Friday, 30 October 2015

Evacuated tube collectors vs. Flat-plate collectors

Solar water heater uses energy from the sun to heat water and for this purpose solar heating collector is needed which absorbs the heat, and transfers it to where you need it. To do this efficiently, solar heating collectors need to absorb and retain a large volume of sunlight every day. There are two main technologies that have both been time tested. They are Solar Flat Panels, and Solar Evacuated Tubes.Solar water heater has come a long way in the last decade, particularly with the introduction of evacuated tube collectors that are rapidly becoming the preferred option over flat plate systems. Below are listed few points about collectors and how the way it is useful to human needs.

Flat-plate collectors

Flat-plate collectors have been on market for so many years and are most time tested and well known technologies. Generally it consists of a painted mental, such as copper attached to copper pipes where water or a heat transfer liquid passes through This is encased in a metal frame, surrounded by thick insulation to help retain the collected heat, and protected by a sheet of glass or glazing, which also provides an insulating air space.

Evacuated Tube collectors

Evacuated tube collectors are recently developed technology on the market .There are several varieties of evacuated tubes, however the most commonly used type employs the use of a heat pipe surrounded by a glass tube that is under a vacuum. The glass tube actually consists of two walls of glass. In between the two walls, all the air is removed, resulting in a vacuum in the same manner as a clear Thermos bottle would function. This vacuum is the best insulation and gives the evacuated tubes a much better heat retention than air space.
  
Performance

Generally, evacuated tubes perform better in colder or cloudier conditions than their flat panel counterparts. This is because of the vacuum in the glass tube, which allows tube collectors to retain a high percentage of collected heat. They work well in freezing conditions whereas flat panels will not work as much as evacuated tube collectors.

Efficiency

When comparing Evacuated tubes and flat plates having similar quality absorber plate coatings, this intersection typically occurs when the inlet temperature exceeds the ambient by 90 to 100°F or more conditions that most systems do not typically experience. However, it does mean that Evacuated tubes collectors are capable of producing higher temperatures overall and can produce more heat in cold weather.

Cost

Cost is often the primary consideration, especially if performance is comparable. Flat plate collectors tend to be cheaper than evacuated tubes because they are a simpler design and easier to manufacture. While the Evacuated tube cost may cost more, flat-plate collectors’ use considerably more copper and can be subject to greater price fluctuations due to resource prices.

Installation

Flat plat collectors are heavier, take up more room, and can be cumbersome to install on certain roofs. Evacuated tubes tend to have lighter components and are easier to manage on the roof. On the other side, evacuated tubes tend to be more fragile than flat plates.

Summary

A correctly installed solar hot water system can start saving your money straight away. Choosing of best type of collectors will save electricity bills .Flat panel collectors are best for users in southern climates or for northern seasonal homes only used during the summer. Evacuated tube collectors are best for areas where winter temperatures frequently drop in the 40F range or below. Customers needing hot water at higher temperatures in all climates should consider evacuated tube collectors. Glazer is one of the leading solar water heater manufacturer in India will provide high quality, corrosion resistant and warranted solar water heaters with better heat storage. For more details visit http://www.glazerindia.com/industrial-solar-products.html



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