Is solar thermal heating using a water to air heat exchanger really efficient?
Is solar thermal heating using a water to air heat exchanger really efficient?
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Common Types Of Solar Water Heater Heat Exchangers
Solar water systems use different types of heat exchangers so that a transfer of solar energy to solar collectors is achieved and an air or liquid are used in order to heat water or space. A heat exchanger can be created out of bronze, steel, copper, stainless steel, cast iron or aluminum. We see copper being usually used because it is one good thermal conductor while also being highly resistant to corrosion. Now let us analyze some heat exchangers that are common and you might want to use.
There are basically two types of heat exchangers: liquid to liquid and air to liquid. Heat transfer fluid is used by all heat exchangers designed for liquid to liquid solar systems. Solar collectors will be circulated with it. After that heat is absorbed and taken with the help of heat exchangers so that it can reach water in storage tanks. Collectors are protected from freezing due to some heat transfer fluids. For a liquid to liquid exchanger to be effective there will be a need to utilize one or 2 good barriers. One heat exchanger built with a one wall system usually has a pipe or tube surrounded by fluid. Double wall exchangers show 2 walls between 2 fluids. In most cases a double wall solar water system will be required as the safety provided is higher. Unfortunately we can not find a lot of efficiency in them if there is a comparison to single systems. Air heater collectors are included in air to liquid systems. They do not usually need the use of a heat exchanger to be used between air distribution systems and solar collectors. Besides using air and not liquid these two heater systems are really similar.
Sizing is always important whenever you are building solar water heat exchanging systems. If you want all to be really effective one important factor is size. When you analyze the subject you have to look at heat transfer fluid, temperatures in inlet and outlet, flow rates and the type of heat exchanger that you use. In most cases manufacturers are to give ratings for heat exchangers supplied. For you to make really good decisions you should read specifications.
About the Author
Dennis C. Onputtha is an article marketing in association with PLRPro the world’s #1 content provider. Providing useful information and products review on residential solar power systems. How to make your own solar panels, protect the environment and reduce your power bill.
Solar Water To Air Heater (Idea) – Thermal Siphon Method
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May 1st, 2010 at 1:28 pm
By installing a heat exchanger in your A coil you would pull heat from the solar first.In order to do this you need to size the solar properly.You’ll need more than just a 4×10 over an 80 gal. tank.More than likely you would at least need say 2-4x8s maybe even 2-4x10s over a 120. This all depends on where you live too. Below is a good site for figuring size and cost.
May 1st, 2010 at 1:28 pm
USA Not enough info. First, you need to be in an area where you will get plenty of sunlight. You mention a furnace – that means you have a warm air heating system. Instead of a heat exchanger, why not put a hot water coil in the duct at the furnace? Actually, the coil is a heat exchanger, but I assume you mean a water-to-air heat exchanger mounted external to the furnace. Feed hot water to the coil from the storage tank. It is definitely worth trying.
If you have a hot water heating system with a boiler, in lieu of heat exchangers and tanks, why not run hot water heating pipes through a solar collector, and tie the solar heated water directly to the boiler hot water return piping. By using thermostatic controls on the water pipes, you can open / close valves to use or close off the solar supply.