Solar energy most often associated with electricity production, while at the other side, the heating is also one form of solar energy use. Heating is not too difficult, in this case the efficiency is the key to maintaining your system from damage.
The fuel needed to heat water can be reduced by solar water heaters because it capture renewable energy, the sun. Many solar water heaters use a small solar electric (photovoltaic) module to power the pump needed to circulate the heat transfer fluid through the collector. Use of these modules allows solar water heater to operate even during a power outage.
Solar water heaters can also be used for hotels and motels, car washing, swimming pools, restaurants, and others.
There are many designs for solar water heaters. But, in general consists of three main components:
1. Solar collectors, which convert solar radiation into heat.
2. Heat exchanger / pump module, which transfers heat from solar collectors into drinking water.
3. Storage tank to store solar hot water.
The most common types of solar collectors used in solar water heaters is a flat plate and evacuated tube collectors. In both cases, one or more collectors are installed on the south facing slope or roof and connected to the storage tank. When there is enough sunlight, a heat transfer fluid, such as water or glycol, is pumped through the collector. When the fluid through the collector, he is heated by the sun. Fluid which is heated and then circulated to heat exchangers, which transfer energy into the water tank.
When the owner of the home using hot water, cold water from the main water into the bottom of the solar storage tank. Solar hot water at the top of the storage tank flows into the conventional water heater and then to the faucet. If the water at the top of the solar storage tank hot enough, no further heating is required. If the solar-heated water is not too hot (because the clouds long enough), a conventional water heaters heat water until the desired temperature.
Executive Summary about Solar Heaters by Tanya Turner
Are you thinking about buying a swimming pool heater? A very cost effective option would be getting a solar heater for swimming pool.
Solar heater for swimming pools – how does it work?
Unlike other types of solar powered devices, solar pool heater works rather simple. Solar panels collect heat from the sun. A pump forces water from your swimming pool through a filter that leads it into a solar collector. The size of a swimming pool heater you need depends on the size of your pool and the climate in your area. For bigger pools and colder places you need bigger solar heaters. Heaters with 2′x20′ panels are the most popular. For bigger pools you will need more panels.
Installing your solar pool heater
Unlike solar water heaters, pool heaters are fairly easy to install.
Maintaining your solar heater for swimming pool
Getting a solar heater for your pool makes much more sense than getting any other type of pool heater including gas and electric heaters.
Pool Solar Heaters – How to Build Your Own Pool Solar Heater
Executive Summary about Solar Heaters by Benjamin Robert Ehinger
Here is a plan to put together your solar heater.
First, you are going to need about 150 feet of long black tubing that is about a half inch around to three fourths of an inch around. You will also need about 10 feet of PVC pipe that will fit snugly into the ends of the black tubing. you will need a shut off valve that will be attached to one end of the PVC piping. You will also need a pump that will be strong enough to move water through the tubing at a slow speed.
Second, you are going to need some 2 by 4 pieces of lumber and some metal brackets. You will want to mount this part of your heater on a rooftop that is in direct sunlight, a shed, a barn, a garage, or anywhere else that is in direct sunlight.
Last, you will run the PVC piping from each end of the black tubing into the pool. When you turn the pump on it will suck water out of your pool at a slow speed and pump it up and through your black tubing, very slowly. You want this water to be sitting in the black tubing and getting hot. Then, when it comes back into the pool it will start to raise the temperature of your pool. This is now your solar pool heater.
