Indirect Solar Water Heating System

Solar water heating swh is the conversion of sunlight into heat for water heating using a solar thermal collector a variety of configurations is available at varying cost to provide solutions in different climates and latitudes.

Indirect solar water heating system.

Swhs are widely used for residential and some industrial applications. Indirect or closed loop systems in which potable water is heated indirectly by a heat transfer fluid that is heated in the collector and passes through a heat exchanger to transfer its heat to the domestic or service water. It can be installed with or without a drainback system. The heat from the fluid raises the temperature of the water in the tank and the water in the tank cools the fluid ready to be passed around the system again for further heating.

Direct or open loop systems in which potable water is heated directly in the collector. Indirect systems circulate collected heat to a storage tank in a basement or utility area. The indirect solar system ite consists of an indirect tank which is connected to a boiler electric gas or oil or water heater. At the same time indirect systems are used for fluid mixtures circulating through compilers.

In an indirect system solar energy is collected and held in a special antifreeze fluid. Solar water heating systems almost always require a backup system for cloudy days and times of increased demand. The ite as well as the its can be part of a solar water heating system. The antifreeze is circulated into your hot water storage tank which heats water for use in your home.

Indirect systems water is heated directly into solar collectors and circulating in your home. Traditionally indirect systems are more successful nationwide than direct systems because of their resistance to cold. Indirect solar water heating systems circulate a fluid typically a mixture of water and glycol in a circuit between the rooftop thermal collector and a heat exchanger that actually warms the potable water. The less complicated option is direct heating in which the water to be heated is itself passed around the system.

Such a system can be put together by anyone with an intermediate level of diy. The main difference between direct and indirect solar hot water is the type of fluid used to collect heat in the system. In an indirect system fluid such as anti freeze is heated and then passed through a heat exchanger fitted to the water tank. Some heat loss occurs while the transfer fluid circulates the system.

Active indirect systems in which a heat transfer fluid like propylene glycol is heated up within the solar collectors and then transfers the heat to the water supply with a heat exchanger in a closed loop system. It is best suited for cold or freezing conditions where the absence of heat exchangers means that cold cold water cannot be heated effectively. Indirect water heater systems can be fired by natural gas oil propane or electricity whichever heat source is used by the space heating boiler. Conventional storage water heaters usually provide backup and may already be part of the solar system package.

The collected heat is then transferred to the water for heating that is stored in the reservoirs. Two types of solar water heating systems are available.