Common Solar Heating System Applications

Modern day solar heating has evolved from the Back Yard 'Do-It-Yourselfers' of the 1970. Highly efficient solar heating systems can do more than just heat water.   Combination solar systems with the ability to heat  both hot water and pools/hot tubs/ home heating, are the latest in solar thermal technology.  Reliable controllers with multiple zones allow solar thermal to expand into complete Home & Industrial heating automation with higher paybacks than ever!

In Japan an estimated 10,000,000 homes use this technology to heat their homes.  In North America solar water heating is quickly growing as the price of solar collectors fall and governments support the use of clean energy, financially.  A hot water system is in most cases done using a close loop system with glycol mixture running through the primary side of a heat exchanger.  Special solar water tanks are now available that have the heat exchanger built directly inside the system,  

An existing hot water system can  also be quickly adapted by using a primary storage hot water tank before the existing secondary tanks.  Using a heat exchanger and solar system would heat the primary storage tank.  Water would then be drawn into the existing water tank as needed.   This is perhaps the most common type of home water heating as the current system is left in place and solar water compliments the system.    When installing a hot water system, a controller and pump are required.  There should also be proper pressure release valves used.

 

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Solar water heating can effectively reduce a household's energy bill by over 1/2. Hot water requirements and home heating in North America represents over 1/2 of our annual energy costs.  By using solar energy you can capture the sun's radiation and use it for both hot water heating and supplement home heating by piping hot water through traditional or modern radiators, furnaces, or use it in hydronic system for in floor radiant heat.  In most cases solar should be used with conventional power as a supplement, this way you never have to rely completely on the sun shinning,

An important part of a home solar system is the controller.  The controller senses input and output temperatures.  By using a digital control center and diverter valves, hot water can be controlled as a supplementary energy source when the solar power is available.

By combining the solar system to heat hot water, furnaces, in floor heat or a radiant heaters, you can maximize your solar investment!  Check out our solar pricing page to find all the items you will need for a full automated solar home.

 

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Solar swimming pool water heaters rank as the most successful yet least heralded commercial solar application.  The storage unit for the solar heated water already exists - the swimming pool. The pump needed to push water through the solar collector also must be bought irrespective of the technology used to heat the water. The pool owner merely has to purchase the solar collectors and some connectors and fittings.  Of course, the outdoor swimming season harmoniously coincides with the maximum output of the solar collectors. Even when other forms of energy are selling very cheaply, the pool owner buying a solar unit starts to save money very quickly.

In the United States alone, solar swimming pool heaters have produced the energy output equivalent to ten nuclear power plants. With the rapid price decline in solar vacuum collectors, pool owners can afford smaller glass collectors that have a much higher output per unit foot print.  These glass tube solar collectors also have a longer lifespan than plastic 'mat style' collectors. 

Pool systems can be operated in two different ways.  The 1st method uses a digital control switch with temperature sensors.  This can be programmed to open or close a diverter flow valve.  If the pool is too hot the digital controller will sense this and bypass the solar system allowing the tub to cool off.  It will also open the valve only during periods where there is solar gain during the day and shut off the system at night time when there is no solar radiation.  The 2nd method uses a manual flow valve to adjust the by pass flow.   This is less expensive but it means you must shut off by-pass every evening to avoid heat loss.

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The high output capacity of solar tubes was a quickly recognized as an alternative heat source for hot tubs  which operate at higher temperatures than pools. The high temperature output of copper vacuum tube collectors has made it possible to heat hot tubs in some regions all year without expensive gas or electric heaters.  In other regions they can significantly reduce the amount of energy the traditional heating system needs to supply.  A hot tub can either be heated directly by circulating water through the solar collector, or indirectly using a heat exchanger.  The Indirect method is more practical where seasonal temperatures can get below freezing.  A glycol mixture circulates through the solar system and the primary side of the heat exchanger and the hot tub water circulates through the secondary side of the heat exchanger.

Hot tubs using a solar system require some control system (manual or automated) to avoid a negative heat loss during the evenings on heavily cloudy days.  Perhaps one of the most simple heat controls is the use of a solar water pump and solar panel as a natural on off switch.   The solar pump only circulates water when there is sufficient solar radiation  Other more sophisticated  automatic solar by pass valves can also be purchased.

A vent stack shown in this layout is used when operating an open loop (hot water from hot tub is going directly through solar tubes).  If using a closed loop with a heat exchanger then a vent stack is not needed but a pressure release valve should be installed.

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