We often associate solar power heating with solar cells that are used to convert the sun’s energy into electricity. The electricity powers an element that heats a water tank and provides hot water for baths, showers or cleaning the pots and pans (amongst other things). However solar power is not just about converting photons to electricity.
The sun’s energy has been used for thousands of years, in a passive sense, to supply heat to many of humanities most basic needs. Indeed, mankind has cooked with the sun, heated water and created fire. Creating electricity is just the current way that we have taken advantage of the sun’s energy. This article will look more closely at solar powered heating of water and keeping buildings warm.
Solar Power Water Heating
A solar hot water heating system consists of a solar collector and a holding tank. The water is passed from the solar collector to the tank based on how hot it is by either gravity and convection (in a passive solar heating system) or a pump (in an active system).
In the active system, the water that flows through the collector is heated. In the passive system, the fluid heated in the collector is passed through a heat exchanger in the holding tank, thereby heating the potable water in the tank. The holding tank merely holds the water that has been heated, or is being heated.
The solar collector, which is usually located in a position that comes into direct contact with the sun is responsible for heating the water. It is commonly found on rooftops and consists of a rectangular box that is painted black to absorb the heat. Inside the box are pipes that connect to the water tank. The water runs through the pipes and is heated in the process by the solar energy. The water tank is insulated so that any heat isn’t lost to the environment.
For water circulation, there is either a low powered pump, or it is achieved through convection, where the hot water rises and the cold water sinks down. To achieve circulation through convection, the holding tank is placed above the collector, so that the water rises into the holding tank, as it heats up, and the cold water sinks down to be heated. Alternately, a low powered pump is used to circulate the water.
Heating your water for domestic purposes, through solar power is sensible if you live in warm climates and the sun is shining most of the year. It can save you plenty on water heating bills and is an environmentally friendly way to provide domestically heated water.
Solar Power Heating for Buildings
The sun will naturally heat a building however a house can be designed to take more advantage of the suns energy. Special materials can be placed in the floors and walls to store the sun’s heat or insulate the building from heat loss.
The building can be designed so that more windows are positioned to be directly in contact with the sunlight. This means in the northern hemisphere the windows are south facing, and in the southern hemisphere, they are north facing.
Another way to passively heat the house is to run water pipes under the floor boards. The water that runs through the pipes can be heated by a solar collector and used as an underfloor heating source.
Solar power can be applied to many home and garden products. In recent years the cost of these appliances have become very affordable and saved money on energy bills. Learn more about solar powered appliances at http://www.solarpowerappliances.com/ . The site has more on solar water heating and solar heating for swimming pools . Adrian Whittle writes about using solar power and appliances that can utilize renewable energy sources.
