Solar Hot Water System
Solar water heating is one of the most common and cost-effective uses of solar energy. Solar hot water collectors heat water for washing, showers, and other domestic uses. Over 100,000 of them have been installed in the United States.
Solar hot water systems typically use solar energy to pre-heat the water that is incoming to a conventionally fueled heating tank. The warmer the water from the solar heater, the less conventional fuel will be needed to provide the household's hot water needs. (Source: http://www.rerc-vt.org/solarbasics.htm)
Solar heaters convert up to 60 per cent of the sun’s energy into heat whereas PV cells are far less efficient and convert only 12 to 15 per cent of the sun’s energy into electricity.
Sophia Gordon Hall has a large rooftop array of solar water heaters. They are expected to provide the energy for heating about 40% of the domestic hot water in the building.
Check out the real-time
energy display that shows:
- Today’s & Yesterday's Domestic
Hot Water Production & Consumption
-
4-Week Domestic Hot Water Production & Consumption
In a solar hot water system, collector tubes inside an insulated box absorb the sun's heat and transfer the heat to water or another liquid flowing through the tubes. In areas where freezing is not a threat, the system can be an "open loop" where the water flowing through the tubes is heated directly for use. In colder areas the system is a "closed loop." Antifreeze liquid is heated before transferring its heat to the water by way of a heat exchanger. (Source: http://www.nesea.org/buildings/info/solarwater.html)
In SGH, water is pumped to the panels and heated, then that heat is transferred to domestic hot water and stored. The water circulating to the panels drains back into the building at night and when there is a risk of freezing.
Components of a Solat Water Heater
Collectors
The most commonly used collector is the flat-plate collector. It is an
insulated, weatherproofed box, made of metal or plastic, containing a
dark absorber plate beneath a translucent cover (typically tempered, low-iron
glass).
Tanks
Most solar hot water systems require a well-insulated storage tank.
Controls,
Circulator
A differential temperature controller monitors the temperatures at the
solar collector outlet and at the storage tank. When the collectors are
warmer than the tank, the control turns on a circulator which circulates
a heat-transfer fluid, usually water or a water-glycol mixture, through
the collectors and back to the heat exchanger located in or adjacent to
the storage tank.
Heat Exchangers
A heat exchanger transfers heat from the heat-transfer fluid (usually
either water or a water-glycol antifreeze mixture) to the household water
supply. The heat exchanger itself is a series of copper coils submerged
in the water storage tank or a compartment outside of the storage tank.
(Source: http://www.rerc-vt.org/solarbasics.htm)
Links
to More Information on Solar Hot Water
US Department
of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Program: