Solar hot water systems are
an effective way to provide for your home’s hot water needs, using energy
produced by the sun. There are different options for system design, used for
certain applications. Below are the different types of solar hot water systems
and how they are used.
Passive solar water heaters
A passive solar water heating
system is the simplest design, and typically the most inexpensive because of
their simplicity. While they aren’t as efficient as active solar hot water
systems, they are reliable and long-lasting. They also have reduced maintenance
needs in comparison to the other system designs available. This is because
there are no moving parts used to circulate water within the system. The two
types of passive solar water heater systems are batch systems and thermosyphon
systems.
A batch system, or integral
collector-storage system, works best for warmer climates, where temperatures
don’t fall below freezing often. They can provide 20 to 40 gallons of hot water
during the daytime or evening peak hours.
Thermosyphon systems also
work well for climates which rarely experience freezing temperatures. They can
provide for daily hot water usage for households using about 30 to 80 gallons
of hot water each day
Active solar water heaters
More complex than passive
systems, active solar water heater systems incorporate a solar hot water pump
to move fluid inside the system. They can also offer protection from freezing
temperatures. The two types of active water heater systems are open loop
systems and closed loop systems.
Open loop systems are best
for climates with infrequent freezing. They can provide 40 to 80 gallons of hot
water for use each day.
Closed loop systems can be
used for homes which experience frequent freezing each year. They can also
supply a larger volume of hot water, providing 40 to 100 gallons for use each
day.
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