A solar water heater is a great way to reduce energy consumption, thereby saving your budget. Solar energy can at least six months heat water for various needs, and at other times also help to heat the home.
Modern heaters act as equipment for the conversion of sunlight into thermal energy. They are able to heat the house and provide water heating mainly in sunny areas, provided that they are installed on a large open area.
There are many types of solar heaters, but the principle of operation is the same for everyone. All systems consist of a circuit with sequential placement of devices that transmit thermal energy. The basis of the apparatus are solar panels operating due to solar collectors.
The collector is a collection of interconnected pipes. Water, non-freezing liquid or ordinary air circulates through them, which provide cooling of the mechanism. Circulation provokes evaporation and a change in pressure within the system.
Energy storage is provided by special absorbers. An absorber is an iron plate attached to pipes with a blackened surface.
In the manufacture of a water heater cover, a material is used that is capable of transmitting sunlight without problems (usually it is shockproof glass). Materials from various polymers can not tolerate direct exposure to ultraviolet rays, so when they are used, a high-quality cooling system is installed (antifreeze is mainly used).
If the apparatus is installed for heating a small room without its own heating system, then a small single-circuit design is constructed. It is worth noting that she will work only in the sunny summer. In the case of installing the heater in double-circuit designs, it should be borne in mind that the collector will process only one circuit. The main load will be assigned to the heating system built into the room.
Despite the dependence of this type of heaters on sunny summer weather, the demand in the market is growing every year. They found their recognition among people seeking to use natural energy to the maximum.
The device is a tubular radiator, with a diameter of 1 inch, placed in a wooden box. You can insulate the structure using foam. Using galvanized iron sheet, it is necessary to further insulate the bottom of the device. Be sure to paint the materials black to speed up the heating process, with the exception of the glass lid, which is painted with white paint.
As a water tank, you can use a large iron barrel, which is placed in a box of wood or plywood. Empty space must be filled. Sawdust, sand, expanded clay, etc. are suitable for this.
DIY tools and materials for a water heater
The following materials and tools are required to design a solar water heater:
- glass with a frame;
- building cardboard under the bottom;
- wood or plywood for a box under a barrel;
- coupling;
- filler for empty space (sand, sawdust, etc.);
- iron corners of an overlay;
- pipe for a radiator;
- fastenings (for example, collars);
- galvanized iron sheet;
- an iron tank with a large volume (300 liters is enough);
- black, white and silver plated paint;
- wooden blocks.
The process of manufacturing a solar water heater
The process of manufacturing a solar collector with your own hands is not only exciting, but also brings a lot of benefits. The created device will allow rational use of solar radiation to solve a variety of business problems. The specifics of creating a collector in stages looks as follows:
- First you need to make a box under the tank, which must be strengthened with bars.
- A thermal insulation material is applied from below, on top of which a metal sheet is installed.
- A radiator is placed on top, which must be properly secured with prepared mounts.
- The smallest gaps in the body of the structure must be sealed and sealed.
- Pipes and sheet metal must be painted black.
- The barrel and box are painted silver and after drying, the tank is installed in a wooden structure.
- Empty space is filled up with prepared filler.
- To ensure constant pressure, you can purchase an aquacamera with a float, which is installed in the water tank.
- The design should be placed in sunny space at an angle to the horizon.
- Further, the system is interconnected by pipes (their quantity and material depends on the size and type of the project).
- In order to avoid the formation of air jams, it is necessary to start filling from the bottom of the radiator.
- According to such a system, heated water moves upward, thereby displacing cold water, which subsequently gets into the radiator and heats up.
If everything is calculated correctly, after some time warm water will flow from the outlet pipe. Do not forget that sunny weather is a prerequisite. So, the temperature inside the water heater system can be around 70 degrees. The difference in water temperature at the inlet and outlet will be 10-15 degrees. At night, it is recommended to block the access of water, in order to avoid heat loss.
The performance of such a device is significantly inferior to store heaters. The efficiency of a home-made device will be much lower, but if there is no need to purchase such an expensive system, you can do it yourself.
When constructing heaters to fit their needs, people usually take into account all the nuances and make using the system as convenient as possible for themselves. As a rule, materials are selected to create a certain type and for various needs. So, in the summer they build an impromptu outdoor shower, a heater for the pool, a heater for a small gazebo on a cool evening, additional heating of greenhouses and much more. The main advantage is cost savings on the purchase of store heating radiators and complete safety for the environment.
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