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Why have over 1.5 million Americans invested in solar?
Surveys taken over the last ten years confirm that the vast majority of owners (94% or more)
consider that investment a wise decision. Consumer investment and satisfaction have spawned
a small but growing solar hot water (SHW) industry here in the U. S. that is providing even
broader benefits to our nation and has the potential to contribute much more.
Have you ever turned on the hose in the yard after it sat out in the sun and nearly
burnt yourself with hot water?
While you weren't looking, the sun was quietly working to give you hot water, even if you didn't
want it. Well if it's that easy. Now imagine what you can do if you're actually trying to make hot
water with a system that was designed to capture and harness that heat.
There are active and passive solar water heaters. The simplest systems are passive, using
nothing but solar energy and gravity to circulate water between the storage tank and the
collector, where the water heats up. As water in the collector heats, the hotter water rises into
a storage tank placed slightly above the collector, while cooler water runs down to replace it.
Active systems are generally more reliable than passive ones, and they can be put in more
places. They usually have a pump to move the water from the collector to the storage tank, so
the collector can be on the roof, in the yard, or wherever is convenient.
Passive solar hot water systems are probably the oldest commercially available solar systems.
At the turn of the century there were large numbers of solar water heating systems on roof
tops. Very little has changed from the original concept. Put a water holding tank in a box, with
glass on the side facing south and fill it with water. No moving parts, nothing to break down,
free fuel and no pollution. The passive solar water heater is known today by many names;
PSWH, Batch Heater and Bread Box are the most common and then there is the very
technical; Integrated Collector and Storage System (ICS).
The PSWH of today usually starts with a 40 gallon, glass lined tank. These tanks are usually
ordinary electric water heaters, which are stripped of their appliance shell and insulation.
Painted flat black, with high temperature paint and they're ready for solar.
In integral collector storage systems (ICS), the solar water storage system is built into the
collector. The potable water in the collector unit is heated by the sun and delivered by city or
well water pressure to an auxiliary tank (which contains non-solar back-up heating) or directly
to the point of use.
A thermosiphon solar water heating system has a tank mounted above the collector (normally
on the roof) to provide a natural gravity flow of water. Hot water rises through piping in the
collector, which is mounted below the tank; heavier cold water sinks to the lowest point in the
system (the collector), displacing the lighter hot water which rises to the tank.
The ICS and thermosiphon systems are simple since they use no pumps or controllers and
water always flows through the collector.
Using the sun to heat water can be cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Solar water
heating is generally more sensible for families that use a lot of hot water. Although it can work
anywhere, it is more cost-effective at lower latitudes and in sunnier climates.
A solar water heater needs a backup system and zoning in most areas also require them. One
easy way to provide backup is to add a solar system to an electric or gas storage water heater.
A tankless heater can also be used for backup.
Solar hot water systems can be vulnerable to freezing. If outdoor water lines freeze, their
piping can be destroyed. Open-loop systems, which run tap water through the system, need to
be protected. But no matter how well protected they are, temperatures below 35°F will keep
these systems from functioning. A closed loop, which runs antifreeze or air through the outdoor
pipes and then transfers the heat to the tap water, will keep the pipes from freezing.
Special Features
Open-loop solar systems circulate tap water directly through the collector and store it in the
tank. This works best with water that is not hard or acidic. Hard or acidic water corrodes the
copper pipes of the collector.
Closed-loop systems circulate heat transfer fluid, instead of tap water, through the collector.
This fluid may be treated water, air, antifreeze solution, or a special oil. It picks up heat in the
collector and transfers it to water. These systems are easier to install, but more expensive to
operate and maintain.
A tempering tank is the simplest solar hot-water system. A tank in a warm or sunny area such
as an attic or sunroom is hooked up to a water heater. Before cold water goes to the water
heater, the tank prewarms it to room temperature. The water heater then has less work to do
on each gallon of water, improving its recovery rate and cutting fuel use. Tempering tanks are
usually put in attics in hot climates.
Sizing
Most solar systems are designed to meet one-half to three-quarters of a family's hot-water
needs in the winter, or all of their summer needs and can generally meet all of a typical
commercial applications needs. The remainder is supplied by the backup system.
Your contractor will need to size the collectors, the storage tank and the backup system. A rule
of thumb is that an efficient collector in bright sunny weather will heat between 1 and 2 gallons
of water per square foot per day. So if your family uses 64 gallons of hot water per day, you
would need between 16 and 32 square feet of collector to supply half of the household's
needs.
HOT WATER PRODUCTION WITH THE FREE ENERGY SOURCE OF THE SUN, WITH GAS
OR ELECTRIC BACKUP
EXPECTED LIFE 20 - 30 years
APPROXIMATE COST TO INSTALL $2,000-$4,000
Surveys taken over the last ten years confirm that the vast majority of owners (94% or more)
consider that investment a wise decision. Consumer investment and satisfaction have spawned
a small but growing solar hot water (SHW) industry here in the U. S. that is providing even
broader benefits to our nation and has the potential to contribute much more.
Have you ever turned on the hose in the yard after it sat out in the sun and nearly
burnt yourself with hot water?
While you weren't looking, the sun was quietly working to give you hot water, even if you didn't
want it. Well if it's that easy. Now imagine what you can do if you're actually trying to make hot
water with a system that was designed to capture and harness that heat.
There are active and passive solar water heaters. The simplest systems are passive, using
nothing but solar energy and gravity to circulate water between the storage tank and the
collector, where the water heats up. As water in the collector heats, the hotter water rises into
a storage tank placed slightly above the collector, while cooler water runs down to replace it.
Active systems are generally more reliable than passive ones, and they can be put in more
places. They usually have a pump to move the water from the collector to the storage tank, so
the collector can be on the roof, in the yard, or wherever is convenient.
Passive solar hot water systems are probably the oldest commercially available solar systems.
At the turn of the century there were large numbers of solar water heating systems on roof
tops. Very little has changed from the original concept. Put a water holding tank in a box, with
glass on the side facing south and fill it with water. No moving parts, nothing to break down,
free fuel and no pollution. The passive solar water heater is known today by many names;
PSWH, Batch Heater and Bread Box are the most common and then there is the very
technical; Integrated Collector and Storage System (ICS).
The PSWH of today usually starts with a 40 gallon, glass lined tank. These tanks are usually
ordinary electric water heaters, which are stripped of their appliance shell and insulation.
Painted flat black, with high temperature paint and they're ready for solar.
In integral collector storage systems (ICS), the solar water storage system is built into the
collector. The potable water in the collector unit is heated by the sun and delivered by city or
well water pressure to an auxiliary tank (which contains non-solar back-up heating) or directly
to the point of use.
A thermosiphon solar water heating system has a tank mounted above the collector (normally
on the roof) to provide a natural gravity flow of water. Hot water rises through piping in the
collector, which is mounted below the tank; heavier cold water sinks to the lowest point in the
system (the collector), displacing the lighter hot water which rises to the tank.
The ICS and thermosiphon systems are simple since they use no pumps or controllers and
water always flows through the collector.
Using the sun to heat water can be cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Solar water
heating is generally more sensible for families that use a lot of hot water. Although it can work
anywhere, it is more cost-effective at lower latitudes and in sunnier climates.
A solar water heater needs a backup system and zoning in most areas also require them. One
easy way to provide backup is to add a solar system to an electric or gas storage water heater.
A tankless heater can also be used for backup.
Solar hot water systems can be vulnerable to freezing. If outdoor water lines freeze, their
piping can be destroyed. Open-loop systems, which run tap water through the system, need to
be protected. But no matter how well protected they are, temperatures below 35°F will keep
these systems from functioning. A closed loop, which runs antifreeze or air through the outdoor
pipes and then transfers the heat to the tap water, will keep the pipes from freezing.
Special Features
Open-loop solar systems circulate tap water directly through the collector and store it in the
tank. This works best with water that is not hard or acidic. Hard or acidic water corrodes the
copper pipes of the collector.
Closed-loop systems circulate heat transfer fluid, instead of tap water, through the collector.
This fluid may be treated water, air, antifreeze solution, or a special oil. It picks up heat in the
collector and transfers it to water. These systems are easier to install, but more expensive to
operate and maintain.
A tempering tank is the simplest solar hot-water system. A tank in a warm or sunny area such
as an attic or sunroom is hooked up to a water heater. Before cold water goes to the water
heater, the tank prewarms it to room temperature. The water heater then has less work to do
on each gallon of water, improving its recovery rate and cutting fuel use. Tempering tanks are
usually put in attics in hot climates.
Sizing
Most solar systems are designed to meet one-half to three-quarters of a family's hot-water
needs in the winter, or all of their summer needs and can generally meet all of a typical
commercial applications needs. The remainder is supplied by the backup system.
Your contractor will need to size the collectors, the storage tank and the backup system. A rule
of thumb is that an efficient collector in bright sunny weather will heat between 1 and 2 gallons
of water per square foot per day. So if your family uses 64 gallons of hot water per day, you
would need between 16 and 32 square feet of collector to supply half of the household's
needs.
HOT WATER PRODUCTION WITH THE FREE ENERGY SOURCE OF THE SUN, WITH GAS
OR ELECTRIC BACKUP
EXPECTED LIFE 20 - 30 years
APPROXIMATE COST TO INSTALL $2,000-$4,000
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At G2Power
Technologies, llc
we know you have
questions and we
are happy to discuss
your needs with you
in detail. Please
Contact Us if you
have additional
questions.
Technologies, llc
we know you have
questions and we
are happy to discuss
your needs with you
in detail. Please
Contact Us if you
have additional
questions.
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