Solar Hot Water Panels

March 5, 2009   ·   Solar Hot Water Panels   ·   1,889 views   ·    Print This Post

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Solar hot water panels are composed of solar thermal collectors, and a fluid system to move the heat from the collector to wherever the point of usage will be. Sometimes these units will use electricity for pumping the heated fluid and will also have a storage tank for later usage. 

Solar hot water panels can be used to heat water which in turn can be used for a variety of purposes including heating swimming pool water, underfloor heating, or possibly space heating. The amazing amount of 86% of domestic hot water can be supplied by a solar hot water panel. 

The solar systems used in residential structures consist of two types of systems, compact and pumped systems. Both of these types usually include a backup energy source that is only used when the liquid in the containment tank falls below a certain temperature. A system such as this ensures that hot water is always available when needed. 

Solar hot water panels are not a new technology, and were actually very popular in the 1920’s, mostly in the Florida and Southern California areas. Also in Israel more than 20% of the population as early as the 1960’s were using solar water heaters. As early as 1970 all of the new homes built in Israel were required to have solar water heaters, and this country leads the world in solar use. 

To prove a point about the US and UK market charging much more than needed for solar power equipment, actually making it not cost effective to implement. 30 million Chinese households now have solar water heaters, where basic models cost the equivalent of only $190. Hot water that is heated by solar means can not only be used for warmth and hot water usage, but can also be used to generate electricity. 

The countries that are leading the world in solar usage are China Europe, Japan and India, reaping the benefits of cost and greenhouse gas emission savings.

The fact is that using solar power to heat your water is one of the most practical and cost effective ways to harness energy from the sun. In normal operation, the solar thermal system will easily heat water to 140ºF or higher matching the effectiveness of the traditional hot water heater. Effective systems can collect up to 70 percent of the sun’s energy that reaches them and transfer it to you to use saving you thousands of dollars. 

In cooler climates during the colder times of the year, evan an indirect solar hot water system can help lower your energy costs by providing a water preheating system rather than an outright water heater. Preheated water reduces the work that the other energy systems have to do. 

Similar to other types of solar energy systems, solar hot water heating systems work best on south-facing walls with full sun exposure. Because of the collector tubes’ type of construction, the outside elements have less effect on its performance compared to a photovoltaic collection system, all you need is a bit of shade on the thermal array unit and it will have a less noticeable impact, and your solar hot water panels will pay for themselves in short order.

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