Passive Solar Water Heating Systems – The Simple Hot Water Heater

The simplest way to heat your water for either home or business use is through passive solar heating, as there are no mechanisms involved to either break down or maintain. In fact, nowhere are the advantages of solar heating more clearly illustrated as when you heat a little water with just the sunshine to do the job. When it comes to passive solar water heating systems, they are simple to install, simple to run and simple to maintain.

Passive water heating is a type that has been in use for well over a century, with businesses such as hotels making good use of the hot sunshine in states such as Florida and California since the early part of the last century. This direct heating style is improved greatly thanks to the progresses made in solar technology, with panels (or collectors) now able to greatly enhance the degree of heat farmed from the sun’s rays. These collectors can be either flat-plate or evacuated-tube in design.

While active water heating makes greatest use of new technology (such as pumps) passive solar water heating systems rely on the natural powers of convection, gravity and water pressure. Convection is where heat travels through water (or any liquid) while gravity and water pressure both ensure that the water travels either down or up.

There are two principal designs of passive systems: the Batch system (integrated collector storage system) and the Thermosyphon system (convection heat storage system).

In the Batch system, the water tank itself is the collector and the water is heated directly by the sun. The tank can be enclosed in an insulated box, with a glazed top tilted to ensure maximum exposure to the sun’s rays. Cold water enters the tank in the batch collector from the base and, since the tank is tilted, leaves that tank from the top.

Thermosyphon systems work on the principal that hot water rises and cold water sinks. A solar collector (generally a flat-plate panel) is positioned below an insulated storage tank, with cold water flowing from the building though the tank and then through the collector. The water is heated as it circulates inside, while water pressure ensures that the water moves upwards to re-enter the tank. Because hot water is lighter than cold, the heated water can flow from the top of the tank into the building for use. Sometimes, a second, larger storage tank is located inside, to allow for more controlled use, where an electric immersion element can help to maintain the heat.

The advantages of the passive solar water heating system over the active are that they are so simple in design (therefore easy to maintain), they involve nothing that can break down (are more reliable) and last longer. However, for all involved it is the considerable savings that can be made compared to conventional water heating systems that is the most important factor.

Passive Solar Water Heating System – Comment Below

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