressure of 6 Bar, can be connected directly with city water. 
4). No water inside the evacuated tubes; The solar water heater can still in service even with several tubes breakage; 
5). Highly efficient insulation with polyurethane foam; 
6). Simple structure, easy to assembly and install, diffuse flat plate reflector can be assembled easily with its module structure; 
7). Can be used all year round in the cold climate; 
8). Can be used together with Auxiliary electric boost; 
9). Long service life, can be used as long as 15 years.

Description: 
1). Material of storage tank 
2). Outer tank: Colorful steel, 0.4mm thick 
3). Inner Tank: SUS304-2B stainless steel 1.5 mm 
4). Thick Insulation: Polyurethane foam, 50 mm 
5). Working pressure: 6Bar 
6). Daily efficiency: ≥ 55% (≥ 42% in winter) 
7). Working temperature: 60 Degree Celsius -35 Degree Celsius 
8). Vacuum tube specifications: 58mm*1800mm 
9). Lifetime: 15 years

To know more imformation aboutHome Solar Hot Water Heating.

Electric and Gas solar hot water systems account for about 20% of the household greenhouse gas emissions. Solar hot water systems are fairly simple in design which contributes to their durability. An installed solar hot water system could save you up to 75% of your hot water heating costs.

Typically a single 300 litre system will adequately service a home of between 4 to 8 people comfortably. All systems usually come with a booster system either gas or electric in order to ensure warm water 24 hours a day no matter the weather.

Traditionally flat plate collectors have been the most popular but the recent introduction of evacuated tubes with their better durability and efficiency has seen them jump in popularity.

Home Solar water systems can either be roof mounted or split systems.

In roof mounted systems the solar panels are combined with a tank and located on the roof structure. A sloping roof facing south in the northern hemisphere or the opposite if in the southern hemisphere. The sun heats the water and the hot water rises in the tank and siphons into a pump or gravity feed which makes it available to the house. Split systems consist of a north (or south) facing roof mounted collector(s) with a separate tank on the ground, usually located close to one of the major warm water consumption areas, such as the kitchen or bathroom.

The sun heats the water in the collector and once it reaches a desired temperature, a sensor device activates the circulation pump which starts to pump the water into the storage tank on the ground. This pump will also usually pump the cold water from the bottom of the storage tank up into the collector The 2 systems are pretty similar in their efficiency and the choice is most likely to be made on what fits the house structure best or cosmetically is preferable.

The SunWater Solar crew has been hard at work this week launching construction of the Cogenra solar thermal/PV system we are installing on the fitness center at Facebook’s new campus in Menlo Park, Calif. This week SunWater Solar cut into the roof, lifted materials to the roof and began building out the blocking and sleepers that will support the solar system rack. Once the rack is complete, we’ll mount the Cogenra solar collector arms, collectors and mirrors, and begin connecting to the building’s existing water-heating and electrical systems.

Another exciting development at Facebook this week was the arrival onsite of the 760-gallon Trendsetter solar storage tank that will act as the “battery” for the solar water-heating system. This unpressurized, rectangular aluminum tank will reside in the ground-level mechanical room.

For solar thermal integrators, the start of any new commercial project is always exciting. All the preliminary work is complete, and the project has moved from the drawing board to the hands-on, boots-on-the-roof world of tools, materials and building. Furthermore, when companies of Facebook’s caliber adapt solar cogeneration technology, it helps prove the value of these systems to other organizations.

Camp Parks, a U.S. Army reservist base in Dublin, California, is charging ahead with solar water heater and other renewable technologies these days. The base’s efforts to implement solar thermal technology are indicative of a powerful drive within the U.S. military to achieve energy independence. Within the U.S. military, several mandates are in place that set ambitious goals for the use of renewable energy technologies.

Camp Parks’ work with solar was recently highlighted in a Mercury News article that includes a few images of the solar water-heating system solar vacuum tube installed at the base. This 562 square-foot Heliodyne system includes 924 gallons of solar storage (vertical Hanson tanks) and heats water for soldiers’ barracks. SunWater Solar is currently working on several much larger solar water-heating systems at another U.S. military base.

As with many other technologies that are now accepted and commonplace, solar thermal is being widely implemented by the military before widespread acceptance by the private sector. In its efforts to cut costs and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, the U.S. military is currently experimenting with a wide variety of renewable technologies, including solar water heating. We are confident that the solar water-heating will stand out as one of the most robust, cost-effective ways for the military to meet its renewable energy use goals.

Solar power generation is primarily produced through the use of photovoltaic technology. In this process, photons, or particles of light, are absorbed by collectors and the energy released during this absorption is transferred as electrical current.

Photovoltaic Cells To generate solar power, photovoltaic cells, or solar cells, need to be exposed to sunlight. These cells are thin semiconductors, such as silicon, that are given a positive and negative charge.

Generating Electricity

When sunlight hits the cell, it displaces electrons from the semiconductor. The positive and negative charge allow for the electrons to be controlled and directed through a cable. Arrays In order to produce useful amounts of electricity, many solar cells are linked. Cells are mounted on a panel to make up a module, which are in turn organized into arrays. A commercial solar module can produce over 200 watts of electricity when operating at maximum capacity.

Conversion

After the electricity is created by the solar cells, it passes through an electrical inverter, which changes the electricity from direct current to alternating current. Alternating current, or AC, electricity is used in standard American power outlets.

Distribution

Once solar energy is converted into a usable form, it needs to be distributed or stored. Major solar plants transfer their electricity through cables directly into the national grid, which distributes it to residences and businesses.

Long lines of mirrored solar cells can be seen stretching across large areas of land in America, Germany, Japan and many other countries worldwide. These solar cells are used to generate energy through solar power plants. Solar power is a form of alternative energy that uses the sun’s power to create usable electricity. Solar power plants use various methods to capture the sun’s energy and have a long history. Today solar energy is used to power residential and commercial areas around the world.

History

Passive solar power has been recorded as early as 700 BC. Passive solar power involves the direct heating of homes by the sun. Photovoltaic cells, which are used to convert solar energy directly into electricity, were developed by Charles Fritts in 1883 and were made of selenium. In 1954 the first modern photovoltaic cells made of silicon were created by Bell Laboratories. These cells greatly increased solar power efficiency. It was not until 1965 that Peter Glaser developed the idea for the first solar power generation plant, and in 1982 the first megawatt solar power plant went online in Hisperia, California. By 1999 worldwide photovoltaic cell output reached 1,000 megawatts.

Types

As of 2011 there are two main types of solar power plants. Photovoltaic plants use parabolic troughs lined with photovoltaic cells to create power immediately. Thermal solar power plants use parabolic troughs lined with mirrored panels. These panels focus the sun’s energy onto a receiver rod. Flowing through the receiver rod is oil called therminol. The energy focused on the rod heats up the oil to about 400 degrees Celsius, or 750 degrees Fahrenheit. In thermal power plants the heated therminol is transferred to the heat exchanger through a series of pipelines. The heat exchanger uses the oil to heat water and produce steam. The steam is then pressurized and used to propel the solar collectors generator’s turbine. This generator sends power to a transformer, which converts the energy into a usable form and transports it to residential areas. After the steam is used to power the turbine in a thermal power plant it is sent to a cooling tower. Here the steam cools and condenses back into water. When it is sufficiently cool it is recycled into the heat exchanger and converted back into steam.

In photovoltaic plants the process is less complicated. Energy from the cells is sent directly to the plant’s generator and then to the transformer. There is no need for steam power in these plants.

Comparisons

Solar power is one energy resource labeled as an “alternative energy,” meaning that is does not depend on fossil fuels to create power. Solar collector is preferable to fossil fuels because it is free, available in all countries and produces no greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, sunlight cannot be taxed or the importation of sunlight limited, such as is the case with fossil fuels. Developing nations or nations with fuel embargoes could greatly benefit from this technology. Yet, fossil fuels already have an intact infrastructure to create massive amounts of energy for large urban centers. Converting this infrastructure to solar power would have a very high price. When solar power is compared to other forms of alternative energy it also has some advantages. As with fossil fuels, not all alternative energy sources are as readily available as solar power. Some nations do not have the resources for wind, water or geothermal power, but solar power is universal. When compared to bio fuels, solar power benefits from its lack of high production cost.

Drawbacks

Solar power does have some drawbacks. Solar power plants do not have high energy output in all regions. Areas ripe for solar power are usually sunny, desert regions with long days. Areas farther north with high cloud cover and short winter days can use solar energy, but will not produce as much energy as southern regions. Solar plants also have a high initial cost to build and require large amounts of land to erect solar collection troughs.

Additionally, some supplementary power plant heating systems use fossil fuels to produce energy on cloudy, low sun days. Pollutants from fossil fuels are then released into the air, eliminating the label of “clean energy” from these plants. However, most plants do not have fossil-fuel-powered back-up systems, but instead store a portion of their daily energy output to use on low-sunlight days.

Solar hot waters, or geysers as they are referred to in some parts of the world, come in five basic designs. Passive systems are the simplest and do not have any mechanical parts. Active solar water heaters use pumps and valves. Open loop systems heat the water directly, while closed loop systems are indirectly heated using a heat exchanger. It is important to determine the specific needs of each household when designing a system, including climate and the number of people who will use the hot water, plus the time of day when it will be most needed

1.Consider the climate in which your design will be used and the number of people who will use the hot water. Solar heating systems use a collector made up of a collector plate coated with absorber coatings and metal pipes — called risers — for the water to run through and become heated. The collector is usually flat and insulated with a glass front. You will need to include tanks, pumps, valves, pipes and fully assembled collectors in your design.

2.Draw a batch design. This is simplest and oldest warm climate solar heater type. Batch solar heaters have one tank, the collection tank, performing two tasks: solar collector and storage. The collection tank for a batch system is usually a square box that is insulated and has a glass panel on the front. The box is mounted on the roof or other sunny area. The system is plumbed so that potable water enters the bottom of the collection tank, the sun heats the water and the warm water stays in the tank. When a faucet is opened in the house, the warm water is drawn out of a pipe at the top of the collection box and more cold water fills the collection box. You may add an electric backup tank to your design, which would be mounted in your home and would heat the water when it is not heated sufficiently by the sun. Do not install in freezing climates.

3.Design a thermosyphon hot water system. These are the most commonly used solar heating systems in the United States and around the world. The cold water runs through the bottom of the solar storage tank and into the flat plate collector. Thermosyphon systems rely on the fact that hot water rises and require no pumping to move the water through the collector to the backup water heater in the house. You need to add an isolation valve on the incoming cold water pipe and the outgoing hot water pipe plus a tempering valve to mix cold into the hot water when necessary. This design is not suitable for freezing climates.

4.Plan an open loop direct pump solar heater design. This is similar to the passive designs but with a pump to circulate the water and the holding tank is mounted in the house beside the backup tank. The water is pumped through the collector and back into the holding tanks and does not lose as much heat at night because it is indoors. You will need three isolation valves and a tempering valve plus a 10-watt pump and its control panel. This design is suitable only for warm climates.

5.Draft a drainback water geyser design. This allows the water to drain out of the collector into a drainback reservoir tank mounted beneath it and above the storage tank. The

Turkish solar water heater passes the water up through the collector then through a heat exchanger before it goes into the storage tank. A differential thermostat control drains the water out of the plumbing loop when the temperature drops, thereby preventing it from freezing and damaging the risers. This system uses distilled water and requires very little maintenance. It can also be designed to use antifreeze solution, although this has to be changed periodically. A stronger pump is required to move the water through the system.

6.Design an antifreeze solar water heater or pressurized glycol design. This is the best option for very cold climates. It uses antifreeze mixed half and half with water, which is pumped through the collectors. The water is heated by transfer when it makes contact with the heated pipes. This design requires more plumbing to include an expansion tank, because the antifreeze expands when heated.

Solar water heater is an effective way to save money on energy bills because it uses the power of the sun to heat water. Solar water heating systems include roof- or ground-mounted solar collectors to absorb the sun’s warmth to heat water, which is pumped to a well-insulated storage tank. In hot, sunny climates, solar water heating can provide from 90 to 100 percent of a household’s hot water needs. Research and planning are essential before you install a solar water heating system.

1.Identify a suitable site for the solar collectors. The site is usually an unshaded rooftop or yard with a clear view of the sky.

2.Estimate the solar collector area required to provide enough hot water for your home. About 20 square feet of collector is required for each of the first two family members. Add 8 square feet for each additional person if you live in the southern United States and 14 square feet if you live in the northern United States.

3.Calculate the volume of the storage tank needed to collect and retain solar-heated water. For households of two to three people, allow for a 50- to 60-gallon storage tank. Consider 80- to 120-gallon tanks for households of four to six people. Contractors usually install storage tanks in attics or basements. So ensure that your home has space to accommodate the size of storage tank needed.

4.Research your area’s building codes, subdivision covenants and zoning ordinances. Obtain this information from your jurisdiction’s zoning and building enforcement divisions. Most locations require a building permit to fit a solar water heating system on an existing building.

5.Request a price quotation for solar water heating system installation from solar energy installation companies. Obtain at least three quotes to ensure you receive the best deal. Ask each company to provide details about some of its customers so that you can contact them for an unbiased opinion on the company’s work.

Adding a solar water heater to a pool can reduce the need for wasteful and expensive electrical heating elements. A solar water panel uses sunlight to warm a continuous flow of water through black pipes, heating water for as long as the sun is out. Making the panel is relatively easy and can be completed in about two hours.

Cut a rectangular section of plywood, 3 feet by 4 feet.

2 Attach four 2-by-4s on the edges of the plywood with wood screws, cutting them to fit and standing the boards on their edges. The result should be a shallow box. Turn the wood screws until they are driven flush.

3 Drill a hole near one corner of the box, in a 2-by-4r that forms one of the shorter, 3-foot sides of the solar vacuum tube. Make the hole big enough for the copper pipe to pass through it. Drill a second hole at the opposite, diagonal corner, in the other 3-foot-long 2-by-4.

4 Run the copper pipe through one of the holes and across to the opposite interior wall. Place a 90-degree pipe adapter on the end of the copper pipe. Place a small section of copper pipe on the open end of the adapter. Place another 90-degree adapter on the open copper pipe. This creates a 180-degree bend in the pipe.

5 Run the copper pipe the length of the solar water panel, back to the opposite side, and repeat the pipe-adapter process to turn it back 180 degrees. Continue this procedure until the panel is filled with a radiator pattern of copper pipe. The last pipe should exit through the second drilled hole.

6 Paint the interior of the solar panel and the pipe with flat-black paint and allow them to dry. Apply several coats if necessary.

7 Attach the Plexiglas to the top of the wooden box, sealing the pipes inside. Acrylic Plexiglas is difficult to drill, but drilling holes for wood screws will hold it to the box better than adhesive. Turn the screws, but only enough to touch the Plexiglas to the wood. The acrylic, wood, screw, and hole will all expand and contract, which could cause cracking.

8 Attach one end of the pipe on the solar water panel to the pool’s pump or filter pump. Use a pipe adapter to run a section of PVC pipe, if needed. Run the copper pipe from the other end of the pipe on the solar water panel to the shallow end of the pool. The water should be pumped from the deep end into the box, creating a circulation of warm water in the pool.

Building a PVC pipe solar hot water heater can reduce or eliminate the need to use “grid” power to heat water for the home. By using PVC pipe encased in a heat-building box, then installing this box in a location that receives ample sunlight, the water is heated and pumped into the home using thermal energy. Installing several of these heat boxes will provide an abundance of hot water, and can be built and installed by an average backyard engineer in about three hours.

1.Build the heater box. Using the plywood as a base, nail four 2x4 boards around the edge of the plywood to make a shallow box. Screws can be used for added stability.

2.Drill holes large enough for the PVC pipe to fit into, one on the top left edge, one on the lower right edge. They can be on either edge of their corner, but they must be placed on opposite corners.

3.Attach a layer of plastic thermal film to the plywood and up the edges of the 2x4’s, leaving spaces for the drilled holes.

4.Assemble the PVC pipe inside the box, in a radiator pattern. Run one pipe from the hole down the inside edge of the box. Then, using a pipe adapter and glue, take the pipe to a 90-degree angle. Add a small section of pipe, then another 90-degree pipe adapter, so that the pipe makes a “U” shape. Run a length of pipe to the opposite edge of the box and repeat the “U” shape so that the pipe runs the entire length of the box in a series of bends. This will maximize the exposure of water inside the box to the sunlight provided. The last section of pipe should meet the second drilled hole at the lower right of the box.

5.Paint all pipes and the inside of the box with low-gloss black paint. This can either be standard acrylic spray paint or brushed-on lacquer paint. The objective is to make the inside of the box and all interior pipes a dark black color.

6.Cut and mount the plexiglass cover to the top of the box, sealing it. The pipe glue can be used, or small holes can be drilled into it and nails or screws can secure it.

7.Mount the box in a high-sunlight environment. Most solar collector to place it on the roof, as it is a flat, angled surface that gets a lot of direct light exposure. The box can be mounted to metal “L” shaped connectors, screwed into both the box and the mounting surface.

8.Attach the home’s hot water supply to the pipes in the box. The upper left pipe on the box is the input, and the lower right hole is the output. As the cold water is pumped into the box, sunlight will be absorbed into the black surfaces, heating the pipes. The water will exit the box and enter the house at a substantially higher temperature.

Solar hot water systems have become the most cost-effective way to generate hot water for most homes. These systems can be used in any climate as they use the sun’s energy as a heating source. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a solar water system consists of solar collectors and storage tanks. There are two types of solar water heating systems, namely active and passive systems.

1.Cover the plywood box with the window glass panels to serve as a solar panel for the heating system. Cut and solder the pipes; fasten both to the bottom and top pipe lines of the electric tank. Design a solar water heating system that will minimize the Life-Cycle Cost (LCC) and meets 100 percent of the load on the sunniest day of the year. Consider the cost of maintenance, freeze protection, solar collector mount, overheating protection and orientation.

2.Locate the solar collector properly for maximum sunlight. Find a sunny location that will minimize the piping distance between the collector and electric, conventional gas or wood backup unit. Choose long, thin cylinders as they have greatest surface area to volume ratio as water heater cores. Test the tanks for leaks and rust if you are using cylinders retrieved from cast-off electric units. Patch the tanks carefully if necessary. Insulate the outer sheet metal cover for heat retention. Examine the anode of the heater core and replace if corrosion is evident.

3.Determine whether roof, platform, wall or ground installation will be used. Connect the solar heater efficiently to the backup unit. Seal and properly insulate the pipes; consider using Armaflex and a coating or use an aluminum jacket. Bleed out air in the tank before hooking to the backup unit. Build your solar heating system by using good materials that will support the tanks and bear the load they will carry. Add tempering valves and bypassing capability near the backup heaters. The valve ensures consistent temperature water is delivered to the taps, while bypass piping allows the conventional system to provide heat when the solar heater is down for any reason.

Building a solar hot water heater can immediately reduce energy costs and can be utilized in any climate. “On average, if you install a solar water heater, your water heating bills should drop 50%—80%” (References 1). However, it is important to note that it is necessary to have a backup hot water system for those cloudy days or periods of higher use.

1.Find a south facing slope, where sunlight will hit more than other areas. Preferably, you will also want the solar hot water heater to be close to the traditional water heater, thus eliminating some of the heat loss from warm water running through a labyrinthian network of pipes. This south-facing slope will be the home of your new solar hot water heater. Placement and orientation can be the “single most important” factors to consider when constructing a solar water heater (References 3).

2.Clean your extra hot water tank with a wire brush and paint it black. Prepare the tank by making sure that you have the correct fittings to run the water from the tank to the rest of the water heating system. Ensure that if you are placing the solar water heater at an angle for maximum coverage by the sun, and that the cold water inlet is still at the bottom of the tank. (Resources 3)

3.Construct the box. The size of the box should allow for the glass front to cover 1 square foot for every 2 to 2.5 gallons of water. This will ensure that you will have a large enough size for adequate solar gain. A standard patio door replacement glass (34 inches X 76 inches) is ideal for a 40 gal. water heater (Resources 3). Obviously, the box should also be big enough to fit the tank.

4.Place the tank into the plywood box and insulate the plywood box further by utilizing double-paned windows or multiple layers of close so that the trapped air will add as an extra measure of insulation. Using silicone to caulk the plywood box will also help seal-in the heat as well as keep unwanted moisture from the outside environment from getting inside. Finish preparing the box by drilling holes for pipes and installing insulation.

5.Connect solar collector to the traditional water heater already being utilized in your home. Place two bypass valves leading from the cold water supply to the solar water heater and the traditional water heater so that you can regulate which heating system the cold water flows to (References 2). Run piping from the hot water outlet on the solar water heater to the cold water inlet on your traditional heater so that the hot water is running into your existing water heater already hot.

Building a solar hot water heater can immediately reduce energy costs and can be utilized in any climate. “On average, if you install a solar water heater, your water heating bills should drop 50%—80%” (References 1). However, it is important to note that it is necessary to have a backup hot water system for those cloudy days or periods of higher use.

1.Find a south facing slope, where sunlight will hit more than other areas. Preferably, you will also want the solar hot water heater to be close to the traditional water heater, thus eliminating some of the heat loss from warm water running through a labyrinthian network of pipes. This south-facing slope will be the home of your new solar hot water heater. Placement and orientation can be the “single most important” factors to consider when constructing a solar water heater (References 3).

2.Clean your extra hot water tank with a wire brush and paint it black. Prepare the tank by making sure that you have the correct fittings to run the water from the tank to the rest of the water heating system. Ensure that if you are placing the solar water heater at an angle for maximum coverage by the sun, and that the cold water inlet is still at the bottom of the tank. (Resources 3)

3.Construct the box. The size of the box should allow for the glass front to cover 1 square foot for every 2 to 2.5 gallons of water. This will ensure that you will have a large enough size for adequate solar gain. A standard patio door replacement glass (34 inches X 76 inches) is ideal for a 40 gal. water heater (Resources 3). Obviously, the box should also be big enough to fit the tank.

4.Place the tank into the plywood box and insulate the plywood box further by utilizing double-paned windows or multiple layers of close so that the trapped air will add as an extra measure of insulation. Using silicone to caulk the plywood box will also help seal-in the heat as well as keep unwanted moisture from the outside environment from getting inside. Finish preparing the box by drilling holes for pipes and installing insulation.

5.Connect solar collector to the traditional water heater already being utilized in your home. Place two bypass valves leading from the cold water supply to the solar water heater and the traditional water heater so that you can regulate which heating system the cold water flows to (References 2). Run piping from the hot water outlet on the solar water heater to the cold water inlet on your traditional heater so that the hot water is running into your existing water heater already hot.

Solar hot water heaters range in complexity from camping showers to high-tech solar collector systems. Integral passive solar water heaters, also known as “bread box heaters,” are generally considered the most efficient, inexpensive do-it-yourself option. In contrast to active systems, which require powered pumps to move water, passive systems connect into the home plumbing system, and use the system pressure to move water. Water heated in the solar hot water heater is transferred to the home’s traditional water heater, which serves as a storage tank (and a backup heater if needed).

1.Check the anode on the water heater core tank for any signs of corrosion; if the anode is very corroded, replace it with a new one.

2.Rinse the inside of the tank with a mild soap solution; rinse well with clean water.

3.Use a wire brush to scuff the paint on the outside of the tank and remove any rust or debris.

4.Spray-paint the exterior of the tank black. Apply several coats, allowing the paint to dry between coats.

5.Measure the length and diameter of your water tank—allow a few extra inches for the water hose connection.

6.Draw a simple frame diagram for a wooden box to house your tank; the tank should lie on its side. Add a “V”-shaped interior frame to prevent the tank from rolling. The outer box must be large enough to allow the tank to sit in the interior frame with the top flush with or below the surface of the outer frame.

7.Build the frame from framing boards (e.g., 2-x-2-inch boards). Add a solar energy along the center of the bottom of the frame to provide support for a “V”-shaped interior frame.

8.Cover the box on six sides with plywood—nail or screw the plywood into the frame.

9.Add two plywood boards to the inside of the frame to form a “V”-shaped interior frame—nail these boards to the upper frame edge and to the bottom center support board.

10.Cover the interior of the frame with aluminum flashing; nail or screw the metal to the plywood.

If you’ve ever started a fire by focusing the sun’s rays with a magnifying glass, you’ve learned first hand the power of the sun to heat. A solar power system won’t eliminate your solar collector bill but could cut it by as much as 60 percent, saving you thousands of dollars over its lifetime. Technological advances have made solar hot water systems more efficient than ever. They are a great way to conserve energy and protect the environment.

1.Understand how it works. A simple solar shower is available for camping through the iconographic outdoor supply house, LL Bean. It consists of a black bag attached to a nozzle that you fill with stream water. Hang it in a tree until the sun warms it, to the point you’d like as displayed by the built in thermometer. When it gets hot enough for you, stand under the nozzle and take a shower. It works quite well.

2.Home solar hot systems basically draw on the same principles. They collect heat from the sun in a flat plat collector or mirrored trough through which tubes are run. The water moves to where it is used in an insulated hot water tank. Systems can be active or passive. Passive systems are simpler and more reliable and depend on the fact that solar hot water rises and cold water sinks, however your collectors have to be placed below your storage tank. Active systems use a powered pump which takes energy. So that the system can be used at night and in cold weather, the sun power is combined with an auxiliary heating source. In integrated collector storage systems, water passes first through the storage tank and then though a conventional water heater. Since the water has been pre-heated, you used less energy. The amount of auxiliary heat added is controlled by a thermostat. Other systems simply use a back up hot water heater.

3.Choose the right system for your climate. Direct circulation systems pump water through collectors then into the home. They work well in the Sun Belt, where freezing is rare. Indirect circulation systems pump a fluid like anti-freeze through the system and into a heat exchanger which warms the water that you actually use. This is the better choice for climates where frost is likely.

4.Find a reliable installer who will customize a system for your property. A well made system can work up to 25 years with minimal maintenance. You’ll find some limited federal help with installation, with new credits in California. Compared to Germany, Greece and even China the United States is lagging far behind on solar module incentives.

5.Estimate how much money you’ll save. That depend on where you live, the efficiency of your collector, where you place it on your roof, how much sun it gets, how many collectors you use, how big a tank you heat, how big it is, how well insulated your system is and how much hot water you use. If you use auxiliary heating, you’ll save less, but a hot shower after a hard work out is guaranteed that way.

6.Feel good that you are doing your part to limit global warming. Every solar hot water system installed stops literally tons of carbon from being released into the atmosphere each year.

Evacuated tube solar collectors absorb the sun’s radiant energy and transfer it into recirculating liquid-based heat storage systems that provide heat and hot water in homes and businesses. Their unique operating principles allow them to convert nearly all the radiant energy that enters them into usable heat. Their resultant high efficiency allows them to produce warmth and warm water even during periods of extended cloudiness.

Loss Prevention

While radiant light energy travels freely through a vacuum in any direction, heat energy cannot be passed through a vacuum by means of conduction or convection. Both of these natural heat transfer methods need air molecules to transfer heat, and the vacuum provides none. Vacuum insulation is not a new concept; for decades, traditional vacuum bottles have kept coffee piping hot on those long trips and tiring workdays. Putting the sun light energy absorbers into evacuated glass tubes greatly enhances the collection of radiant energy.

Absorption Benefits

Once the radiant energy travels through the vacuum space, it strikes the specially-coated absorber plate, raising its temperature. The coating optimizes the conversion of radiant energy into heat in the absorber, while inhibiting its loss back out of the tube as the absorber gets hotter. Between the special coating and the evacuated tubes, all the heat loss mechanisms that used to limit early domestic solar heating panels are effectively disabled. This dramatically improves their performance in collecting heat from the sun’s rays.

There are two methods of transferring the collected heat into the home: the direct-flow method and the heat pipe method. Both have water or glycol anti-freeze manifolds that consolidate the heat from individual evacuated tubes and transfer it into a continuously flowing pipeline to one or more heat storage tanks within the home. From these tanks, domestic heat or hot water may then be drawn.

Heat Transference

The direct flow method circulates solar hot water through small copper tubes within the core of each the many evacuated glass tubes in the collector. There it collects the heat from the absorber and carries it directly to the re-circulation pipeline and into the house. The heat pipe method uses an evaporation/condensation process inside a sealed pipe to conduct the heat to the water in the manifold where it is transferred to the recirculation pipeline into the house. Both systems have advantages, but either can be effective if properly installed and maintained.

Economic Considerations

Evacuated tube solar collectors have evolved as energy costs have skyrocketed and manufacturing methods for the collectors have been optimized. The lower costs now justify the added expenditure when the benefits are amortized, especially when there may be incentives either as energy cost discounts or tax rebates.