Solar Water Heating Systems

 

A basic water heating system using solar energy is made up of solar collectors (plates) and a thermal reservoir (boiler).

Collector plates are responsible for absorbing solar radiation. The sun's heat, captured by the solar heater plates, is transferred to the water circulating inside its copper pipes.

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The thermal reservoir, also known as Boiler, is a container for storing heated water. They are copper, stainless steel or polypropylene cylinders, thermally insulated with CFC-free expanded polyurethane, which does not harm the ozone layer. In this way, the water is kept warm for later consumption. The cold water tank feeds the thermal reservoir of the solar heater, keeping it always full.

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In conventional systems, the water circulates between the collectors and the thermal reservoir through a natural system called thermosiphon. In this system, the water in the collectors is warmer and therefore less dense than the water in the reservoir. Thus the cold water "pushes" the hot water generating circulation. These systems are called natural circulation or thermosyphon.

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Water circulation can also be done through motor pumps in a process called forced or pumped circulation, and are normally used in swimming pools and large volume systems.

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