Are you planning to invest in solar water heating systems? If yes, you’ve made a good decision. Solar collectors are the important features of solar water heaters. There are two types of solar collectors used in the solar powered water heating kits – flat plate solar collector and solar evacuated tube collector.
Both of them have their own share of advantages and should be preferred as per the type of solar water heating application you’re using them for. Take your time and look at both types of solar collectors discussed below:
Flat Plate Solar Collector
Flat plate solar collector has been around for a long time and is popular alternative in the warmer climates. It’s because of the fact that the warmer areas don’t get significant amount of cold.
Flat plate collectors available on 123 Zero Energy uses a borosilicate glass layer with low iron content. They ensure optimal solar penetration. A series of copper pipes is fused onto the internal aluminum plate coated with patented special selective coating. This coating allows the system to absorb around 98% of solar radiation.
The heat emitted from the sun is transferred to the copper pipes and then absorbed by solar high temperature glycol and circulated to the heating load like hot water or space heater or pool through a heat exchanger.
Evacuated Tubes Solar Collector
Evacuated tubes solar collector is known for modern day solar water heating applications. It takes advantage of the NASA technology. Solar evacuated tube has its internal heat pipes that can absorb solar heat energy even lower temperature -40 degree.
This type of solar collector is used basically for space heating and solar water heating in the areas that experience colder weather below freezing in winter. A solar evacuated tube works same like a flat plate collector except the tubes are within a vacuum. It means, there’s no heat loss virtually once the solar energy is absorbed.
Rest assured that, glass tubes remain frosty even when the interior of heat pipe can attain temperature as high as 480 F. They use copper heat pipe tube in the center and the energy is transferred to the top bulb of the heat pipe. After that, it will head to the sealed copper header where it heats up the solar heating fluid.
What are the uses of both solar collectors?
Flat plate collectors are perfect to use in the Caribbean and the southern USA climates. They are ideal alternatives for solar residential water heating and can help you save 60-80% on an average. These collectors work well for solar pool heating on a seasonal basis and offer so many benefits than traditional plastic mats used earlier on most pools.
Solar evacuated tubes collectors are turbo charged and can be used for space heating like radiant floor heating, fan coils and air handlers. These collector based solar water heating systems are best used in Northern regions or for industrial applications like agricultural and process heating where it requires to heat large volumes of hot water. For instance, solar vacuum tubes can save you significant operational costs on hotels, car washes, care homes, etc.
Bottom Line –
Are you looking to invest in solar water heaters? If yes, then you should look no further than 123 Zero Energy. We specialize in providing both flat plate and evacuated tube solar collectors ensuring optimal efficiency, durability and functionality. For more information about our products, feel free to reach out to us right now at 1-800-317-9054!
