A solar water heating system consists of a collector, an insulated storage tank and connecting pipelines. The solar panel of the solar water heater collects the sun's energy with a black absorber, facing the sun to catch as much solar radiation as possible. The heat collected by the absorber is transferred to the water flowing through the absorber and is stored in the storage tank. The storage tank is insulated so the water stays hot and can be used later in the day or even the following day. Solar water heaters are available in various sizes. An electrical backup for the water heater is also installed to provide hot water during periods when the sun does not shine.

Save money every month by lowering your electric bills by concession in electricity bill

The solar water heater works like a miniature greenhouse. Heat is trapped under the transparent glass cover. The absorber is made out of copper sheets covered with a special black coating that is designed to absorb as much solar radiation as possible. To prevent the loss of heat to the surroundings, the absorber unit is insulated at the back and around the sides. At the back of the copper sheets are copper pipes filled with water. When the sun shines on the absorber, the metal warms up, and the heat is transferred to the water. A cold water storage tank is positioned above the collector. One insulated pipe runs from the bottom of the storage tank to the bottom of the collector. Because the density of the cold water in the storage tank is higher than that of warm water, cold water flows down to the collector. The water that has heated up in the absorber will then be pushed upwards into the storage tank. This circulation will start automatically when the sun's radiation is strong enough, and will continue as long as the water in the tank is colder than the water in the absorber. This system does not require an electric pump, which is why it is called a natural circulation or thermosyphon system. Because of this peculiar system design, the hot water is always at the top of the storage tank. The hot water is therefore tapped from the top of the tank, and fresh, cold water flows in at the bottom. To maintain the undisturbed functioning of the system a constant supply of cold water should be available.

Properly designed and installed systems with glass-covered collectors should perform well for more than 20 years. Controllers, like other electronic devices, may require servicing during the life of the system, and the pump and hot water tank may have to be replaced after 10 years. Since conventional water heaters have the same expected lifetime, water tank replacement costs are not regarded as unique to solar energy systems.

Normal maintenance consists of checking pipe insulation, roof penetrations and collector mounting, pump operation and tank flushing. The latter is also recommended for conventional water heating systems, as is periodic replacement of the water heater sacrificial anode rod.

Obviously the output of a solar water heater system will depend on the amount of solar radiation available. On a good sunny day (i.e. solar insulation level @ 1000 WM2) the absorber will collect enough solar energy to heat 100 liters of water up to 60~C. One person uses about 25 liters of hot water per day, so the capacity of the system should be sufficient to provide hot water for a small household of three or four people. For larger households, or if more hot water is required, the size of the system should be increased accordingly. On partly cloudy days the solar water heater will still be able to heat water. Only when the sun is not shining at all will water need to be heated using the electrical backup system. But even then electricity is saved because the sun will have at least partially heated the water. The electrical backup will provide hot water within minutes after switching it on. The electric element will switch itself off when the set temperature of the thermostat is reached. It is not advisable to set the temperature higher than 60C. Water hotter than this is not usually needed, and a lot of electricity can be saved by limiting the temperature. Don't forget to switch off the electric element! Otherwise the sun won't have the opportunity to heat the water and a lot of electricity will be wasted. An average urban household uses approximately 30% to 40% of its electricity to heat water, about 85% of which could be saved with a solar water heater. Assuming that the average use is 100 liters of hot water per day at 60C, approximately 1000 units of electricity can be saved annually by using a solar water heater (also assuming that the sun provides enough energy for nine months of the year). In the remaining three months the electrical backup system can be used. These are very conservative estimates; in practice, the savings can be higher or lower depending on the use of the solar heating system.

Do's

Solar water heaters require little or no maintenance. Because of the thermosyphon principle there are no moving parts and no control units that can malfunction. Tile system will work automatically but there are some procedures you can carry out to improve the functioning of the solar water heater and thus increase electricity savings:

Water heated by the sun can reach temperatures exceeding 212º F, but the normal temperature for household use is only 120º to 130º F.

If there is a stop cock on the cold line to the storage tank, we won't need to turn of the main supply. However, if we have to put a stop valve in the existing line, we would turn off the main supply for up to one hour.

The basic components that is required for the effective working of a Solar Water Heater are

Collectors from the most important part of the SWH systems because they serve the basic purpose of heating water. Solar Collectors tap the sun's rays to produce heat. Most solar collectors are boxes, frames, or rooms that contain these parts" (1) Clear covers that let in solar energy (2) Dark surfaces inside, called absorber plates, that soak up heat; (3) Insulation materials to prevent heat from escaping; and (4) vents Or pipes that carry the heated air or liquid from inside the collector to where it can be used.

Many clear materials can be used as covers for solar collectors, but glass is the most common material. Glass can be made quickly and easily. The special glass used in the solar collector resists breaking and scratching. When sunlight passes through glass and hits a surface inside a solar collector, it changes into heat. Although glass allows sunlight to pass through, it also traps the heat produced inside the collector.

The heat produced inside a solar collector is soaked up by metal sheets or containers filled with water. These dark-colored objects that soak up heat are called absorbers. Without absorbers, solar heating systems would not produce enough heat to warm rooms inside your house or Water.

Heat always tries to move from a hotter object to a colder one. Insulation is what prevents or slows down the movement of heat. Because insulation prevents the heat inside a solar collector from moving to the outside where the temperature is lower, it is an important part of any solar collector.

All Solar water-heating systems need a storage tank to store the cold water that is to be supplied to the collector and to store the hot water that comes from the collector. Since the natural law says that any hot substance tends to radiate heat to its surroundings to get back to its lowest energy state, it is obvious that the hot water in the storage tank also radiates heat, thus to prevent this radiation and cooling of water, the storage tank is insulated with Rock wool or puff wool and Aluminum cladding or stainless steel.

A shadow free area on the rooftop with enough of Sunlight. A cold-water tank at a height of 7 - 8 ft from the terrace level.

Solar water heaters can operate in any climate. Performance varies depending, in part, on how much solar energy is available at the site, but also on how cold the water coming into the system is. Only during rainy season you will need a conventional backup system (Electric).

Solar Water Heaters once installed requires very little maintenance. Maintenance involves wiping the dust deposited on the glass surface once in 5 days. Wiping the glass every day will help increase the efficiency of the system.
   Other important thing to be taken care of is to see that the main cold water tank from which water is supplied to the solar tank is always filled up to the level. Use of Automatic Level controller can help in maintaining an optimum level of water.

The different applications of Solar Water heating systems are

A Residence save can 70-80% on electric or fuel bills by replacing its conventional water heater with a solar water heating systems.

Solar water heaters, both domestic hot water systems & commercial hot water systems may be a good investment for you and your family. Solar water heaters are cost competitive in many applications when you account for the total energy costs over the life of the system. Although the initial cost of solar water heaters are higher than that of conventional water heaters, the fuel (sunshine) is free. Plus, they are environmentally friendly. To take advantage of these heaters, you must have an un-shaded, south facing location (a roof for example) on your property.

However of all the Solar energy devices in the market, Solar water heating systems are found to be the most reliable, durable and are backed up by longest warranty period of all other solar energy devise. Solar Water Heaters are known to have the fastest repayment of investment. The larger the capacity of the system the faster is the repayment period.

"Of all the Solar energy devices in the market, Solar water heating systems are found to be the most reliable, durable and are backed up by longest warranty period of all other solar energy devices. Solar water Heaters are known to have the fastest repayment of Investment."

There are many benefits to owning a solar water heater, and number one is, economics. Solar water heater economics compare quite favorably with those of electric water heaters, while the economics aren't quite attractive when compared with those of gas water heaters. Heating water with the sun also means long-term benefits, such as being cushioned form future fuel shortages and price increases, and environmental benefits.

In large factory canteens employing steam cooking & feeding of hot water at 90° C from Solar Water Heater to the boilers can save 70-80% on electricity or fuel bills.

Your solar water system will be providing savings for your family for decades to come. Consider it an income source. Because the sun rises in the east, crosses over the horizon on the south and sets in the west, you want your collector to face as much to the south as possible. To get the best "income", your system needs the most sun it can get. In most areas, a solar collector can face anywhere from east to west (its orientation) without losing more than 5% of the energy it would have produced if it were facing directly south. Exceptions include easterly facing systems in areas with a lot of morning fog and clear afternoons where south* facing or west facing would be much better. The opposite can be true if sunny mornings are very often followed by rainy afternoons.

As long as the collector angle (known as tilt) is at least 18 degrees up from horizontal, (a typical roof angle is 18 to 32 degrees) additional tilt usually has little effect on total year round performance. An exception would be areas with very sunny winters (as in most areas of Colorado) where a higher angle, facing the collector more directly into the winter sun, can make quite a difference. Take these facts into consideration when locating your collector and consult with us if you have any questions

The condition of your roof should be good although one of the features of the Fireball 2001 system is that removing and replacing the collector is relatively easy when re roofing is required. All the materials for a normal collector installation are supplied. Composition roofs are the most common and easiest roofs to install a system on.
   Most of the installation details apply directly to these types of roofs and need to be modified for other types of roofs. Shake roof installations are similar to composition with the exception that more care in flashing is needed. Tile roofs are more difficult to drill and require a lot more care to walk on. We have a good solution for just about every situation and will be happy to provide you with direct help with questions on different roofs as needed, Just ask.

The weight of the system and the fastenings to the roof would keep most water heaters in place during storm or hurricane conditions. However the stability of the system also depends on the direction of wind, wind speed, and other factors. This includes the types of fixings of the roof to structure. Contact us for special information and current fixing details.  The Solar Water Heater should be covered in general insurance.

It is necessary to have a cold and hot line and mixers to use the system. If the plumbing has not been done to accommodate this, your plumber can do this for you or we can do it under a separate contract..

Yes, it can be shifted from one roof to another.

No. We supply all the materials required for the installation and plumbing.

Hot and cold water supply lines should be run to the roof with a suitable space to accommodate the heater. The roof should face south, south west or west as this will allow the system to absorb maximum heat especially during November and February when the sun is lower in the sky.

An electrical line should also be run to the roof with a 20 amp breaker to provide backup electricity in times of inclement weather, or exceptional demand. These electrical and plumbing lines should be waterproofed by the building contractor where they come through the roof.  An overflow line should also be provided. This line will be connected to the pressure relief valve to direct any excess water safely to the ground.

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