Heating water using solar energy
When you decide to convert your main source of energy into solar energy, you will need to make some adjustments to the devices that power this source. When you use solar energy to heat your water, you may find that you will need to buy a solar water heater to do so. You may be able to adjust your current system, but whatever steps you take to turn it into solar energy, it will be worth it.
There are many ways to heat your water using solar energy. You can even create your own source of solar energy. Water flows into the pipes before entering your home. Heating the water with solar energy will take place before the water enters your home as it passes by the solar source that has attracted the light. You can also have a tank to store water in which can heat the water. In order to successfully heat your water, you will need a solar collector and a storage tank.
A flat plate collector is the most common collector. It is designed to be a thin, flat, rectangular box with a clear cover that can contain fluid to heat. This fluid may be water or a solution, such as antifreeze, which will prevent the water from freezing. Then, the water passes through the tubes to an absorbing plate. This plate is painted black to attract and absorb the heat of the sun. When the collector becomes hot, it heats the fluid that passes through the tubes. When the water passes through the tubes, it enters the storage tank. The storage tank contains heated water. It is usually well insulated so that the water stays hot longer. Then the water flows into the house on demand.
Solar water heater systems are divided into two groups Active and Passive. When heating systems are active, this means that they depend on pumps or any other mechanical device that can move water between the plate collector and the storage tank. Active is the most common because it is faster and more efficient. The passive system relies on gravity to route water from the flat plate collector to the storage tank. This can be slow sometimes and may not be enough to meet the demand. Both methods are logical and may be more of a preferred choice for you. Another idea to consider is that if your flat plate collector and storage tank are not properly oriented, it can be difficult for gravity to get the liquid through.
