Solar
How it works
Solar water heaters—also called solar domestic hot water systems can be a cost-effective way to generate hot water for your home. They can be used in any climate, and the fuel they use, sunshine, is free.
In climates of extreme cold, like Northern Maine the evacuated tube solar heating system is commonly recommended. The evacuated tube solar heating system is a breakthrough in the efficiency of hot water production for residential and commercial uses. The tubes, similar to the inside of a thermos, are placed in the sun. Being round gives them maximum sun exposure at every sun angle during the day. Also, because of the vacuum chamber between the two walls of the tube, the tubes remain cool even in bright sunlight and, most importantly, the tubes can still produce hot water on cloudy days. They are very superior in performance in cold weather conditions. A flat plate collector would radiate a lot of the generated heat through the single panel glass. The Evacuated Tubes work with a vacuum so this doesn't happen.
Sunlight heats the inner black tube which in turn heats the aluminum heat sinks that runs the length of the inner tube. A small copper tube is located in a slot in the aluminum heatsink.. Inside this tube is a small amount of glycol which changes to steam that goes up the tube end into the manifold where the glycol changes state from steam to a fluid state. This is called latent vaporization and it is this changing of state that gives the tubes the high efficiency that makes them produce about 40% more hot water than a flat plate collector.
After the heat pipe gets heated, it transfers its heat from the heat tube end into the water flowing through the aluminum manifold. It does this by conduction. Most evacuated tube hot water systems contain 22-30 glass tubes. There is also one extra tube and all the components including the manifold frame and component assembly necessary to put together the tube system. It does not include pumps, expansion tank or other accessories. We can provide all this necessary equipment but you would have to contact us to help you design a solar hot water system. One 22-30 tube hot water systems usually provides enough hot water for an average family of four.
The evacuated tubes can be connected to a radiant floor heating system as the temperature output is perfect for Pex tubing. The tubes can also be used with some of the new Absorption Air Conditioners; this could very well be the future of air conditioners.
For more information please call 1-800-654-1869 to speak to one of our knowledgeable sales representatives.