Solar water heater for a summer residence: Instruction + Video

Solar water heater: principle of operation. This is a special device of a technical type that is used to heat water and for this purpose is used solar energy in the infrared and visible range.

A solar water heater is a kind of solar collector, but the only difference is that the water from the heater is used for its intended purpose, and not as a heat carrier for the heat supply system.

The principle of operation of a solar water heater is based on the fact that the device absorbs the energy of the sun's rays and transfers it to water for further use.

Device types

Solar water heaters can be divided according to the following criteria:

• The method of water heating is direct heating (a single-circuit system is used) and indirect heating, in which a double-circuit system is used.

• The water heater is connected to the storage tank by pipes through which water flows through natural circulation. Make-up is carried out with cold water as the heated water is consumed. In this heating method, refrigerant circulates in the system, and there is a condenser in the storage tank, on which the liquid that circulates in the closed circuit of the heater transfers energy to the water. The liquid, in turn, will circulate in the consumer circuit.
• The way of ensuring circulation is natural (in this case, the movement of water occurs due to the temperature difference in the water heater and at the consumer), forced type (performed by installing a circular pump).

• By construction types (flat and vacuum).

Flat

Such elements are used in a system with indirect and direct water heating. In this case, the installation will consist of a supporting frame with thermal insulation, as well as a device for absorbing solar energy (absorber). Copper tubes are used in the role of the latter, and the outside of the frame is covered with glass. This type of construction is the most common in comparison with all others.

The advantages of such a solar water heater for summer cottages are:

• Possibility of use for various systems.
• Device reliability.
• High performance indicators.
• Easy to operate.
• Long service life.

The disadvantages are:

• In case of damage, partial repair is impossible, only a complete replacement.
• Low efficiency of the installation.

Vacuum

Such devices are used in a system with indirect water heating. As the basis of this design, a vacuum tube is used, which consists of different tubes of different diameters, which are placed one inside the other with a vacuum gap between them.Several tubes are placed in one housing, in the upper part they are installed in a single block, through which water is circulated from an external source.

The rays of the sun hit the tubes located outside, which act as an absorber. In copper tubes, which are smaller in diameter, a special liquid is heated, which, when heated, begins to evaporate. The steam rises upward, and transfers its energy to the water, which circulates, and then condenses and flows down.

The advantages include:

• Ability to use the device throughout the year.
• High efficiency.

• Versatility in use.

The disadvantages are:

• Short service life in comparison with analogues.
• Exposure to destruction due to external factors.
• Cannot be used in regions where the outside air has freezing temperatures.

As you can see, each of the species has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Average cost

Due to the fact that most of the inhabitants of the planet trying to switch to the use of alternative energy sources in everyday life in order to obtain heat, electricity and hot water, we offer a wide range of products. Solar water heaters are produced by enterprises in the Russian Federation and other industries outside. The cost of a solar water heater for a home and its installation will be influenced by the manufacturing company and the country of manufacture, the type of construction (vacuum or flat), as well as the delivery package and the region in which the purchase will be made.

The cheapest option will cost 155,000 rubles, and for that amount you will be able to buy a "Solar water heater for the pool" from Intex (China), with such technical characteristics - size 1.2 * 1.

2 meters, intended for use with a filter pump, the capacity of which is not more than 9400 l / h, and the weight is 3. 7 kg.

A solar-powered water heater called "DACHA-LUX" (made in Russia) has a volume of 125 liters and will cost 29,000 rubles. The delivery set includes a storage tank, a set of vacuum-type tubes (15 pieces), and a controller. The absorption area is 2.

30 m ² . Installation of German origin for hot water supply "AuroSTEP plus" can be bought for 195,000 rubles, and in a complete set for 455,000 rubles. For this amount, you will receive a hot water supply system that completely excludes the possibility of boiling, as well as a water heater with a capacity of 150 to 350 liters and from 1 to 3 solar collectors.

The unit has a control regulator and an additional electric heater. As can be seen from the figures above, the spread in cost is quite large, so every buyer (even a potential one) can choose a device that will meet the requirements and are suitable in terms of cost.

How to choose a device for the pool

Any type and design of a solar water heater can be used in a pool water heating system. In order to mix the water in the pool and ensure its normal circulation, it will be necessary to install a circular pump in the system, which will help to increase the efficiency of the installation, and create the best conditions for the pool owner to use the pool. You can include a storage tank in the system, or you can create a circuit without it, but in this case the pool itself will be the water storage.

The main criteria for the selection of a water heater in the pool are:

1. The location of the water heater, as well as its orientation in space.
2. Device type (and its cost).

3. Pool location (outdoors, indoors).
4. The volume of the pool bowl (geometry dimensions and depth).
5. Activity of using the pool (how often and the number of users).
6. Period of use (periodically, seasonally, all year round).
7. Desired pool water temperature setting.

8. Pool water supply system (type of circuit, throughput and other technical characteristics).

The operation of the heating system for the pool will be according to the following scheme - the temperature sensor, which is installed inside the pool, will determine the set water parameters. At a temperature that is lower than the one set by the consumer, according to the sensor signal, a circulation pump will be connected and water from the pool will begin to flow into the heat exchanger of the heater, where the temperature will rise. When the water inside the bowl reaches the required temperature, the controller automatically turns off the circulation pump and the heating stops. If the solar water heater cools down, the valves are closed and water will not enter the heat exchanger.

It is very important that the device is positioned correctly, as the location will directly affect the efficiency of its performance.

During the operation of the water heater, there is a possibility of loss of thermal energy, which can occur when:

• Evaporation of liquid in each section of the system.
• Use of the pool (bathing people).
• Performing preventive work, as well as repairing system devices.
• Due to the thermal conductivity of the enclosing structure of the pool and the temperature difference between water, air and the structure

you can choose a model from any price category, manufacturer and based on real user reviews, which are enough on the Internet and technical publications.

How to make a simple water heater with your own hands

From polycarbonate

One of the options for creating a solar do-it-yourself water heater for summer cottages involves the use of cellular polycarbonate for the construction. The only requirement for such a structural element is the light transmittance of the material. Although strength is one of the most important characteristics, it is not the basis.

Of those materials that are available, sawn timber or profile lightweight elements made of metal can be used, which will be required to make the frame of the device. We make a coil from copper pipes, and preferably in one plane - this will be your absorber for the water heater, in which the water will circulate.

Install fittings at the ends of the copper pipes to connect the supply pipe and the heated water outlet. In the role of a coil, you can use a similar design from an unnecessary refrigerator, but only if the parameters of the coil from the refrigeration equipment will determine the geometric dimensions of the device as a whole.

The coil should be placed in the case, and then the entire structure should be insulated with a heat-insulating material and covered from the outside with a polycarbonate sheet. After that, the water heater is installed in a pre-selected area and in accordance with the geographical location, and then connected to the water supply and the heated water distribution system.

Made of plastic (bottles)

Such a very simple system for heating water from solar energy allows it to be independently made from plastic bottles with a volume of 1 that are familiar to all.

5 liters (or any other size, but so that they are the same).

Also, an important condition for the operation of such a device is the strength of the connections and the tightness of the bottles to each other. It will be ideal if a hole is drilled on the bottom of the bottle, which will correspond to the diameter of the neck from the bottle, so that you can insert one bottle into another. For fastening, it is permissible to use caps from the same bottles in which holes must be drilled in advance.

Depending on how many bottles will be collected for the solar water heater in the form of a battery and the number of batteries, the geometric dimensions of the device will be obtained, and on the basis of them it will be possible to make a frame.

As in the previous case, the frame can be made from materials that are at hand. Then lay a layer of thermal insulation and, if possible, darken the receiving surface (the inner part of the lower wall of the frame).

In the finished frame, it remains to put the bottle batteries, which will be interconnected so that the upper parts of the batteries are connected to the cold liquid supply from the water supply source, and the lower ones to the outlet pipe with heated water.The side of the frame from the "face" should be sewn up with polycarbonate, glass or any other transparent material that transmits sunlight well and retains heat inside the device. For an acceptable level of water heating, it is required to install a shut-off valve on the outlet and inlet pipes.