There's two ways that you can use solar energy, either to create electricity with PV solar panels, or else for a hot water system with solar water heating panels. They are both good ways of saving energy, and hence money on energy bills.
Savings From Solar Energy
There are a number of factors that are going to affect how much you can save. For example, the kind of hot water system that you presently have, how much you pay on your energy bills, and the kind of weather that you get.
When it comes to the question of the weather though, it's not the case that you have to be in a hot climate for solar water heating panels to work well. If that was the case, they wouldn't be much good in the UK! They do work better with direct sunlight, but they also work if there's cloud cover or it's a cold day.
So while it's not possible to say exactly how much solar energy you'll be able to get from your solar thermal panels, a solar hot water system will be able to provide up to 70% of your heating requirements. This can be used for your hot taps as well as central heating if you use radiators that require hot water.
Solar Thermal Panel Types
When you start looking more deeply in to solar water heating panels, you will discover that there are two different kinds. Which type you go for will largely come down to your budget probably. The more expensive ones are the evacuated-tube variety but they are also more efficient. If you can't afford them though, then you can go for flat-panels instead.
The way that they work is pretty much the same, at least in terms of the basic principles. They've both got absorber plates which are used to absorb the heat that comes from the sun. The heat that is absorbed is then transferred to the water, either directly or if a heat transfer substance is being used, via that instead. More on this below in the "circulation system" section.
Evacuated-tubes are the more efficient kind because they are designed to have absorber plates with a large surface area, which can catch the light from any angle. The reason both of these things are true is that the absorber plate runs around the inside of the tubes all the way around. That's instead of just having it on the bottom, as flat-panels do.
Different Circulation Systems
You have four different options when it comes to the circulation of solar energy systems. They come in two main categories though, so you only really have two choices to make. One choice is between a circulation system that uses pumps and one that uses gravity and heat convection. The other choice is between a system that heats the water directly, and one that does so indirectly with the use of a heat transfer substance.
When it comes to which is the best, there are a number of factors that have to be considered. However on the whole the best choice is usually an indirect and active circulation system. Using an indirect system avoids the problem of the water freezing on the roof. While using an active system is simply the most efficient way of doing it.
However if you happen to live in a climate where it rarely or ever freezes, then there shouldn't be an issue with using a direct system instead. Although having said that, there are other reasons that the water could stagnate and if that happens then getting the water out of the solar panels will be troublesome.
A passive system might be better for you if you don't want to worry about maintenance at all. With pumps being involved in an active system, sometimes they are going to require maintenance. That should not be a concern with a passive system as there are no moving parts. Also, the passive system tends to be cheaper so that's another reason you might go for that kind as well.
Savings From Solar Energy
There are a number of factors that are going to affect how much you can save. For example, the kind of hot water system that you presently have, how much you pay on your energy bills, and the kind of weather that you get.
When it comes to the question of the weather though, it's not the case that you have to be in a hot climate for solar water heating panels to work well. If that was the case, they wouldn't be much good in the UK! They do work better with direct sunlight, but they also work if there's cloud cover or it's a cold day.
So while it's not possible to say exactly how much solar energy you'll be able to get from your solar thermal panels, a solar hot water system will be able to provide up to 70% of your heating requirements. This can be used for your hot taps as well as central heating if you use radiators that require hot water.
Solar Thermal Panel Types
When you start looking more deeply in to solar water heating panels, you will discover that there are two different kinds. Which type you go for will largely come down to your budget probably. The more expensive ones are the evacuated-tube variety but they are also more efficient. If you can't afford them though, then you can go for flat-panels instead.
The way that they work is pretty much the same, at least in terms of the basic principles. They've both got absorber plates which are used to absorb the heat that comes from the sun. The heat that is absorbed is then transferred to the water, either directly or if a heat transfer substance is being used, via that instead. More on this below in the "circulation system" section.
Evacuated-tubes are the more efficient kind because they are designed to have absorber plates with a large surface area, which can catch the light from any angle. The reason both of these things are true is that the absorber plate runs around the inside of the tubes all the way around. That's instead of just having it on the bottom, as flat-panels do.
Different Circulation Systems
You have four different options when it comes to the circulation of solar energy systems. They come in two main categories though, so you only really have two choices to make. One choice is between a circulation system that uses pumps and one that uses gravity and heat convection. The other choice is between a system that heats the water directly, and one that does so indirectly with the use of a heat transfer substance.
When it comes to which is the best, there are a number of factors that have to be considered. However on the whole the best choice is usually an indirect and active circulation system. Using an indirect system avoids the problem of the water freezing on the roof. While using an active system is simply the most efficient way of doing it.
However if you happen to live in a climate where it rarely or ever freezes, then there shouldn't be an issue with using a direct system instead. Although having said that, there are other reasons that the water could stagnate and if that happens then getting the water out of the solar panels will be troublesome.
A passive system might be better for you if you don't want to worry about maintenance at all. With pumps being involved in an active system, sometimes they are going to require maintenance. That should not be a concern with a passive system as there are no moving parts. Also, the passive system tends to be cheaper so that's another reason you might go for that kind as well.
About the Author:
To discover extra information on solar panels, Theo Owen has written a lot more on the subject at Solar water heating panels. Find out additional information regarding how the system functions, for example the amount of money you'll be able to save, also you can get a free quotation for an installation.
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