Build your Own Solar Water Heater

Contents

Contents
How Solar Water Heaters Work.............................................................................................................. 3 Types of Solar Water Heater ................................................................................................................... 5 Solar Panel Water Heater Project ........................................................................................................... 6 Solar Panel Water Heater Requirements ................................................................................................ 7 Tips on Building your Collector ............................................................................................................... 8 Common Terminology ............................................................................................................................ 9 Links to Further Reading ....................................................................................................................... 10

How Solar Water Heaters Work

One of the oldest methods of making hot water with the sun is probably the passive solar water heater and their use in warmer areas dates back decades. Today they are still a very popular way to use the sun to heat water, though often overlooked with the advancement of technology. Passive systems have no moving parts only the holding tank or collector for the water which is usually in a box with a glass front to take in and hold the heat. The holding container or collector is usually painted black to absorb the heat from the sun. Solar water heaters are being more and more preferred as a huge way of conserving our usual resources and for saving cash. Think of the inside of your car on a warm sunny day, it can get very hot and this is the same principle as the collector of a solar water heater. Even in the winter your car can warm up inside when the sun is up so making hot water in the winter with a passive water heater is still possible in some areas. The kind of temperatures you can get from a passive solar water heater can vary depending on the amount of sun, air temperature, insulation and the temperature of the water feeding into the heater. Under best conditions you might expect a temperature of up to 180 degrees by the afternoon. A solar water heater warms water throughout the day and so will replenish your warm water as it is utilised. A solar water heater has two main pipes which connect a solar collector and a storage tank. To explain it simply, a solar collector primarily collects the solar energy and heats up the water contained in it. This hot water is then transferred via the pipes to the storage tank and stored there. This heated up water then enters our home as and when we require it. There are primarily two types of solar water heaters: Active and Passive. In case of active, circulating pumps are used for transfer of hot water. In case of passive, no such pumps are used; in fact gravity is primarily used for transfer of hot water. These systems are usually backed up by a conventional heating system. Since this type of system first and foremost uses solar energy which is obtainable free, it helps in reducing power costs too. A solar water heater is an ideal DIY beginners project for energy saving but before you start there are some basic facts that you should know. These will help in correctly identifying your requirements and selecting the right solar water heater to make how does it work? Solar water heaters use the sun light to heat water in a collector and heated water is then stored in a storage tank for use. Depending on the requirements this heated

water can be used to feed in to conventional water heater which has to spend little or no energy to heat it further.

Types of Solar Water Heater

There are two types of solar water heaters - active or passive, active systems being the most common one. Active solar water heaters rely on active components like electric pumps to circulate water, or other heat-transfer fluids through the collectors. These are the three types of solar water-heating systems: 1. Direct-circulation systems use pumps to circulate clean water directly through the collectors and is appropriate for areas that do not freeze for long periods and do not have hard/acidic water 2. Indirect-circulation systems use pumps to circulate heat transfer fluids through collectors and heat is transferred to water through heat exchangers. 3. A passive solar water heater depends on gravity and natural circulation of hot water. No electrical components are used and hence these are more reliable.

The two most popular types of passive systems are: 1. Integral-collector storage systems with storage tanks placed in an insulated box and glazed side facing the sun. These solar collectors are suited for areas where temperatures dont go below freezing point and hot water needs are in daytime/evenings. They lose temperature overnight so are not well suited for early morning needs. 2. Thermo Syphon systems rely on the natural convection of warm water. As water in the solar collector heats it becomes lighter and rises naturally into the tank above due to convection and cold water flows down the to the collector, enhancing the circulation. Some manufacturers place the storage tank in the house's attic, concealing it from view.

Solar Panel Water Heater Project

If you are new to DIY solar power conversions the solar water heater is the very best place to start. This is true for several reasons. To start with, it is easy and limited in scope, so this project will help you learn important solar concepts that will come in handy when you move on to bigger projects. It is by far one of the cheapest DIY solar conversion projects to complete. Considering these factors it has a HUGE and immediate impact on your power bill. Most people dont realize it, but heating water usually accounts for a about 20% of their monthly power expense. Only HVAC (air conditioning and heating) uses more energy in the average home. You can usually build a solar hot water heater for under $100 - outstanding when you consider that a professionally installed system can cost thousands of dollars. The parts are all readily available in your local hardware store or home center. You don't need any special tools. Assuming you have the average DIY'ers basic understanding of wiring and plumbing connections, you'll be able to do this project with no trouble at all. In most cases, you can start the project on a Saturday morning and be taking a nice hot solar shower by Sunday evening. There is no need to worry about the local climate as solar water heaters are in use all over the world. They are incredibly reliable and the technology has been with us for decades. Still, it is advisable to have a backup source - just like with any solar powered component - in case of long cloudy periods. This doesnt come into play too frequently because unlike some other solar applications, once the water is heated it stays pretty hot for quite a while. Still, your sunlight and consumption may be different so always have a backup with anything solar, just in case. The good news is, your backup is already in place. The homes existing water heater is more than adequate as a backup. Because the unit is dormant most of the time it will last years longer than it would when being used every day. Similarly, your solar water heater will require very little regular maintenance and should actually last years longer than a conventional gas or electric water heater. The project should be done right so that you can be sure to have enough hot water for your home whenever you need it. The bottom line is you can save on average 18% on your monthly energy bill and spend about $100 to quickly convert your home to solar hot water.

Solar Panel Water Heater Requirements

Employing solar power to heat water symbolizes one of the most logical methods of generating hot water that you can find. Why use diminishing resources when we have an over abundance of energy emitting from our own sun? It is rapidly becoming an acknowledged impression that the best way to reduce energy consumption is by the building your own water heater. The very first thing that you would need to do is to find out exactly what your water consumption requirements are. On average, the typical person consumes about 30 gallons of water per day. You would then establish a position beside your home where the solar water heater can be situated for a good southern exposure of the sun in order to ensure maximum heat generation. During the construction phase of this project, you should paint your water tank with flat stovepipe black paint. The paint will permit the tank to absorb as much of the sun's energy as it can. You will also need to assemble a straightforward plywood box around the water tank. Be sure to insulate the interior of the box with some fiberglass insulation or other insulating materials; as this will help eliminate any energy lost within the system. At this point, you would install the painted water tank into the box and attach the necessary plumbing to the bottom of it. These are the pipes which carry the water from your house to the heater. Another set of water pipes will carry the water from the heater back to the houses water distribution system. Here you have a simple home made solar water tank that is more then capable of providing a person or with adequate quantities of water. Depending on your water requirements you may consider installing multiple solar water heaters or even larger solar water heaters.

Tips on Building your Collector

1. Increase the surface area of the collector as much as possible to increase the absorption of solar energy. a. This is achieved by installing your piping in a coil or zig-zag fashion in order to use as much piping as possible. 2. Make the collector more energy efficient a. Use copper piping in preference to plastic pipes as they are better conductors b. Paint the interior of the collector black to increase the absorption of as much of the sun's energy as it can c. Paint the copper pipes black also d. Insulate the collector with any insulating materials such as asbestos consider using double glazing or Plexiglass 3. Site the collector for best energy efficiency usually south or westerly facing. a. Angle the collector to point towards the sun if possible.

Common Terminology
Conduction: This process involves the transfer of heat energy between the molecules present in a substance. The molecules keep on vibrating in their respective places while the heat flows from one molecule to the other. Statistically, heat flows from a hotter to a cooler surface. Copper is a very good example of heat conductor while glass is the worst conductor (insulator). Radiation: Infra-red radiations are emitted by hot objects, such as sun, fire, etc. These are radiations with long wavelengths. Convection: This is the procedure in which heat gets transferred between a rigid surface and a fluid when both of them come in contact with each other. In this case, the hot molecules move from one place to another in the fluid. For instance, water becomes hot when flowing on any hot surface. Thermosiphon is another such process of convection in which the hotter molecules of water weigh less due to their expansion and rise upwards while the relatively cooler molecules become heavy and move down. Thus, the molecules undergo a cyclic motion and the heat energy gets transferred in the process. Consider the use of a solar blanket for covering a swimming pool or consider installing solar hot-water heating panels on the roof, to save energy when heating a swimming pool. Please follow this link for more information on Building a Solar Water Heater Please follow this link for more information on Building a Wind Power Generator or Making Your Own Solar Panels

Links to Further Reading

Please follow this link for more information on Building a Solar Water Heater Please follow this link for more information on Building a Wind Power Generator or Making Your Own Solar Panels