FAQ SOLAR WATER HEATER

1. Does this Solar Water Heater work in any climate?

Solar water heaters can oerate in any climate. !er"ormance #aries $een$in%& in art&
on how m'ch solar ener%y is a#aila(le at the site& ('t also on how col$ the water
comin% into the system is. Only $'rin% rainy season yo' will nee$ a con#entional
(ack' system )Electric*.
+. ,s there any maintenance re-'ire$ "or SWH systems?
Solar Water Heaters once installe$ re-'ires #ery little maintenance. .aintenance
in#ol#es wiin% the $'st $eosite$ on the %lass s'r"ace once in / $ays. Wiin%
the %lass e#ery $ay will hel increase the e""iciency o" the system. Other imortant
thin% to (e taken care o" is to see that the main col$ water tank "rom which water is
s'lie$ to the solar tank is always "ille$ ' to the le#el. 0se o" A'tomatic Le#el
controller can hel in maintainin% an otim'm le#el o" water.
1. What i" my area has har$ water?
D'e to the smoothness o" the %lass t'(e& the s'r"ace is not easily s'sceti(le to
scalin%. Also& the lar%e $iameter o" the t'(es ens'res that minor scalin% $oes not
ime$e the e""iciency o" the system.
2. What i" , ha#e hi%h ress're (ath "ittin%s s'ch as rain showers& 3ac'44is or (o$y 5ets?
We ha#e a ran%e o" ress'rise$ systems a#aila(le to cater to hi%h ress're (ath
"ittin%s.
/. How $o , inte%rate the heater with my c'rrent l'm(in% system witho't any
(reaka%e?
O'r system is #ery easy to install an$ inte%rate with all kin$s o" e6istin% l'm(in%
systems witho't any (reaka%e to e6istin% l'm(in%. O'r installation e6erts will #isit
yo'r site an$ ro#i$e yo' with a $etaile$ lan on how the system can meet yo'r
re-'irements.
7. How $oes 'se o" solar water heater hel the en#ironment?
A 188 litre system& the a#era%e si4e o" a ho'sehol$ o" 1 9 2 eole& can re#ent
emissions o" 8.2 to 1.8 tonnes o" car(on $io6i$e er year. The re$'ction in emissions
o" car(on $io6i$e )one o" the ma5or %reen ho'se %ases* can ositi#ely hel in slowin%
$own the ace o" %lo(al warmin%.
:. What are the maintenance re-'irements?
ET; (ase$ solar water heaters $o not nee$ si%ni"icant maintenance. The collector
t'(es may nee$ ann'al cleanin% to remo#e acc'm'late$ scale an$ se$iment $eosits
at the (ottom.
<. ;an the %lass t'(es withstan$ hail stones?
The %lass 'se$ to make these t'(es is not or$inary %lass ('t #ery stron% (oro9silicate
%lass& which ena(les the t'(es to resist hail stones as (i% as +/ mm )1 inch* $iameter
si4e.
=. The si4es o""ere$ (y yo' are in m'ltiles o" 188 litres. What i" , re"er some other
si4e like /+8 litres?
>ormally& we ha#e rea$y stocks o" the stan$ar$ si4es in m'ltiles o" 188 litres.
Secial si4es can (e ma$e on re-'est an$ will take more $eli#ery time.
18. What shall , $o in case some t'(e (reaks? ;an , relace the (roken t'(e mysel"?
The (roken t'(e will ha#e to (e relace$ (y o'r team. ,n case o" water leakin% o't o"
the system "rom (roken t'(e& lease sh't the inlet an$ o'tlet #al#es an$ in"orm 's at
the earliest so that yo'r system can (e 't in or$er witho't any $elay.
11. Are a$$itional %eysers re-'ire$ a"ter installation o" Solar Water Heatin% System?
The Solar Water Heatin% System has in('ilt otion o" electrical (ack9'& an$ so no
e6tra %eysers are re-'ire$ in the (athrooms.
1+. ," $i""erent 'se oints are scattere$ an$ the caacity re-'ire$ is lar%e how can ,
minimise the wasta%e o" hot water in the ielines?
,n s'ch a case& instea$ o" a sin%le lar%e system& a n'm(er o" smaller systems can (e
installe$ which ha#e same total caacity as $esire$. These systems can (e lace$ at
locations closer to the 'se oints& th's minimisin% the iin% cost an$ the wasta%e o"
hot water too.
11. Why ?new@ ET; )E#ac'ate$ T'(e ;ollector* Technolo%y is (etter than the ?ol$@ F!;
)Flat !late ;ollector* Technolo%y?
The ET; technolo%y is almost a $eca$e ol$ an$ th's not so newA This technolo%y&
tho'%h m'ch s'erior an$ s'ita(le than F!; technolo%y& co'l$ not take9o"" (ein%
more e6ensi#e than F!; technolo%y. ,t will (e o(#io's that the only a$#anta%e F!;
e#er ha$ o#er ET; was lesser rice. B't >OWADACS& with recent worl$wi$e
a$#ances in mass ro$'ction techni-'es o" e#ac'ate$ t'(es& ET; (ase$ systems are
more cost e""ecti#e than their F!; co'nterarts. ,n other wor$s& F!; systems are as
o(solete as tyewriters in the com'ter a%e.
12. How is the Solar Hot Water System seci"ie$ ? What is L!D ?
The caacity o" a solar hot water system is seci"ie$ is L!D. ,t is a short "orm "or
Liters !er Day. The intensity o" Solar ra$iation #aries thro'%h o't the $ay& hence
caacity cannot (e seci"ie$ in terms o" ho'rly o't't.
1/. What is FT; ?
FT; means Fi6e$ Temerat're ;ontrol.
The oeration o" the circ'lation 'm o" "orce$ "low system nee$s to (e controlle$ to
a#oi$ 'min% o" col$ water into the hot water stora%e tank. ,n FT; control& it is
achie#e$ (y monitorin% the temerat're at the o'tlet o" the collector. The 'm is
switche$ O> only when the o'tlet temerat're is hi%her than the SET temerat're. ,"
the temerat're "alls (elow the SET temerat're& the 'm is a'tomatically switche$
OFF.
17. How $o , i$enti"y a %oo$ solar water heater?
A %oo$ solar water heater sho'l$ ha#e s'""icient collector area. For e6amle& on a
s'nny winter $ay in >orth ,n$ia& a s-. m. o" collector area can heat aro'n$ /8 liters o"
water to a temerat're o" 18928;. Tyical "lat late collectors ma$e in the co'ntry
ha#e an area o" aro'n$ + s-. m an$ are th's caa(le o" heatin% 188 liters o" water er
$ay. F'rther& the collectors sho'l$ 'se %oo$ materials an$ the a(sor(ers sho'l$ carry a
%oo$ -'ality coatin% )B,S aro#e$ collectors the (est*
1:. Why sho'l$ , install a solar water heater?
Solar water heaters sa#e (oth electricity an$ money. As electricity is (ecomin% more
e6ensi#e& a solar water heater is a %reat way to access +2D: hot water at "ar cheaer
rates. They are also sa"er than electric %eysers as they are locate$ on the roo" an$ are a
s'er way to $islay yo'r commitment to the en#ironment
1<. How $o , select a solar water heater?
AE Be"ore yo' 'rchase an$ install a solar water heatin% system& yo' want to $o the
"ollowin%E
;onsi$er the economics o" a solar water9heatin% system
E#al'ate yo'r siteFs solar reso'rce
Determine the correct system si4e
Determine the systemFs ener%y e""iciency
Estimate an$ comare system costs
,n#esti%ate local co$es& co#enants& an$ re%'lations
1=. What is the ma6im'm ossi(le temerat're it co'l$ attain ?
A(o't 78 to <8G ;. The rise in temerat're $een$s onE9
9 Solar Ra$iation
9 Weather ;on$itions
9 >o. o" Solar collector
+8. ;an it (e installe$ any where ?
Ces& it can (e installe$ on.
9 Roo" tos
9 B'il$in% terrace
9 Oen Hro'n$
There sho'l$ (e E
9 >o sha$owin%
9 So'th orientation o" the collectors
9 ;ollector Tilt I Latit'$e J 1/8 thereo"
9 O#er hea$ tank a(o#e SWHS system
+1. Does it %enerate hot water on all $ays an$ in all seasons o" the year ?
,t %enerates hot water on
9 ;lear s'nny $ay 9 .a6im'm
9 !artially clo'$y $ay 9 .o$erate
++. ;an we 'se any tye o" water s'ch as m'niciality treate$ water& (ore well water or
tank water ?
Only so"t an$ ota(le water.
9 har$ water with secial 5acket tye heat e6chan%er or with so"tener.
+1. What a(o't ielines ?
Hal#ani4e$ steel ies o" class KBK "or col$ water line L recast !0F ins'late$.
HD!E !ie with KBK class Hal#ani4e$ ies "or Hot Water Lines
+2. Co' sai$ that the hot water will (e a#aila(le "or 18891+/ $ays in year. How a(o't the
rest o" the $ays ?
E#ery SWHS can (e ro#i$e$ with a'6iliary (ack ' heatin% system (y Electrical
heater at e6tra cost.
+/. How m'ch money $o we ha#e to sen$ "or maintenance ?
.aintenance is ne%li%i(le
9 !erio$ic %lass cleanin%
9 ;heck "or leaka%es an$ #al#e "'nctionin%& i" any.
+7. Are there any %o#ernmental incenti#es& s'(si$ies& loans etc. ?
Ces
9 So"t loans "rom Bank L BAFL at low interest.
9 188 M $ereciation ta6 relie" "or ro"it makin% comanies.
9 >o Sale Ta6& E6cise L Octroi on SWHS
+:. How many ho'rs are re-'ire$ to heat the water ?
9 >ormally& 7 to : ho'rs o" normal solar ra$iation is re-'ire$ to heat the water 'to
78N;
+<. ;omarison (etween E#ac'ate$ T'(e ;ollector L Flat !late ;ollector
S.>o E#ac'ate$ T'(e ;ollector Flat !late ;ollector
1 Q'ick heat %eneration Slow heat %eneration
+
;ollector e""iciency on hi%her temerat're is
hi%h
;ollector e""iciency on hi%her temerat're is low.
1
Heat loss in the t'(es $'rin% the $aytime is
ne%li%i(le )e#ac'ate$ t'(es*
Heat loss in the collector L tank $'rin% the $ay9
time is hi%h $'e to con#ection.
2 ;on#ection an$ ;on#ectin% losses is low. ;on#ection an$ ;on#ectin% losses is hi%h.
/ Emissi#ity is low. Emissi#ity is hi%h.
7
Satis"actory er"ormance e#en in e6treme col$
con$ition )91< $e%. ;*
Free4in% o" water will take lace at hi%h altit'$e
ca'sin% $ama%e to the collector.
: Temerat're ran%e "rom 78$e%. to 1+8 $e%. Temerat're ran%e "rom 78 $e%. to <8 $e%.
<
System hot water tank only is ins'late$ 'sin%
oly'rethane ins'lation material which $oes
not a(sor( water or moist're
;ollector L tank ins'late$ with %lasswoolD
rockwool& a(sor(s moist're L %ets wet $'rin%
monsoons re$'cin% the e""iciency o" the system
=
>e%li%i(le scalin% o" t'(es which can (e
cleane$ man'ally )inner t'(e $ia. ,s 1:mm*.
Loss o" e""iciency conse-'ently is minimal
Hea#y scalin% o" the coerDal'min'm t'(es which
cannot (e cleane$ man'ally as the (ore $ia. is 1+./8
mm. %i#in% rise to s'(stantial loss in e""iciency o"
the system.
18
The collector %lass t'(e a(sor(ers (ein%
cylin$rical the inci$ent s'n@s rays on the t'(es
is at =8 $e%rees thro'%ho't the $ay. Hence
eak heat a(sortion always.
The collector "ins L t'(es (ein% "lat the inci$ent
s'n@s rays will (e at =8 $e%rees at noon only "or
eak a(sortion
11
,n locations with a#era%e a#aila(ility o" solar
ener%y o#er9si4in% o" the system %lass t'(e
collectors is not re-'ire$.
Hi%her system si4in% is re-'ire$ to %et the $esire$
res'lt. Hence a$$e$ cost.
1+ Heat e6chan%er not re-'ire$ Heat e6chan%er re-'ire$
11
A$#ance$ technolo%y at cometiti#e rices
that is System ;ost er 'nit water is low.
Ol$ technolo%y at hi%her rices
12 Hot water a#aila(ility "or 1/8 $ays in a year.
Hot water a#aila(ility "or 188 $ays in a year
claime$.
1/ System li"e a(o#e 1/ years. System li"e a(o#e 1/ years
17 ,t is #ery easy to relace %lass t'(e. Di""ic'lt an$ e6ensi#e to relace %lass sheet
1: Water -'ality is not e""ect the system.
Water -'ality e""ect the heatin% system "ormin%
scale o#er metal t'(e.
1< ,t has low maintenance ,ts re-'ire$ hi%h maintenance.
1= Hro'tin% o" ;ollectors not re-'ire$. Hro'tin% o" collectors are re-'ire$.

+=. E""iciency %rah o" $i""erent tyes o" Solar ;ollectorsE
E""iciency %rah showin% er"ormance o" $i""erent tyes o" Solar ;ollectors in$icates
e#ac'ate$ t'(e collector has hi%hest e""iciency at hi%her temerat're. For this reason&
e#ac'ate$ t'(e collectors are 'se$.


Fi%'reE Hrah o" e""iciency )O* an$ Temerat're )T* ran%es o" #ario's tye o" collector )Solar
Ra$iationE 1888 WDm+ *