Throughout the world, the most common application of solar energy is heating. Solar water heaters are devices that heat for domestic, industrial and commercial needs using solar energy. A solar water system with a capacity of 100 liters per day can save up to 1,500 units of electricity annually.
The components
A solar heating system is made up of a flat plate solar collector, connecting pipes (carrying water from the collector to the tank and to the end user) and a storage tank.
-
The collector contains copper foils made up of copper tubes soldered together (coated with a black layer for high absorbance) with an insulating material on the back and a sheet of tempered glass on top. A flat box houses the entire set.
-
In some models, the copper sheets are replaced by vacuum glass tubes. In such models, the insulating box and cover are not present.
Is working
The solar water heater system is usually installed in the open ground or on the roof. The collector is placed so that it faces the sun. This system is connected to a continuous supply. It flows through the tubes and heats up by absorbing heat from the sun. The thus heated is stored in a tank for future use. The storage tank insulation keeps you warm at night. Thus, the absorption of solar radiation by the black surfaces helps heating, and the insulation of the pipes and the storage tank helps to maintain the heat.
its uses
-
The heated water can be used for cleaning, washing and bathing.
-
By using this, you can save electricity spent by an electric geyser. It also saves costs used in power generation. Therefore, you can also contribute to the nation’s economy by using solar energy.
-
It ensures that you have an uninterrupted supply even if there are power outages in your area.
-
They are non-polluting. By doing this, you can avoid the emission of carbon dioxide. Therefore, it also has environmental benefits.
-
They have a useful life of 15 to 20 years.
Types of heating systems
These systems are of three types. These include flat plate collectors, evacuated tube collectors, and concentration collectors. The most common type used in residential settings in our country are flat plate collectors. Compared to its counterparts, it is cheaper. Evacuated tube collectors are not commonly available, but have been proposed for residential systems. For industrial use and power generation, concentrator collectors are useful.
These solar systems are being used more and more in India. Annually, more than 20,000 heating systems are installed in residential environments across the country. If you would also like to install one in your home, industrial or commercial environment, check online stores. You can even get free installation offers.