G.E.T. Solar Solutions - Solar Products
Have a Journeyman Plumber Install your Solar Energy System
Solar thermal technologies (also known as active solar systems) involve the conversion
of solar radiation into heat and include the use of pumps or fans to actively transfer
the heat to storage or for distribution directly to its intended use. The key component
of any active solar system is the solar collector, which absorbs the sun’s radiant energy
and transforms it into usable heat.
How Does a Solar Hot-Water System Work?
1. Energy Collection
Is accomplished with either a glazed flat plate collector or a series of evacuated
tubes, which first transfers the thermal energy received into a glycol-based heat
transfer fluid.
2. Energy Transfer
Occurs with domestic water by way of a double-walled heat exchanger or via a
space-heating loop and a single-walled heat exchanger.
3. Energy Storage
Is best accomplished with a separate solar storage tank, which acts as a preheat
for your regular water heating appliance. For domestic hot-water, an 80 gallon tank
is the average size used. If space is an issue, then a slightly less efficient single tank
system is used whereby the heating element becomes part of the solar storage unit.
Glazed Flat Plate Systems
Glazed Flat Plate Collectors are basically huge panes of selectively coated glass, which are framed by a well insulated shallow box. They are filled with serpentine tubing, which in turn, have been filled with a heat transporting fluid.
Benefits:
• on average slightly lower in cost
• easier to deal with over-heating
• can act as a radiator to dissipate heat
overnight
• gives off enough heat to melt snow
For more information...
Compare the differences of glazed flat plate
systems and evacuated tube systems...
Evacuated Tubes Systems
Evacuated Tube Collectors consist of a manifold with a series of test-tube shaped glass cylinders plugged in its bottom. Each 6’ long tube has a vacuum protecting the central 3/8 tube that transports the heat to the manifold. That central tube, or heat pipe, also has a vacuum within, which causes the few drops of water in it to boil at 25°C. The steam created then rises and condenses in the manifold thereby releasing its thermal energy into the heat transfer fluid.
Benefits:
• ambient air temperature does not affect
efficiency
• more compatible with space heating
techniques
• low wind loading in gusty areas
solar heating experience and hard work.
