With the simplicity in design that passive solar heating can boast, with walls and floors doing the job of a solar panel, it would seem that actually buying a solar panel is completely unnecessary. However, it may be necessary to do so should you wish to heat a large space or wish not to go to the considerable expense of redesigning the south-facing or north-facing walls of your home or business building. But there are choices when it comes to buying a passive solar heating panel.
In principle, these panels operate in precisely the same but there can be differing rates of efficiency and heat loss that can affect your decision. We all know that solar panels take energy from sunlight and convert it into electricity, but these passive panels simply heat the air behind them, which then move around a room or building via the natural power of convection. Panels, while intricate, heat the air behind them while a system of sleeves, shutters, valves or piping behind the glazing serve to trap the air in order to expose it to sunlight for the longest possible period.
There are three key designs to take into account when it comes to choosing a passive solar heating panel, with differing lengths of air pathway the main issue. The first type simply has an intake vent at its base where cold air flows in. A straight pathway, along which it is heated by the sunlight coming through the panel glazing, leads the air to the top, where the heated air is released back into the room through another vent. It is the lowest costing panel type to purchase, but at night cold air simply flows back into the room.
The second type has a folded pathway which doubles the distance air must travel before reaching the air trap (also called the exchanger) where it is warmed. The air is taken in at the top end of the panel, travels down its length and then back up behind the glazing. The upshot of this design is that at night cold air can’t flow back into the room. However, cold air can remain low in the room as it’s far from the intake vent.
The third type of passive solar heating panel simply extends the pathway to create two folds with the intake shutter at the base again. This ensures that there is no back-flow of cold air at night and, since the intake shutter is at the base of the panel, that low air is heated also.
The cost of these panels is in keeping with the low pricing for the technology but the panels used for passive solar heating are generally bigger. A panel measuring 8ft by 6ft can cost in the region of $2000, but the savings on heating can be huge. There are no electronic or mechanical devices needed to aid the system, which reduces maintenance and eliminates the possibility of breakdown.
Passive Solar Heating Panels – Comment Below
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