Solar Water Heating Technical
      

 BE WARNED!  Modern day solar collectors produce significant amounts of heat energy and advanced high temperature solar system should be properly engineered.  Northern Lights Solar Solutions provides solar heating equipments that is proven successful through out the world.  Caution should be used with "Home Made" Solar systems as they can lead to serious damage especially if using high efficiency vacuum tube collectors.  Our systems are engineer with to provide maximum performance with SAFETY 1st. 

Most solar water-heating system have three main parts: (1) a solar collector and (2) a solar storage tank or a pool/tub (3) Plumbing and Solar Control System. Until recently the most common collector used in solar hot water systems was the flat panel collector. However with the advance in technology, solar vacuum tube technology is rapidly becoming the method of choice as its energy output is much higher and takes up less space per square foot. Mass production of solar tubes has driven the cost down to allow widespread use of vacuum tubes.

Solar water heaters use the sun to heat either water or a heat-transfer fluid in the collector. Heated water is then held in the storage tank ready for use or directly circulated in an open mass such as pool or hot tub.  The tank can be as simple as a modified standard water heater, but more specific solar water tanks are also available.  Most solar water tanks will also feature a back up electric element built into the unit.

One of the most overlooked aspect of a solar system is the Plumbing and Control System.  This includes all items required to make the system function optimally and safely.  Items such as temperature controllers, pumps, expansion vessels, pressure safety valves, fill and drain spouts are all part of a properly installed solar system.  Northern Lights supplies the unique SDS^TM  (Solar Distribution System).  This system is the core of any of our solar systems, whether heating your house or a hot water tank, the SDS^TM is an important component.  The Solar Distribution System is a self contained pre-plumbed system that contains everything needed for a complete solar system.  The SDS simply attached to the hot and cold fittings at the collectors and attaches to the hot and cold fittings on you water tank or from the heat exchanger.   All specialty components are included and you simply plug the SDS^TM to a 110 VAC power outlet.