Month: April 2009

Saving the Earth by Using a Solar Water Heating System

There are different types of solar water heating systems that are on the market that will work in a variety of different climates. If the climate is especially cold in the winter months, then there is really only one type of active solar water heating system that will work so that the water does not freeze, but the one that does work in that type of climate does a great job. Since hot water is used in so many different household tasks, such as washing dishes and clothes and taking showers, it can cause a burden on the energy that is needed for the home. Often water heaters are not well insulated so that the heater constantly has to work to supply all of the hot water that the home needs. Having a solar water heating system allows the sun to do the work to heat the water so that the electric or gas bill can go down and the other natural resources of the earth can be preserved.

How It Works

There are two main types of solar water heating systems, each of which utilize some sort of solar water heating panel that collects the sun’s rays and converts them into heat for the water. In an active, closed loop solar water heating system, the flat plate collector works to collect the sun’s rays. The antifreeze fluid runs in the collector loop only so that it does not contaminate the water supply. It is heated in the collector plate, then runs through the collector loop through the coils in the water collection tank to heat the water that is stored there, and then runs back out into the plate collector again for reheating. The tank also has a back up water heater in case there is not enough sunlight to fully heat the water supply. The hot water then runs from the storage container into the home for nice hot water in the washer, dishwasher or shower.

In a passive solar water heating system, the process is a little different. In this case, the water comes from the cold water supply and runs into the batch collector unit which has the solar panels which heat the water. When the water is heated, it goes to the top of the batch collector and is pushed out and into the storage tank which contains the backup water heater. This system is not usually as effective as the active systems, but a type of passive system is what is usually used to heat swimming pools or other large water supplies. Every solar water heating system has to have a backup heating unit in the storage tank so that when there are a series of cloudy days, the home can still have all the hot water that is needed.

Solar water heating systems have become a more viable option for more people today as the technology has advanced and the prices have come down. It takes a lot of energy to heat the water that comes into the home, especially for larger households. The hot water is used for such a variety of purposes, such as washing clothes, showering, washing dishes and other activities. This can place a large burden on the family through gas or electric bills, and having a solar hot water heating unit can help with this cost in the long run.

Choices

If an individual lives in a colder climate where there is a big freeze for several months of the winter, then there are not as many options in solar hot water heating units since the water can tend to freeze in the pipes, not getting enough heat from the sun. For those that live in milder climates, having a solar hot water heater can be an excellent choice, conserving cost and also the environment through the use of the unit. In addition, the individual can also have solar roofing panels installed which can help with the energy costs for the rest of the home, such as electricity to power lights and other pieces of equipment. In some cases where the home gets a lot of sunlight throughout the year and has a south facing section of roof, the individuals may reduce their electric bill to nothing, or even get a check from the electric company as they sell the extra energy their solar panels provide.

There are two general types of solar hot water heating units on the market and each type has two styles of units in it. The first is the active solar hot water heating unit, which has a type of pump in it so that the water is circulated through the solar panel to better heat the water. There are direct circulation systems that circulate the water in the home through the collection system and there are the indirect circulation systems which circulate heat transfer fluid through the collection system and also a heat exchanger. This second type is usually used in freezing climates so that the water does not freeze during the circulation process. The other type of solar hot water heating system is the passive system which has integral collector storage systems and thermosyphon systems. Neither of these systems is usually used in climates where there are freezing temperatures for most of the winter months since the water will freeze in the system.