Everyone uses hot water to bathe, shower, wash our hands, wash our dishes and wash our clothes. Many of us use hot water to heat our homes. few of us are addicted to soaking in a hot tub or swimming in a heated pool. The uses and demand for hot water are significant. Why not make all you want and pay nothing for the energy.
Thermal solar hot water has been around long enough to become a mechanically mature technology. We built my fist experimental solar collector in the mid 70’s. We installed a commercial system in the late 70’s. (Government funded) Unfortunely most of these solar systems were taken out of service due to their requirement for regular maintenance and repair.
Solar thermal systems are now available that are very reliable and require only minimum maintenance. They are simple enough that almost anyone could build, install and operate a system. If low up-front costs are important, start stockpiling your materials. If time availability is the issue or you are just not handy, call one or the installers listed at the end of this article.
Several books and e-books are available for the DIYer.Click Here!.
Infrared radiation (IR) are produced when short wave radiation (light) hits the absorber plate, which is then trapped inside the collector. Water, in the absorber tubes collect the trapped heat and transfer it to a heat storage tank. Heat storage allows a solar thermal system to produce electricity at night and on overcast days.
Several types of Solar thermal systems are available but we recommend you keep it simple and use flat plate collectors. Flat plate collectors are the simplest and most common type. Copper pipes wind back and forth through the flat plate collector, which is painted black to absorb heat and covered with glass, or “glazing,” to prevent heat from escaping. Often the pipes are painted black and bonded to the material of the flat plate collector to maximize heat absorption.
