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Have you ever been wondering what is the solar heating system or systems? How do they work? Do you really need them? These Solar panels for homes days alternative energy is becoming very popular around the world as it is very cost effective and saves you a lot of money in Solar hot water heater bills. Solar heating system is consist of panels of plastic or metal through which water or any other liquid passes that is Solar Energy Information heated by the sun and it in turn increases the temperature. In other words, they take energy from the sun and then convert Solar Energy Products that energy into heating the water. Now, it should be noted that not all solar heating systems are made for every environment. Some are made only for hot climates where freezing cold is not Hydroelectric Power the main factor and those would those systems that use liquids to contain solar energy. These systems can be very simple or Solar Heating Systems complex and are available in so many different varieties. These are the benefits to install these systems in your house: Wind Energy Electricity Solar panels Solar heating system is designed in such a way that it is for homes maintenance free. Solar hot They are very easy to install. water heater Solar Energy Information Solar Energy Installing these systems means you are having cleanest Products energy and there is no pollution being released into the Hydroelectric
environment. They are very cost effective and you can save a lot of money in bills over the time period. And the energy is completely FREE! Many governments offer grants to the private homes and business for installation. There are two types of systems, one is active solar heating system and other is passive solar heating system.
Power
Active solar system uses water or air to carry heat from collectors ( as water or air is heated in the collectors, an equipment that holds the fluid that is heated by sun) and then heat is transferred by the fluid to the interior space for immediate usage or to a storage system from where the heat then is distributed. This should be noted that if the heat is not enough for the place then back up system (gas or electric booster) is needed to provide the additional heat.
Passive solar heating system is very cost effective to provide heat to the house. Windows, walls and floors can be designed in such way that they can collect the solar energy, and distribute it in the form of heat to the whole house in the winter weather and they can do the opposite , means they don't allow heat if it is summer weather. The reason is, as you know heat moves from hot or warm things to the cooler ones until there is no difference in temperature between those two things. So that's how passive solar heating system works. This system is very easy to install anywhere in your home.
2 Panel Deluxe Solar Heating System
This system is used to increase swimming pool water temperature by up to 15. When you use it with a solar blanket, this will be the all heat that you will need. This system is very easy to install and last for long time. The 2'x 20 solar panels of these systems are very efficient and are made of a lightweight, very long-.lasting polyolefin, which collects the suns heat efficiently. The solar panels connect with each other easily and if more panels are needed they can be added at any time in the future.
Here are some of Solar Heating Systems:

In-Ground Pool Solar Heating System
This is excellent for people who have an in-ground swimming pool. It heats the pool 10 to 15 without using electricity or gas. It can be installed very easily with the existing pump and equipment. This system works best when it is installed in areas where you can find full sun all day long. Pool water distributes through solar channels and comes back to the pool as warm. The system is 4' x 20'.It comes with a 5-year warranty and you can install easily yourself.
Solar Cooker
With the increasing concerns of global warming, and domestic fuel becoming expensive solar cookers have grown immensely in popularity. A solar cooker is a big box painted black, inside which utensils are kept, they too are painted black. Raw food items are kept in the utensils and then the cooker is kept in open. The mirror present on solar cooker is adjusted such that it reflects maximum sunlight in the box. There have been several modifications over this simple model, such as use of parabolic reflectors instead of a plane mirror. A parabolic reflector is capable of concentrating energy over a specific area, and thereby can generate temperatures as high as 600 degree Celsius. Another modification made is use of auto adjustments in the cooker. Nowadays the reflector panel of the cooker can automatically focus itself where faces maximum light is.
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Haining Reine New Energy Co., Ltd. Sales Hotline:400-8096-388 Address:Industry Zone,Yuanhua Town,Haining City,Jiaxing,Zhejiang,China Export agent:Shanghai qihe international trading company Contact Person: Mr.Van(Sales manager) TEL:0086 134 5629 9933 Contact Person: MS.Vicky.(Sales) TEL:0086 158 2433 7505 FAX:0086-573-87887088 E-Mail:reinesolar@hotmail.com
PRODUCTS
REINE-P001(200L)
Price and parameter list for pressurized model

Vacuum tube Dia Tank FOB
Leng Qt capaci Shang th y ty hai
(m Pa (mm) Liters (USD) m) s 58 180 20200L 305 0
Detailed Product Description Features: 1) it can connect direct to water supply system
2)Copper coil inside the tank for heat exchange 3) There is no need to wait, hot tap water will come out as soon as input cold tap water. 4) Temperature preservation can last for 80 hours Specifications: 1) Body material: colored steel 2) Water tank: stainless steel(inner)/colored steel( outer) 3) Coil material: copper 4) Water capacity: 200L, 240L, 300L, 360L ( according to customers requiry) 6) Heat preservation: 80 hous 7) Hail resistance: 25mm 8) Tube standards: 58mm diameter and 1.8m length
Copyrights Haining Reine New Energy Co., Ltd. All Right Reserved. Address:Industry Zone,Yuanhua Town,Haining City,Jiaxing,Zhejiang,China Tel:0086 134 5629 9933 / 0086 158 2433 7505 Fax:0086-573-87887088 Email:reinesolar@hotmail.com
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Products Category Non-Pressurized Solar Water Heater Pressurized Solar Water Heater Separated Solar Water Heater Solar Collector
Contact
PRODUCTS
REINE-P002(240L)

Vacuum tube Tank FOB
Dia Leng Qt capaci Shang
th
y ty
hai
Detailed Product Description Features: 1) it can connect direct to water supply system 2)Copper coil inside the tank for heat exchange 3) There is no need to wait, hot tap water will come out as soon as input cold tap water. 4) Temperature preservation can last for 80 hours Specifications: 1) Body material: colored steel 2) Water tank: stainless steel(inner)/colored steel( outer) 3) Coil material: copper 4) Water capacity: 200L, 240L, 300L, 360L ( according to customers requiry) 6) Heat preservation: 80 hous 7) Hail resistance: 25mm 8) Tube standards: 58mm diameter and 1.8m length
Ms.Vicky.
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REINE-P003(300L)

Vacuum tube Dia Tank FOB
Leng Qt capaci Shang th y ty hai
Detailed Product Description Features: 1) it can connect direct to water supply system
2)Copper coil inside the tank for heat exchange 3) There is no need to wait, hot tap water will come out as soon as input cold tap water. 4) Temperature preservation can last for 80 hours Specifications: 1) Body material: colored steel 2) Water tank: stainless steel(inner)/colored steel( outer) 3) Coil material: copper 4) Water capacity: 200L, 240L, 300L, 360L ( according to customers requiry) 6) Heat preservation: 80 hous 7) Hail resistance: 25mm 8) Tube standards: 58mm diameter and 1.8m length
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REINE-S002(200L)
Price and parameter list for split and pressure series

Vacuum Tank FOB
tube Dia Leng Qt capaci With th y ty copper Shang hai (USD) 826
(m Pa (mm) Liters coil m) s 58 180 20200L 1 0
Detailed Product Description Split Pressurized solar water heater Working principle:
When the difference of collector temperature and tank temperature gets to the set value, the circulation system will start work. It will transmit the solar energy from solar collector to the tank. Spider pressurized solar water heater Feature: a. Module design, arbitrary combination, harmonize with the building perfectly b. Intelligent control and automatic operation c. Anti-freeze: Using the anti-freezing Liquid as the medium and the controller has the anti-freezing function d. Multifunction: bathing, washing, domestic heating etc. e. Work at anytime and enjoyable f. Material of Model: 1) the pipeline is made of red copper and conducted by heat transfer medium liquid 2) temperature preservation is equipped with standard electric water heater setting, automatic temperature control exchanger, and increased anode magnesium bars sticking to prevent furring.
3)The insulating layer uses polyurthane bulk bubble and has a good effect of temperature preservation 4)Water tank (interior): Stainless steel inner tank 5)Manifold: aluminum alloy our casing & red copper flow passage 6)Glass tube: new trivalent element heat tube, borrosilicate glass 3.3 7)Solar working station: controller, Circulation pump, expansion tank 5L-8L, manometer, flow-meter, pressure relief valve, Copper fittings etc. 8)With heat pipe: anti-freezing>-35 degress centigrade 9)Water capacity: 150L 200L, 250L, 300L,400L, 500L 10)Pressure: 6Bars 11)Daily efficiency: >=55%( >=42% in winter) 12)Heat preservation: 72H-80H 13)Electric heater: 1.5KW TO 3KW Copyrights Haining Reine New Energy Co., Ltd. All Right Reserved. Address:Industry Zone,Yuanhua Town,Haining City,Jiaxing,Zhejiang,China Tel:0086 134 5629 9933 / 0086 158 2433 7505 Fax:0086-573-87887088 Email:reinesolar@hotmail.com
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REINE-S003(300L)

Vacuum tube Dia Tank FOB Shang hai (USD) 1060
Leng Qt capaci With th y ty copper
When the difference of collector temperature and tank temperature gets to the set value, he circulation system will start work. It will transmit the solar energy from solar collector to the tank. Spider pressurized solar water heater Feature: a. Module design, arbitrary combination, harmonize with the buildig perfectly b. Intelligent control and automatic operation
c. Anti-freeze: Using the anti-freezing Liquid as the medium and the controller has the anti-freezing funiction d. Multifunction: bathing, washing, domestioc heating etc. e. Work at anytime and enjoyable f. Material of Model: 1) the pipeline is made of red copper and conducted by heat reansfer medium liquid 2) temperature preservation is equipped with standard electric water heater setting, automatic temperature control exchanger, and increased anode magnesium bars sticking to prevent furring. 3)The insulating layer uses polyurthane bulk bubble and has a good effect of temperature preservation 4)Water tank (interior): Stainless steel inner tank 5)Manifold: aluminum alloy our casing & red copper flow passage 6)Glass tube: new trivalent element heat tube, borrosilicate glass 3.3 7)Solar working station: controller, Circulation pump, expansion tank 5L-8L, manometer, flow-meter, pressure relief valve, Copper fittings etc. 8)With heat pipe: anti-freezing>-35 degress centigrade 9)Water capacity: 150L 200L, 250L, 300L,400L, 500L 10)Pressure: 6Bars 11)Daily efficiency: >=55%( >=42% in winter) 12)Heat preservation: 72H-80H 13)Electric heater: 1.5KW TO 3KW Copyrights Haining Reine New Energy Co., Ltd. All Right Reserved. Address:Industry Zone,Yuanhua Town,Haining City,Jiaxing,Zhejiang,China Tel:0086 134 5629 9933 / 0086 158 2433 7505 Fax:0086-573-87887088 E-
mail:reinesolar@hotmail.com
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REINE-C001(10TUBES)
THERMAL SOLAR COLLECTOR QUOTATION

Vacuum tube Dia FOB
Leng Qt Shang th y hai
(m Pa (mm) (USD) m) s 58 180 10145 0
Detailed Product Description Function Collecting sunshine first then change into heater energy. Can be used in
water tank for house and swimming pool. Specifications: Manifold (interior): Red copper Manifold (exterior): Aluminum alloy Glass tube dimensions: 58mm x 1.8m Heat preservation: 72 hrs Hail resistance: 25mm Max pressure: 6 bar Coating of vacuum tube: Ss-c/cu Heat pipe: Anti-freezing > -35 degree
Vicky
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Products Category Non-Pressurized Solar Water Heater Pressurized Solar Water Heater Separated Solar Water Heater
Solar Collector Contact
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REINE-S004(250L)

Vacuum tube Dia Tank FOB Shang hai (USD) 940
Leng Qt capaci With th y ty copper
When the difference of collector temperature and tank temperature gets to the set value, he circulation system will start work. It will transmit the solar energy from solar collector to the tank. Spider pressurized solar water heater Feature: a. Module design, arbitrary combination, harmonize with the buildig perfectly b. Intelligent control and automatic operation c. Anti-freeze: Using the anti-freezing Liquid as the medium and the controller has the anti-freezing funiction d. Multifunction: bathing, washing, domestioc heating etc. e. Work at anytime and enjoyable f. Material of Model: 1) the pipeline is made of red copper and conducted by heat reansfer medium liquid 2) temperature preservation is equipped with standard electric water heater setting, automatic temperature control exchanger, and increased anode magnesium bars sticking to prevent furring. 3)The insulating layer uses polyurthane bulk bubble and has a good effect of temperature preservation 4)Water tank (interior): Stainless steel inner tank 5)Manifold: aluminum alloy our casing & red copper flow passage 6)Glass tube: new trivalent element heat tube, borrosilicate glass 3.3 7)Solar working station: controller, Circulation pump, expansion tank 5L-8L, manometer, flow-meter, pressure relief valve, Copper fittings etc.
8)With heat pipe: anti-freezing>-35 degress centigrade 9)Water capacity: 150L 200L, 250L, 300L,400L, 500L 10)Pressure: 6Bars 11)Daily efficiency: >=55%( >=42% in winter) 12)Heat preservation: 72H-80H 13)Electric heater: 1.5KW TO 3KW Copyrights Haining Reine New Energy Co., Ltd. All Right Reserved. Address:Industry Zone,Yuanhua Town,Haining City,Jiaxing,Zhejiang,China Tel:0086 134 5629 9933 / 0086 158 2433 7505 Fax:0086-573-87887088 Email:reinesolar@hotmail.com
Water heating
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article includes a list of references, but its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations.
Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (April 2009)
Water heating is a thermodynamic process using an energy source to heat water above its initial temperature. Typical domestic uses of hot water are for cooking, cleaning, bathing, and space heating. In industry, both hot water and water heated to steam have many uses. Domestically, water is traditionally heated in vessels known as water heaters, kettles, cauldrons, pots, or coppers. These metal vessels heat a batch of water but do not produce a continual supply of heated water at a preset temperature. The temperature will vary based on the consumption rate of hot water, use more and the water becomes cooler. Appliances for providing a more-or-less constant supply of hot water are variously known as water heaters, hot water heaters, hot water tanks, boilers,heat exchangers, calorifiers, or geysers depending on whether they are heating potable or non-potable water, in domestic or industrial use, their energy source, and in which part of the world they are found. In domestic installations, potable water heated for uses other than space heating is sometimes known as domestic hot water (DHW). In many countries the most common energy sources for heating water are fossil fuels: natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, oil, or sometimes solid fuels. These fuels may be consumed directly or by the use of electricity (which may derive from any of the above fuels or from nuclear or renewable sources). Alternative energy such as solar energy, heat pumps, hot water heat recycling, and sometimes geothermal heating, may also be used as available, usually in combination with backup systems supplied by gas, oil or electricity. In some countries district heating is a major source of water heating. This is especially the case in Scandinavia. District heating systems make it possible to supply all of the energy for water heating as well as space heating from waste heat from industries, power plants, incinerators, geothermal heating, andcentral solar
heating. The actual heating of the tap water is performed in heat exchangers at the consumers' premises. Generally the consumer needs no backup system due to the very high availability of district heating systems.
Image of water heaters utilised in the past.

[1]
Contents
[hide]
1 Types of water heating appliance
1.1 Gravity system 1.2 On-demand water heaters
1.3 Storage systems
2 Thermodynamics and economics 3 Water heaters 4 History
4.1 Insulation and other improvements
4.2 Electric water heating
5 Tankless heaters
5.1 How tankless water heaters work
5.2 Combination boilers
5.3 Electric shower head
5.4 Various types and their advantages
5.5 Advantages 5.6 Disadvantages
6 Hybrid water heaters 7 Solar water heaters 8 Geothermal heating 9 Water heater safety 10 See also 11 References 12 External links
[edit]Types
of water heating appliance
Water for space heating may be heated by fossil fuels in a boiler. Potable water may be heated in a separate appliance: this is common practice in the USA where warm-air space heating is usually employed. The most useful heating transmitter is known as the radiator.[2]
[edit]Gravity
system
Where a space-heating water boiler is employed the traditional arrangement in the UK is to use boiler-heated ("primary") water to heat ("secondary") water in a cylindrical vessel (usually made of copper) containing potable water supplied from a cold water storage vessel/container, usually in the roof space of the building. This produces a fairly steady supply of DHW at low static pressure headbut usually with a good flow. Water heating appliances in most other parts of the world do not use cold water storage vessel/container but heat water at pressures close to that of the incoming mains water supply.
[edit]On-demand
water heaters
See also: Instant hot water dispenser
Stand-alone appliances for quickly heating water for DHW (Domestic Hot Water) are known in North America as tankless heaters, elsewhere as multipoint heaters, geysers or Ascots. In Australia and New Zealand there was a similar wood fired appliance known as the chip heater. A common arrangement where hot-water space heating is employed is for the boiler to also heat potable water giving a continuous supply of DHW without any extra equipment required. Appliances capable of supplying both space-heating and DHW are known as combination (or "combi") boilers. Although on-demand heaters can give a continuous supply of DHW, the rate at which they can produce it is limited by the thermodynamics of heating water from the available fuel supplies.
[edit]Storage
systems
Another popular arrangement where higher flow rates are required (although for limited periods) is to heat water in a pressure vessel capable of withstanding a hydrostatic pressure close to that of the incoming mains supply. (A pressure reducing valve is usually employed to limit the pressure to a safe level for the vessel.[citation
needed]
In North America these vessels are known as hot water tanks and may incorporate an electrical resistance heater, an air source heat pump or a gas or oil burner heating the water directly. Where hot-water space heating boilers are used DHW cylinders are usually heated indirectly by primary water from the boiler, or by an electric immersion heater (often as backup to the boiler). In the UK these vessels are known as unvented cylinders (or commonly as Megaflos after the brand name of a widely-used model). In the US, when connected to a boiler they are known as indirect-fired water heaters.
[edit]Thermodynamics
and economics
Water enters residences in the US at about 10 C (50 F) (varies with latitude and season). Hot water temperatures of 4049 C (104120 F) are preferred for dish-washing, laundry and showering; requiring the water temperature to be raised about 30 C (54 F) or more, if the hot water is later mixed with cold water. The Uniform Plumbing Code reference shower flow rate is 2.5 US gallons (9.5 L) per minute; sink and dishwasher usages range from 13 US gallons (3.811 L) per minute. Natural gas in the U.S. is measured in CCF (100 cubic feet), which is converted to a standardized heat content unit called the therm, equal to 100,000 British thermal units (BTU). A BTU is the energy required to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. A U.S. gallon of water weighs 8.3 pounds (3.8 kg). So, to raise a 40gallon tank of 55 F (13 C) water up to 105 F (41 C) would require (40 8.3 (105 55) / 100,000) BTU, or approximately 0.17 CCF, at 100% efficiency. A 40,000 BTU/h heater would take 25 minutes to do this, at 100% efficiency. At $1 per therm, the cost of the gas would be about 17 cents.
In comparison, a typical electric water heater has a 4500 watt heating element, which if 100% efficient results in a heating time of about 1.1 hours. Since 16,600 BTU is roughly 4.9 kWh, at 10 cents/kWh the electricity would cost $0.49. Operating a shower at 2.5 gpm and 104 F (40 C) is equivalent to operating a 19.8 kW appliance [ ref. w computes 13.2 kW, but that is for 20 degree C increase instead of 30 ].[3] In the UK, domestic electric immersion heaters are usually rated at 3 kilowatts. Energy efficiencies of water heaters in residential use can vary greatly, particularly based on manufacturer and model. However, electric heaters tend to be slightly more efficient (if one omits the power station losses) with recovery efficiency (how efficiently energy is transferred to the water) reaching about 98%. Gas fired heaters have maximum recovery efficiencies of only about 86% (the remaining heat is lost with the flue gasses). Overall energy factors can be as low as 80% for electric and 50% for gas systems. Since electricity production itself today has efficiency levels ranging from only 15% to slightly over 55% (combined cycle gas turbine), with around 40% typical for thermal power stations, direct electric water heating is typically the least energy efficient option. However, use of a heat pump can make electric water heaters much more energy efficient and lead to a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions, even more so if a renewable source of electricity is used. A tankless water heater operating at those same power levels (at 100% efficiency) would be able to supply 1.6 gpm continuously, raising the temperature by 30 C (54.0 F). The same unit could supply 1.3 gpm while raising the temperature by 33 C (59.4 F). To be able to handle a full house load of multiple uses (at least 5 gpm) with a centralized tankless water heater would require three to four times this power levelsomewhat difficult to achieve with natural gas, and very difficult to achieve with electricity. Many tankless water heaters can use over 100,000 BTU/h during high flow, and so require especially large power supplies. Unfortunately, it takes a great deal of energy to heat water, as one may experience when attempting to boil a gallon of water on a stove. For this reason, tankless on-demand water heaters need to have a very large energy source to be usable. A wall outlet, by comparison, can only source enough energy to warm a disappointingly small amount of water: about 0.17 gpm at 40 C temperature elevation.[where?]
[edit]Water
heaters
A storage water heater
[edit]History
Although not that popular in America, another type of water heater developed in Europe predated the storage model. In London, England in 1868, a painter named Benjamin Waddy Maughan invented "the first instantaneous domestic water heater which did not utilize solid fuel." Named "the geyser" after an Icelandic gushing hot spring, Maughan's invention had cold water at the top flowing through wires which were heated by hot gases from a burner at the bottom. Hot water then flowed into the sink or tub. The invention was somewhat dangerous because there was no flue to remove heated gases from the bathroom. From Britain to America The water heater is still sometimes called a geyser in the U.K. It is often called an electric water boiler, electric dispensing pot or electric water urn. Maughn's invention influenced the work of a Norwegian mechanical engineer named Edwin Ruud. The electric water heater was invented in 1889 by Ruud after he immigrated to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.The Ruud Manufacturing Company, still in existence today, made many advancements in water heater design and operation.[1] In household and commercial usage, most water heaters in North America are of the tank type. Also called storage water heaters, these consist of a cylindrical vessel/container in which water is kept continuously hot and ready for use. Typical sizes for household use range from 75 to 400 litres (20 to 100 U.S.
gallons). These may use electricity, natural gas, propane, heating oil, solar, or other energy sources. Natural gas heaters are most popular in the United States and most European countries, since the gas is often conveniently piped throughout cities and towns and currently is the cheapest to use. Compared to tankless heaters, storage water heaters have the advantage of using energy (gas or electricity) at a relatively slow rate, storing the heat for later use. The disadvantage is that after a while, the water inside the tank will cool down causing the heating system to activate to heat the water back up. Additionally, once the tank's supply of hot water has been exhausted, there is a significant delay before hot water is available again. Larger vessel/containers tend to provide hot water with less temperature fluctuation at moderate flow rates. Volume storage water heaters in the United States and New Zealand are typically vertical, cylindrical tanks, usually standing on the floor or on a platform raised a short distance above the floor. Volume storage water heaters in Spain are typically horizontal. In India, they are mainly vertical. In apartments they can be mounted in the ceiling space over laundry-utility rooms. In Australia, gas and electric outdoor tank heaters have mainly been used (with high temperatures to increase effective capacity), but solar roof tanks are becoming fashionable. In Western countries, where ambient temperature is colder, tiny point-of-use electric storage water heaters with capacities ranging from 8 to 32 litres (2 to 6 gallons) are made for installation in kitchen and bath cabinets or on the wall above a sink. They typically use low power heating elements, about 1 kW to 1.5 kW, and can provide hot water long enough for hand washing, or, if plumbed into an existing hot water line, until hot water arrives from a remote high capacity water heater. They are sometimes used when retrofitting a pump and recirculating plumbing in a building is too costly or impractical. Since they maintain water temperature thermostatically, they will supply hot water at extremely low flow rates, unlike tankless heaters. In tropical countries, like Singapore and India: An ideal storage water heater may vary from 10 L to 35 L Usage of 6 Smaller water heaters are sufficient as ambient weather and water temperature are moderate. The inner vessel of the water heater is the single most important feature of a water heater.[citation needed] The best heaters have a stainless steel inner vessel/container.[citation needed] The second most important feature may be the type of heating element.[citation needed] The cartridge elements score over tubular elements.[citation needed]
[edit]Insulation
and other improvements
In general, the more insulation the better, since it reduces standby heat loss. Water heaters are available with insulation ratings ranging from R-6 to R-24. It may be possible to add an extra insulating blanket or jacket on the outside of a poorly insulated water heater to reduce heat loss. The most common type of water heater blanket is fiberglass insulation with a vinyl film on the outside. The insulation is wrapped around the tank and the ends are taped together. It is important that the blanket be the right size for the tank and not block air flow or cover safety and drainage valves, the controls, or block airflow through the exhaust vent, if any. In very
humid locations, adding insulation to an already well-insulated tank may cause condensation problems, potentially causing rust, mould, or operational problems. Modern water heaters have polyurethane foam (PUF) insulation. In countries where serviceability is very important, PUF capsules are kept between the inner tank and the outer body. Depending upon the insulation efficiency, star rating is given in India. Other improvements include check valve devices at their inlet and outlet, cycle timers, electronic ignition in the case of fuel-using models, sealed air intake systems in the case of fuel-using models, and pipe insulation. The sealed air-intake system types are sometimes called "band-joist" intake units. "High-efficiency" condensing units can convert up to 98% of the energy in the fuel to heating the water. The exhaust gases of combustion are cooled and are mechanically ventilated either through the roof or through an exterior wall. At high combustion efficiencies a drain must be supplied to handle the water condensed out of the combustion products which are primarily carbon dioxide and water vapor. In traditional plumbing in the United Kingdom the space-heating boiler is set up to heat a separate hot water cylinder or water heater for potable hot water. Such water heaters are often fitted with an auxiliary electrical immersion heater for use if the boiler is out of action for a time. Heat from the space-heating boiler is transferred to the water heater vessel/container by means of a heat exchanger, and the boiler operates at a higher temperature than the potable hot water supply. Most potable water heaters in North America are completely separate from the space heating units (cf. the popularity of HVAC/forced air systems in North America). Residential combustion water heaters manufactured since 2003 in the United States have been redesigned to resist ignition of flammable vapors and incorporate a thermal cutoff switch, per ANSIZ21.10.1. The first feature attempts to prevent vapors from flammable liquids and gasses in the vicinity of the heater from being ignited and thus causing a house fire or explosion. The second feature prevents tank overheating due to unusual combustion conditions. These safety requirements were made based on homeowners storing, and sometimes spilling, gasoline or other flammable liquids near their water heaters and causing fires. Since most of the new designs incorporate some type of flame arrestor screen, they require monitoring to make sure they don't become clogged with lint or dust, reducing the availability of air for combustion. If the flame arrestor becomes clogged, the thermal cutoff may act to shut down the heater. A wetback stove (NZ), wetback heater (NZ), or back boiler (UK), is a simple household secondary waterheater using incidental heat. It typically consists of a hot water pipe running behind afireplace or stove (rather than hot water storage), and has no facility to limit the heating. Modern wetbacks may run the pipe in a more sophisticated design to assist heat-exchange.
[edit]Electric
water heating
For small electric boilers, see electric water boiler. In the UK, electric water heating is often done by an immersion heater fitted near the bottom of the hot water tank. The immersion heater is a metal tube containing an insulated electric resistance heater which is usually rated at 3 kilowatts. Water heaters that have residual hot water storage in a vessel/container heat, electrical water heaters can be a good match for an intelligent electrical power distribution system, heating when the electrical grid load is low and turning off when the load is high. This could be implemented by allowing the power supplier to send loadshedding requests, or by the use of real-time energy pricing. SeeEconomy 7.
[edit]Tankless
heaters
Tankless heater
inside of a hydraulical controlled two-stage tankless heater, running with single-phase electric power. The copper tank contains the heaters with 18 kilowatts maximum power.
Tankless water heaters, also called instantaneous, continuous flow, inline, flash, on-demand or instant-on water heaters, are also available and gaining in popularity. These water heaters instantly heat water as it flows through the device, and do not retain any water internally except for what is in the heat exchanger coil. Tankless heaters are often installed throughout a household at more than one point-of-use (POU), far from the central water heater, or larger models may still be used to provide all the hot water requirements for an entire house. The main advantages of tankless water heaters are a continuous flow of hot water and energy savings (as compared to a limited flow of continuously heating hot water from conventional tank water heaters).
[edit]How
tankless water heaters work
When there is a demand for hot water (e.g. a hot water tap is opened for a sink, shower, tub, or washing machine) the tankless water heater's water flow turbine senses the flow and starts the heating process. The water flow turbine sends a signal to the control board which looks at multiple factors: incoming water temperature, desired water temperature as set on the temperature controller, and the calculated difference between the two temperatures. Depending on the calculated incoming and desired water temperatures, the gas or electric flow into the burner assembly is modulated and the electronic ignition sequence begins. Water is heated to the desired temperature as it circulates through the copper heat exchanger providing continuous hot water. When the hot water tap is turned off, the tankless water heater shuts down and is placed in a standby mode pending the next call for hot water.[4]
[edit]Combination
boilers
Combination or combi boilers, combine the central heating (CH) with (tankless) domestic hot water (DHW) in one box. They are not merely infinitely continuous water heaters having the ability to heat a hydronic heating system in a large house. When DHW is run off, the combi stops pumping water to the hydronic circuit and diverts all the boiler's power to instantly heating DHW. Some combis have small internal water storage vessels combining the energy of the stored water and the gas or oil burner to give faster DHW at the taps or increase the DHW flowrate. Combi boilers are rated by the DHW flowrate. The kW ratings for domestic units are 24 kW to 54 kW, giving approximate flowrates of 9 to 23 litres (2.4 to 6.1 US gal) per minute. There are larger commercial units available. High flowrate models will simultaneously supply two showers. A further advantage is that more than one combi unit may be used to supply separate heating zones, giving greater time and temperature control, and multiple bathrooms. An example is one combi supplying the downstairs heating system and another the upstairs. One unit may supply one bathroom and one another. Having two units gives backup in case one combi is down, provided the 2 systems are connected with valves that are normally closed. Installation cost is significantly lower and less space is required as water tanks and associated pipes and controls are not required. Combi boilers are highly popular in Europe, where in some countries market share is 70%. Combination boilers have disadvantages. The water flow rate is likely to be less good than from a storage cylinder, particularly in winter. The power rating needs to be matched to heating requirements; heating water on demand improves energy efficiency but limits the volume of water available at any moment. The water supply pressure must not be too low. A combination boiler has more moving parts that can break down, so can be less reliable than a tank system.[5] This could be solved using a valve known as a combisave, this would help to reduce the amount of water used
[edit]Electric
shower head
As the name implies, an electric heating element is incorporated into such shower head to heat the water as it flows. Invented in Brazil in the 1930s and widely used since the 40s, the electric shower is a home appliance very commonly used in South American countries due to the higher costs with gas canalization. At one time, an electric shower cost less than a hair dryer. Electric Showers work like a coffee maker, but with a larger water flow. When the water flows inside, the pressure inflates a diaphragm which closes the electrical contacts of the heater coil with the live contacts, turning on the device. Once the water is stopped, the device turns off automatically. An ordinary electric shower used to have three heat settings: low (2.5 kW), high (5.5 kW) or cold (0 W) to use when a central heater system is available or in hot seasons.
The power consumption of electric showers in the maximum heating level is about 5.5 kW for 120 V and 7.5 kW for 220 V. The lower costs with electric showers compared to the higher costs with boilers is due to the time of use: an electric shower uses energy only during the bath, while a boiler works many times a day to keep a larger quantity of water hot for use throughout the day. So electric showers can save energy compared to gas central heaters. A 20 minute bath by an electric shower can cost about US$0.10, but the same bath using water from a gas heater can cost three times as much. This difference can be larger where the electricity is cheaper than the gas supply or in tropical countries where the maximum power consupmtion is required only during the cold seasons. There is a wide range of electric showers all with various amounts of heating controls. The heating element of an electric shower is made from a coil made of nickel or an alloy of nickel and chromium or can even be made of sheathed heater element, like the ones used in oil heaters, radiators or irons - they provide more safety as there is insulation between the electric parts and the water. Due to electrical safety Standards, modern electric showers are made of plastic instead of the metallic casings like in the past. As an electrical appliance which works with higher electrical currents than a washer or a dryer machine, the installation of electric showers needs careful planning and must be made directly from the electrical distribution box, with exclusive 6 mm wires, electric connectors for 50 A and a ground system. A poorly installed system with old aluminium wires or bad connections are very dangerous as the wires can overheat. Some changes in the electrical public distribution were important before a wide use of electric showers at first. Electric public transformers with higher KVA capacity are required due to the increase of the electrical demand. In Countries where almost all houses use electric showers like Brazil, an ordinary street transformer per square have 112.5 to 150 kVA of capacity and buildings must have their own transformers to support the electrical domestic demand without overloads in the electric distribution.
[edit]Various
types and their advantages
Point-of-use tankless water heaters are located right where the water is being used, so the water is almost instantly hot, which saves water. They also save even more energy than centrally installed tankless water heaters because no hot water is left in the pipes after the water is shut off. However, point-of-use tankless water heaters are usually used in combination with a central water heater since they are usually limited to under 6 litres/minute (1.5 U.S. gallons/minute), as the expense of buying a heater for every kitchen, laundry room, bathroom, or sink can outweigh the money saved in water and energy bills. In addition, point of use water heaters until recently were almost always electrical, and electricity is often substantially more expensive than natural gas or propane. There are alsohydrosonic water heaters that work on the principle of cavitation. Tankless heaters can ideally be somewhat more efficient than storage water heaters. In both kinds of installation (centralized and POU) the absence of a tank saves energy as conventional water heaters have to
reheat the water in the tank as it cools off, called standby loss. There is a misconception that the energy lost by a tanked heater stored inside a home merely helps to heat the home. This is true of an electric unit, but for a gas unit some of this wasted energy leaves through the exhaust vent. However, if the building needs to be cooled to maintain normal temperatures this results in a loss in efficiency. With a central water heater of any type, water is wasted waiting for water to heat up because of the cold water in the pipes between the faucet and the water heater. This water waste can be avoided if a recirculating pump is installed, but at the cost of electricity to run the pump and wasted energy to heat the water circulation through the pipes. Tankless water heaters can be divided into two categories: "full on/full off" and "modulated". Full on/full off units do not have a variable power output level; the unit is either fully on or completely off. Modulated tankless water heaters base the heat output on the flow of water running through the unit. This is usually done through the use of a flow sensor, modulating gas valve, inlet water temperature sensor and an outlet water temperature sensorchoke valve and means that the occupants should receive the same output temperature of water at differing velocities, usually within a close range of 2 C. The high-efficiency condensing combination boiler[6] provides both space heating and water heating, an increasingly popular choice in UK houses. In fact, combination boilers now account for over half of all the new domestic boilers installed in Britain. Under current North American conditions, the most cost effective configuration from an operating viewpoint is usually to use a central tankless water heater for most of the house, and install a point of use tankless water heater at any distant faucets or bathrooms. However, this may vary according to how much electricity, gas and water costs in the area, the layout of the house, and how much hot water is used. Only electric tankless water heaters were available at first and they are still used for almost all point of use heaters, but natural gas and propane heaters are now common. When consumers are considering a whole house gas tankless unit, they are advised to look at how the unit functions when raising the water temperature by about 42 C (7577 F). Thus, if they live in a cold weather climate, they are advised to look at the unit's capacity with 3-10 C (38 50 F) inlet water temperatures, and find a size that produces approximately 15 litres/minute (4 gpm) even in winter if they have a typical-sized house and desire what is called a 2-appliance heater. This same unit may produce 25-30 litres/minute (6.36.9 gpm) in summer with higher inlet temperatures, but there is greater interest in year round production and usability.
[edit]Advantages
There are certain advantages to tankless water heaters :
Long term energy savings: Although a tankless water heater might cost more initially it may result in both energy and cost savings in the long term. As water is heated only when it is needed, there is no storage of hot water. With a tank, water is kept warm all day even if it never gets used and heat loss through the tank walls will result in a continual energy drain. Even in homes or buildings with a high demand for hot water, a
tankless water heater may provide some level of savings. In a typical home these savings are quite substantial. If instant hot water at the taps at limited hours is a priority, a recirculation system similar to those in the tank-type systems can be accommodated by using an aquastat and timer in order to decrease the added heat loss from the recirculation system. It has to be said though that if the storage tank is highlyinsulateda few tanks are available with excellent levels such as 100 mm or more polyurethane foam the savings become minimal. For one consumer-grade electric storage water heater, the surface temperature was less than 1 C higher than the air temperature.[citation needed]
Unlimited hot water: As water is heated while passing through the system an unlimited supply of hot water is available with a tankless water heater. Although flow rate will determine the amount of hot water that can be generated at one time it can be generated indefinitely. However, this can also be a disadvantage as running out of hot water self-limits use while a tankless heater has no such limit.
Less physical space: Most tankless water heaters can be mounted on a wall or even internally in a building's structure. This means less physical space has to be dedicated to heating water. Even systems that can't be mounted on walls take up less space than a tank-type water heater.
Reduced risk of water damage: No stored water means there is no risk of water damage from a tank failure or rupture, although the risk of water damage from a pipe or fitting failure remains. Improper piping in either the hot or cold water lines to the tankless water heater can result in water damage though.[citation
needed]
Temperature compensation A temperature compensating valve tends to eliminate the issue where the temperature and pressure from tankless heaters decrease during continuous use. Most new generation tankless water heaters stabilize water pressure and temperature by a bypass valve and a mixing valve which is incorporated in the unit. Modern Tankless are not inversely proportional, because they will regulate the amount of water that is created and discharged, therefore stabilizing water temperature by utilizing a flow control valve. Flow speed is not the issue, but change in temperature is the important issue to address. The wider the temperature rise, the less flow you receive from the unit. The smaller the temperature rise, the more flow you receive. The flow control valve in conjunction with thermistors, maintains a stable temperature throughout the use of the unit.
Safety Tankless Water Heaters can precisely control the temperature of the treated water, which means dangerous temperature levels and spikes are no longer a problem.[7]
[edit]Disadvantages
Tankless heaters also have several disadvantages:
Start-up delay: There is a longer wait to obtain hot water. A tankless water heater only heats water upon demand, which is one of its chief advantages, so all idle water in the piping starts at room temperature.
Thus there is a more apparent "flow delay" for hot water to reach a distant faucet (in non-point-of-use systems). Many models sold in the UK have introduced a small heat store within the combi. to address this issue. This "keep hot" facility considerably improves the standard of hot water service, which some people otherwise find unacceptably poor with a combi., but it uses considerably more fuel especially in summer.
Intermittent-use: There is a short delay (13 seconds) between the time when the water begins flowing and when the heater's flow detector activates the heating elements or gas burner. In the case of continuous-use applications (showers, baths, washing machine) this is not an issue. However, for intermittent-use applications (for example when a hot water faucet is turned on and off repeatedly at a sink) this can result in periods of hot water, followed by some small amount of cold water as the heater activates, followed quickly by hot water again. The period between hot/cold/hot is the amount of water which has flowed though the heater before becoming active. This cold section of water takes some amount of time to reach the faucet and is dependent on the length of piping.
Installation cost: Installing a tankless system comes at an increased cost, particularly in retrofit applications. They tend to be particularly expensive in areas such as the US where they are not dominant, compared to the established tank design. If a storage water heater is being replaced with a tankless one, the size of the electrical wiring or gas pipeline may have to be increased to handle the load and the existing vent pipe may have to be replaced, possibly adding expense to the retrofit installation. Many tankless units have fully modulating gas valves that can range from as low as 10,000 to over 1,000,000 BTUs. For electrical installations (non-gas), AWG 10 or 8 wire, corresponding to 10 or 6 mm2, is required for most POU (point of use) heaters at North American voltages. Larger whole house electric units may require up to AWG 2 wire. In gas appliances, both pressure and volume requirements must be met for optimum operation.
Heat source flexibility Tankless heaters are sometimes limited to a choice between CO2 problematic energy sources: gas and electricity. This sometimes makes it difficult to include other heat sources, sometimes including certain renewable energy options. One exception is solar water heating, which can be used in conjuncion with tankless water heaters. However, tank-type systems have a much wider choice of heat sources available, such as district heating, central heating, geothermal heating, micro CHP and ground-coupled heat exchangers.
Recirculation systems: Since a tankless water heater is inactive when hot water is not being used, they are incompatible with passive (convection-based) hot water recirculation systems. They may be incompatible with active hot water recirculation systems and will certainly use more energy to constantly heat water within the piping, defeating one of a tankless water heater's primary advantages. On-demand recirculating pumps are often used to minimize hot water wait times from tankless water heaters and save water being wasted down the drain. On-demand recirculating pumps are activated by push-button or other
sensor. A water contacting temperature probe installed at the hot water usage point signals the pump to stop. Single-cycle pumping events only occur when hot water is needed thereby preventing the energy waste associated with constantly heating water within piping.
Achieving cooler temperatures: Tankless water heaters often have minimum flow requirements before the heater is activated, and this can result in a gap between the cold water temperature, and the coolest warm water temperature that can be achieved with a hot and cold water mix.
Maintaining constant shower temperature: Similarly, unlike with a tank heater, the hot water temperature from a non-modulated tankless heater is inversely proportional to the rate of the water flow the faster the flow, the less time the water spends in the heating element being heated. Mixing hot and cold water to the "right" temperature from a single-lever faucet (say, when taking a shower) takes some practice. Also, when adjusting the mixture in mid-shower, the change in temperature will initially react as a tanked heater does, but this also will change the flow rate of hot water. Therefore some finite time later the temperature will change again very slightly and require readjustment. This is typically not noticeable in nonshower applications.
Operation with low supply pressure: Tankless systems are reliant on the water pressure that is delivered to the property. In other words, if a tankless system is used to deliver water to a shower or water faucet, the pressure is the same as the pressure delivered to the property and cannot be increased, whereas in tanked systems the tanks can be positioned above the water outlets (in the loft/attic space for example) so the force of gravity can assist in delivering the water, and pumps can be added into the system to increase pressure. Power showers, for example, cannot be used with tankless systems because the tankless systems cannot deliver the hot water at a fast enough flow rate required by the pump.
Time-of-use metering and peak electrical loads: Tankless electric heaters, if installed in a large percentage of homes within an area, can create demand management problems for electrical utilities. Because these are high-current devices, and hot water use tends to peak at certain times of the day, their use can cause short spikes in electricity demand, including during the daily peak electrical load periods, which increases utility operating costs. For households using time-of-use metering (where electricity costs more during peak periods such as daytime, and is cheaper at night), a tankless electric heater may actually increase operating costs if the hot water is used during peak times.[8] Instantaneous-type heaters are also problematic if they are connected to district heating systems, as they raise peak demands, and most utilities prefer all buildings to have hot water storage.
[edit]Hybrid
water heaters
Main article: Hybrid water heater
A hybrid water heater is a water heating system that integrates technology traits from both the tank-type water heaters and the tankless water heaters.[9] The hybrid water heater maintains water pressure and consistent supply of hot water across multiple hot water applications, and like its tankless cousins, the hybrid is efficient and can supply a continuous flow of hot water on demand.[10]
[edit]Solar
water heaters
Main article: Solar water heating
Direct-gain solar heater panels with integrated storage tank
Increasingly, solar powered water heaters are being used. Their solar collectors are installed outside dwellings, typically on the roof or walls or nearby, and the potable hot water storage tank is typically a pre-existing or new conventional water heater, or a water heater specifically designed for solar thermal. The most basic solar thermal models are the direct-gain type, in which the potable water is directly sent into the collector. Many such systems are said to use integrated collector storage (ICS), as direct-gain systems typically have storage integrated within the collector. Heating water directly is inherently more efficient than heating it indirectly via heat exchangers, but such systems offer very limited freeze protection (if any), can easily heat water to temperatures unsafe for domestic use, and ICS systems suffer from severe heat loss on cold nights and cold, cloudy days. By contrast, indirect or closed-loop systems do not allow potable water through the panels, but rather pump a heat transfer fluid (either water or a water/antifreeze mix) through the panels. After collecting heat in the panels, the heat transfer fluid flows through a heat exchanger, transferring its heat to the potable hot water. When the panels are cooler than the storage tank or when the storage tank has already reached its maximum temperature, the controller in closed-loop systems will stop the circulation pumps. In a drainback system, the water drains into a storage tank contained in conditioned or semi-conditioned space, protected from freezing
temperatures. Antifreeze systems, however, the pump must be run if the panel temperature gets too hot (to prevent degradation of the antifreeze) or too cold (to prevent the water/antifreeze mixture from freezing.)
Flat-plate solar thermal collector, viewed from roof-level
Flat panel collectors are typically used in closed-loop systems. Flat panels, which often resemble skylights, are the most durable type of collector, and they also have the best performance for systems designed for temperatures within 100 degrees Fahrenheit of ambient temperature. Flat panels are regularly used in both pure water and antifreeze systems. Another type of solar collector is the evacuated tube collector, which are intended for cold climates that do not experience severe hail and/or applications where high temperatures are needed (i.e. over 200 degrees Fahrenheit.) Placed in a rack, evacuated tube collectors form a row of glass tubes, each containing absorption fins attached to a central heat-conducting rod (copper or condensation-driven.) The evacuated description refers to the vacuum which is created within the glass tubes during the manufacturing process, which results in very low heat loss and allows evacuated tube systems to achieve extreme temperatures, far in excess of water's boiling point.
[edit]Geothermal
heating
In countries like Iceland and New Zealand, and other volcanic regions, water heating may be done using geothermal heating, rather than combustion.
[edit]Water
heater safety
Water heaters potentially can explode and cause significant damage, injury, or death if certain safety devices are not installed. When the water temperature exceeds 100 C (212 F), the water will remain a liquid inside the tank, but when the pressure is released as the water comes out the tap the water will boil, potentially inflicting steam burns. Water above about 88 C (190 F) will cause burns on contact. A safety device called a temperature and pressure relief (T&P or TPR) valve, is normally fitted on the top of the water heater to dump water if the temperature or pressure becomes too high. Most plumbing codes require that a discharge pipe be
connected to the valve to direct the flow of discharged hot water to a drain, typically a nearby floor drain, or outside the living space. Some building codes will allow for the discharge pipe to terminate in the garage.[11] If a gas or propane fired water heater is installed in a garage, it is recommended, and many codes require, that it be elevated at least 18 inches (0.46 m) above the floor to reduce the potential for fire or explosion due to spillage or leakage of combustible liquids in the garage. Furthermore, certain local codes mandate that tanktype heaters in new and retrofit installations must be secured to an adjacent wall by a strap or anchor to prevent tipping over and breaking the water and gas pipes in the event of an earthquake.[12] For older houses where the water heater is part of the space heating boiler, and plumbing codes allow, some plumbers will install a Watts 210 device in place of a TPR valve. When the device senses that the temperature reaches 99 C (210 F), it will shut off the gas supply and prevent further heating. In addition, an expansion tank or exterior pressure relief valve must be installed to prevent pressure buildup in the plumbing from rupturing pipes, valves, or the water heater. Scalding is a serious concern with any water heater. Human skin burns quickly at high temperature in about 5 seconds at 60 C/140 F, but much slower at 53 C/127 F it takes a full minute for a first degree burn. Older people and children often receive the most serious scalds due to disabilities or slow reaction times. In the United States and elsewhere it is common practice to put a tempering valveon the outlet of the water heater. A tempering valve mixes enough cold water with the hot from the heater to keep the outgoing water temperature fixed, often set to 50 C. Without a tempering valve, reduction of the water heater's setpoint temperature is the most direct way to reduce scalding. However, for sanitation, hot water is needed. Most residential dishwashing machines, for example, include an electric heating element for increasing the water temperature above that provided by water heaters. The result of mixing hot and cold water via a tempering valve is also referred to as tempered water.[13] There are two seemingly conflicting safety issues around water heater temperaturethe risk of scalding from excessively hot water greater than 55 C (131 F), and the risk of incubating bacteria colonies, particularly Legionella, in water that is not hot enough to kill them. Both risks are potentially life threatening and are balanced by setting the water heater's thermostat to at least 54.4 C (130 F). The European Guidelines for Control and Prevention of Travel Associated Legionnaires Disease recommend that hot water should be stored at 60 C (140 F) and distributed such that a temperature of at least 50 C and preferably 55 C is achieved within one minute at outlets.[14] If there is a dishwasher without a booster heater, it may require a water temperature within a range of 57 C (134.6 F) to 60 C (140 F) for optimum cleaning,[15] in which case tempering valves set to no more than 55 C can be applied to faucets to avoid scalding. (Note: Tank temperatures above 60 C may produce limescale deposits, which could later harbor bacteria, in the water tank. Temperatures above 60 C may also cause gradual erosion of glassware in a dishwasher.)
In the renewable energy industry (solar and heat pumps, in particular) the conflict between daily thermal Legionella control and high temperatures, which may drop system performance, is subject to heated debate. In a paper seeking a green exemption from normal Legionellosis safety standards, Europe's top CEN solar thermal technical committee TC 312 asserts that a 50% fall in performance would occur if solar water heating systems were heated to the base daily. However some solar simulator analysis work using Polysun 5 suggests that an 11% energy penalty is a more likely figure. Whatever the context, both energy efficiency and scalding safety requirements push in the direction of considerably lower water temperatures than the legionella pasteurisation temperature of around 60 C. However, legionella can be safely and easily controlled with good design and engineering protocols. For instance raising the temperature of water heaters once a day or even once every few days to 55 C (131 F) at the coldest part of the water heater for 30 minutes will effective control legionella. In all cases and in particular energy efficient applications, Legionnaires' disease is more often than not the result of engineering design issues that do not take into consideration the impact of stratification or low flow.
[edit]See
also
Aquastat Architectural engineering Condensing boiler Electric water boiler Energy conservation Heat Traps Hot water heat recycling Solar hot water Thermal immersion circulator
[edit]References
1. ^ a b Early History of Water Heater Technology 2. ^ http://www.search.eb.com/eb/article-3085 3. ^ http://www.google.com/search?q=%282.5+gallon%2Fminute%29+*+%281+calorie%2F%28cm

%5E3+*+1C%29%29++*+20+C
4. ^ "How A Tankless Gas Water Heater Works". www.rinnai.us. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
5. ^ This could be sorted by using a small valve known as a combisave to reduce the amount of water
used. Phillip Inman (April 2, 2005). "The new boiler that's causing a heated row". The Guardian. Retrieved 2011-04-08.
6. ^ "UK.DIY Combination Boilers". Diyfaq.org.uk. Retrieved 2009-04-23. 7. ^ http://eemax.com/WhyTankless 8. ^ Electric tankless water heaters 9. ^ http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/energy-efficiency/hybrid-water-heaters1.htm 10. ^ http://www.reevesjournal.com/CDA/Articles/Feature_Article/BNP_GUID_9-52006_A_10000000000000605957
11. ^ Water Can Be Dynamite 1951 article with illustrations on basics of water heater safety pressure relief
valve
12. ^ "California Plumbing Code". International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials. pp. 5859.
Retrieved 23 Feb 2010.
13. ^ http://www.armstronginternational.com/files/products/lynnwood/EMC/articles/ASPE5-2003.pdf 14. ^ "European Guidelines for Control and Prevention of Travel Associated Legionnaires Disease". European
Working Group for Legionella Infections. 2005-01-01. Archived from the original on 2007-09-22. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
15. ^ "A Consumer's Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: Lower Water Heating Temperature for
Energy Savings". U.S. Department of Energy. 2005-09-12. Retrieved 2007-10-14.
[edit]External
links
U.S. Department of Energy Water Heating Guidance How It Works - Water Heater Tankless Water Heaters are Brutal on the Grid When Popularized Showing Different Types of Immersion Heaters Estimate DHW Usage [1] Article on water saving
Categories: Plumbing | Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning | Home appliances | Boilers
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The Renewable Energy site for Do-It-Yourselfers

Home Getting Started Projects References Half Program Experimental Site Map
Solar Water Heating

Solar water heating systems have a good economic payoff, and are manageable systems to install or build as a DIY project. Some of the solar water heating designs are simple and low cost. You can save a great deal of money by building your own system -- several thousand dollars. There are dozens of free plans listed below that should meet just about any need. Simple batch systems are basically a tank painted black housed inside of a glazed box -they work well in warm climates, and can be used in cold climates if drained for the winter. There are also plans shown for quite a few solar water heaters that can be used in cold climates right through the winter -- this includes our own $1,000 solar water heating system that has provided a solar fraction in excess of 90% through our cold Montana winter. It is also possible to collect the federal tax rebate by using certified collectors, and building the rest of the system yourself. My thanks to the people who have built systems, and then taken the time to send in pictures and descriptions for others to use.
Directory for this page: Solar water heating basics Batch solar water heaters Thermosyphon solar water heaters Drainback and Closed Loop solar water heaters Our $1K Solar Water Heating System Examples of $1K Systems Making and evaluating collector fins Evacuated Tube solar water heaters Air Collector Water Heater Sun tracking solar water heaters Grey Water Heat Recovery Heat Recovery Units Heat Pump Water Heaters Heating Water With Compost Heating water for animals Other Applications (Agricultural, commercial,...) Fun Solar Showers for the summer Solar water heating system components (heat exchangers, tanks, pumps, ...) Glazing materials comparison Protecting pumps etc. from freezing... Maintenance and Troubleshooting for solar water heating systems Used Collectors NEW Information on pumps, heat exchangers, heat storage tanks and other components for solar space heating systems here... If ya wanna be a solar pioneer, take a look at the Experimental section as well. Questions? Report Broken Links ...
Hands-on Basics The Home Power and FSEC articles listed below are the best way I have found to get up to speed with building a solar hot water heater. They are very well done, and very hands-on. Solar Site Survey ... Before you embark on any of the solar projects listed below, you MUST do a solar site survey. This will ensure that you actually get
enough sun on your collector to make it worthwhile. It only takes an hour, its fun, its easy and you will learn something about how the sun moves. Solar Site Survey... Solar Hot Water: A Primer, Ken Olson for the Arizona Solar Center This is a basic
www.azsolarcenter.com/technology/solarh20.html
introduction to solar water heating, and provides a description of different types of systems and their pros and cons. A good place to start. See the entries below for more details on each type of system, and for systems you can build yourself. If the number of types of systems Ken describes seems a bit overwhelming, then concentrate on 1) batch systems, 2) drain back systems, 3) closed loop systems, and 4) thermosyphon systems -- these are the most common and robust. Some additional considerations if you want to build your own system... Solar Hot Water Basics -- Simplified Hot Water, John Patterson Overview of Solar Water Heating A good article explaining the various types of solar water heating systems with an the components that make them up.
http://www.homepower.com/basics/hotwater/
Once you have narrowed in on the
type of system for you, you can get more detailed information on what's involved in building one from the articles below.
Solar Thermal Resources Florida Solar Education Center The Solar Thermal Manual provides a good description of the various types of solar water heating systems, as well detailed sections on installation and troubleshooting -- lots of detailed how-to. Very useful.
FSEC Solar Thermal Resources Page (very good): http://www2.fsec.ucf.edu/en/industry... FSEC's main page on solar water heating http://www.fsec.ucf.edu
Also, good Installation Pictorials for the entire solar water heating installation.
A Solar Hot Water Primer Ken Olson This article is currently available as a free download from the Arizona Solar Center here How to get articles from Home Power ... Search for Issue 84 Overview of Solar Water Heating Home Power magazine article, issue 84
A very good overview of the types of solar domestic hot water heating system that are available. Pro and cons of each. Some system sizing and installation information. This is similar to the article above, but with somewhat more detail in some areas.
SDHW Installation Basics -- Part 3: Drainback System Chuck Marken and Ken Olson
How to get articles from Home Power ... Search for Issue 97
Drainback Systems Home Power magazine article, issue 97
Very Good description of the ins and outs of the drainback style solar hot water heating system. Good hands-on detail.
Solar Hot Water for Cold Climates, Parts I and II Ken Olsen and Tom Lane Closed Loop Systems Home Power magazine articles, issues 85 and 86
How to get articles from Home Power ...
Very good articles on selecting the components for a closed loop solar hot water heating system (suitable for cold climates). Lots on installation detail. Covers closed loop antifreeze systems and drainback systems.
Installation Basics for Solar Domestic Water Heating Systems, Chuck Marken and Ken Olsen Installing Systems Home Power magazine article, issue 94 and 95
How to get articles from Home Power ... Search for Issues 94 and 95
Good two part article on how to install the components of a closed loop solar domestic water heating system. Lots of construction detail -no prior knowledge assumed. Very good explanation on how to put together and install a closed loop solar hot water system. Very detailed.
Pump and Plumbing Sizing for Solar Water or Space Heating System
Details on solar pump/pipe sizing...
This page covers the details of sizing the pump and the plumbing for a solar space or water heating system so that the system efficiently transfers heat from the collector to the storage tank without being excessively large.
Details on solar pump/pipe sizing...

Build and Integral Passive Solar Water Heater David Bainbridge www.motherearthnews.com Mother Earth News Article, Issue 85 Jan/Feb 1984
A primer on building passive solar water heaters that integrate collection and storage in one package sometimes called batch heaters. A good overview, and just enough detail to be useful. David is also the author of "The Integral Passive Solar Water Heater Book", which is good, but hard to find -- Thanks to David, its a free download below.
Solar Water Heating Calculator This is a good solar water heater calculator from
http://www.infinitepower.org/calc_waterheating.htm
InfinitePower.org
It calculates what you are spending on
heating water as a function of water heater type, fuel type, usage, ... And it estimates the savings for a solar heater.
Get Into Hot Water -- Home Power's 2008 Solar Thermal Collector Guide, Check Marken with Doug Puffer Good review of all SRCC
certified flat plate and evacuated tube collectors. A rundown on construction and SRCC performance is provided for each collector. Good discussion on flat plate vs evacuated tube features and efficiency. Other related info: SRCC ratings info ... Our collector performance calculator ... Suppliers ... B2E Expansion Tank Calculator A calculator you can used to size the expansion tank on your solar water heating system.
http://www.b2epc.com/software/tank.shtml
Empirical Investigations of Solar Water Heating Technology Dennis Scanlin How to get articles from Home Power ...
Home Power Magazine article, issue 58
Appalachian State University does side by side comparisons of several types of solar water heating systems. Good comparison data for several types of systems.
Batch Water Heaters
Batch solar water heating systems are very simple. Easy to build and easy to maintain. Good Do-It-Yourself projects. These systems must be drained during the winter in cold climates to prevent freezing. The Integral Passive Solar Water Heater Book, David Bainbridge This is a
Download this book This book is out of print, and difficult to get, but David Bainbridge has agreed to make it a free download.
really fine book on all aspects of designing and building a wide variety of solar batch water heaters. The book has a great mix of how-to and engineering design information -great for builders and experimenters.
Thanks to David, the full content of the book isavailable here as a free download.
By Example Batch Water Heater
www.byexample.com/projects/current/batch_collector/
This is a pretty detailed story on the building process for a homemade batch hot water heater. I think one of the most valuable things is it passes on some things NOT to do -- things
they tried that failed.
Here are some more things NOT to do on a batch heater.

Batch Solar Water Heater Plans and Data, W.S. "Gus" Baker, Tome Wykes, Oregon State University Extension, 1986
http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/... This is from the Oregon State University Extension... Lots of good material there.
Detailed plans and performance data for a simple Do-It-Yourself batch solar water heater.
Thanks very much to the folks at the Oregon State University Extension for making this 1986 Extension publication available -- a note about this doc...
Rodale Batch Water Heater
www.green-trust.org/2000/solar/sunontap/Default.htm
Very good write up and plans for a batch water heater. This one even looks nice. Good how-to detail.
Florida Batch Water Heater Rovert Owens
How to get articles from Home Power ..
Home Power magazine article, issue 93
Good description of installing a commercial solar batch water heating system. Good detail on installation process and experiences with the batch heater.
Maine Solar Primer Batch Water Heater
Maine Solar Primer
A simple homemade solar batch water heater design suitable for summer use in a cold climate, or year round use in a warm climate.
Courtesy of the Maine Solar Energy Association.

Batch Water Heater Using Stock Tank as Enclosure This is a nice simple batch water heater design from Ron that uses a galvanized stock tank as the outer enclosure. It also includes a movable reflector that increases solar gain without increasing heat losses. Details... Getting the Tank for a Batch Heater and Preparing It ... It can be difficult to find a good tank for a batch heater -- here are some ways to find one, and to prepare it for use....
Details...
New updates October 09
Simple Solar Water Heater for Developing Countries A. Jagadeesh
Description of a very simple nonpressurized batch water heater intended for developing countries. Might be good for a cabin application.
Construction and Installation of a batch-type homemade solar water heater -- An inexpensive, Durable System Pretty much just what the title says. Simple, cheap, durable, homemade. Non-Pressurized $70 Batch Water Heater This is a plan from the FSEC for a VERY simple batch water heater made from a 50 gallon barrel. It cannot be pressurized. You fill it from something like a garden hose, and use gravity feed to use the water. A system of similar, but lighter, construction might be mounted on the roof of a house/cabin to supply gravity feed hot water. Similar to the "pillow" systems in this book. Can't beat the price!
http://solarcooking.org/bkerr/SWHeaterRev-1d.pdf
Build Your Own Solar Batch Water Heater Florida Solar Energy Center FS-36
Beer Bottle Solar Water Heater, Ma Yanjun
An
www.greenupandgo.com/renewable-energy/beerbottle-solar-power/
unusual approach!
I guess you work with what's available.

A Solar Water Heater Made of PET Bottles An
www.temasactuales.com/... Update: http://www.temasactuales.com/ ... Instructional Manual: http://www.iap.pr.gov.br/arquivos/File/pdf/solar.pdf English Translation of Manual: Construction Manual in English ... (pdf)
(Thanks to Chris for finding this!)
interesting solar water heater design made from PET bottles. It looks like plastic(?) pipes run up the center of each row of PET bottles. The PET bottles (I think) act as glazing, and also hold reflectors made from beverage cartons(?)
The Instructional Manual has a lot of good pictures that make it fairly clear how it goes together. Its an inventive design with most of the materials coming from stuff that would otherwise go to the landfill.
(Thanks to Cameron and Tom for providing more info on this.)
Commercial Versions of Batch Water Heaters These commercial versions of batch (ICS) solar water heaters would make a fairly straightforward DIY installation project with their simple plumbing, no pumps, no controllers, and no heat exchangers to worry about. There are other brands out there if you search around a bit.
CopperHeart Batch Collector
http://www.sunearthinc.com
A commercial version of a batch solar water heater. Some useful downloads. There are several other manufacturers of batch systems -installation of one of these systems is a good DIY project.
SunCache Solar Water Heating -- Harpiris Energy
http://www.harpiris.com/ Detailed information and manuals for SunCache: http://www.harpiris.com/learnmore/downloadliterature. html SRCC OG-300 certification results for CA zone 3: http://www.solar-rating.org/...
This is a soon to be
commercially available, low cost, Integral Collector/Storage solar water heater. The retail price for DIY installations is estimated to be $2200.
This design was developed by the Davis Energy Group in an effort to lower the price of solar water heaters. The unique design allows more use of plastics resulting in a lighter and less expensive design.
The collector has been SRCC certified, and will qualify for incentive programs that require SRCC certification. There is a CARB program that CA residents may want to check on. The unit is designed for easy DIY installation -- for instance, the plumbing connections to the collector are made with two Sharkbite push in style fittings, and there are no controllers, or heat exchangers to install. The collector contains 50 gallons of water for thermal storage that remains in the collector forever. Fresh water that is to be preheated passes through a copper pipe heat exchanger immersed in the collector water. Note that the freeze tolerant temperature for this collector is listed
as 20F, so it is not intended for cold climates. The testing indicates a savings for about 75 therms of NG per year for a family of 4.
Thermosyphon Water Heaters Thermosyphon use the fact that heated water becomes less dense and rises to power the water circulation through the collector. No pump or controller is required. The storage tank must be above collector. A DIY Thermosyphon Water Heating System, by Lonnie
Full details on construction...
This is a very nicely done and very simple thermosyphon solar water heating system. The system basically consists of a collector, a tank, and connecting plumbing -- no pumps, no controllers -- very simple, not expensive, yet quite efficient. Philip's Fiji Island DIY Thermosyphon Solar Water Heater
Details on Philip's thermosyphon solar water heater...

Philip of Fiji has built a very nice warm climate thermosyphon solar water heater. This is a really simple system -- no pumps, nocontrollers, no heat exchangers, no antifreeze -- total cost $250. All the details...
(Could not resist showing Philip's beautiful Fiji photo)
How to Build and Install Your Own Thermosyphon Solar Water Heater Perry A. Bocci How to get articles from Home Power ...
Very complete design and construction detail for building a thermosyphon solar water heater. Includes building the collector panel, enclosure, plumbing Only mystery is how did he bond the copper pipes to the corrugated metal absorber?
Solahart is a major
Solahart Thermosyphon Water Heaters Website
www.SolarHart.com Eco-Smart -- Installation manual and more...
manufacturer of thermosyphon water heating systems. They provide a lot of information on their site that would be helpful to a person who wants to size and build a thermosyphon system. The 2nd site has a very detailed installation manual with a lot of helpful information on bracing roofs for the added weight and other installation issues.
Doug's Thermosyphon Solar Water Heater ...
A description of Doug Kalmer's homemade thermosyphon solar water heater. A very simple and inexpensive setup.
See all of Doug's solar projects ...

A Solar Water Heater That Has Stood the Test of Time, Lindsey Roke
An
Full Details (pdf)
interesting thermosyphon solar water heater from New Zealand. Built in the 60's, it has a long track record of good service. The collector has several unique and interesting features.
The article refers to SILFOSSING -- this is: A silver-alloy solder containing 5-15% silver. It is used to weld copper to copper joints in refrigeration systems and able to withstand high pressures. Used to braze risers to headers.
Imported Thermosyphon Solar Water Heaters
One example: www.siliconsolar.com/ ...
There appear to be a number of these imported
thermosyphon water heaters with integrated storage tanks appearing for reasonable prices. This may prove to be a good option for cost
effective solar water heating.
If you have one of these, and could share your experiences, please let me know. Gary...
Homemade Thermosyphon Solar Hot Water Heater While this design is not going to be for everyone, it shows how simple and inexpensive a solar water heating system can be, and it incorporates some clever design ideas.
www.teaters.com/...
Some thoughts on this design...

Thermosyphon Solar Water Heating System Tests, Gary Some tests to determine how well two of our
Test of the PEX/Aluminum collector... Test of the Copper/Aluminum collector...
homemade collectors perform in a simple thermosyphon solar water heating system -- and, just to learn a bit about thermosyphon systems. Test of the PEX/Aluminum collector...
Test of the Copper/Aluminum collector...

Closed Loop and Drainback Solar Water Heaters Drainback and closed loop systems provide freeze protection for year round operation in cold climates. They are more complex, but within the capability of many DIYers.
Some of the articles listed below on closed loop and drainback systems are sufficiently detailed to use as plans to assemble a system from components (collectors, pumps, ...) that you purchase from suppliers. See the information below and in the Suppliers section for some potential sources.
Installing My Solar Domestic Hot Water Heating System, Guy Marsden This is a really excellent blog style article on installing a solar water heating system that uses the Butler "Solar Wand" heat exchanger. Lots of good pictures and details on the whole process. Solar Hot Water Homebrew Style How to get articles from Home Power ... Home Power magazine article, issue 88
http://www.arttec.net/SolarDHW/index.htm
Great article on designing, building and installing a drainback solar water heating system for less than $800. Good hands-on.
Solar Water Heating in Iowa Roy Tonnessen How to get articles from Home Power ... Home Power magazine article, issue 91
Article describes an homemade closed loop, flat plate collector system for heating domestic hot water. Total system cost only $900 with some salvaged parts. Good detail.
Maine Solar Primer Closed Loop Water Heater
Maine Solar Primer, Richard Komp
Plans for a closed loop water heater suitable for year round use on cold climates.
Courtesy of the Maine Solar Energy Association

Large Drainback System for 16 Unit Appartment A really
Full Details... From Alan:

" I believe a lot of commercial SDHW applications can make more financial sense than residential applications with the increased economies of scale. I have adopted commercial solar DHW as a hobby, and would be happy to help anyone with questions."
nicely done large drainback domestic water heating system that serves a 16 unit apartment building in Philadelphia.
A very simple, efficient, low maintenance, and economically sound system.

Doug's Solar Water Heating system ...
A detailed description and track record of the PV pumped solar water heating system that Doug built some 17 years ago. Still going strong!
And, a 2nd PV powered system built for a friend.
See all of Doug's solar projects ...

Kris's Collector
Kris's Collector Pictures/Plans Nice sequence on making the collectors ...
Kris provides an extensive set of pictures of the solar water heating collectors and heat exchangers he is making. I doubt that most of us will ever achieve the high level of workmanship that Kris does, but there is much to learn from these picture plans. Beautiful work. Solar Wand -- Hot Water Assist for Cold Climates Home Power magazine, issue 104
Barry Butler How to get articles from Home Power ...
Butler website -- good installation and design info:http://www.butlersunsolutions.com/index.html
Describes a solar water heating system that uses only one conventional water tank.
The innovative heat exchanger fits through one of the water tank plumbing connections. This system sacrifices some efficiency for a more compact system with fewer components -- this might well be a good trade depending on your situation. The article covers another innovative Butler product that prevents solar collectors from overheating. The Butler web site has pictures of several DIY installations, and the Documentation tab has full install and maintenance manuals for download.
One-Tank SDHW Storage With Electric Backup Marken and Olsen Home Power magazine article, issue 96
Complete description of how to modify a conventional electric hot water tank so that it can be used as both a solar hot water storage tank and the backup tank.
A Homemade Factory Solar Collector Mother Earth News www.motherearthnews.com Mother Earth News Article, Issue 93 May/June 1985
A fairly hands-on article on building a solar collector using water at the heat transfer medium.
JC Solar Homes and Solar Collectors
http://www.jc-solarhomes.com/
John Canivan's book $30 "How to Build a Solar Hot Water System" has plans for building a solar water heating collector. I have not reviewed these plans myself, but they are reported to produce a good product -- and, you get email help from John! John can also be found at the Solar Heat Yahoo Discussion group.
Heat storage tanks, pumps, heat exchangers, controllers, ...
Full information on heat storage tanks, pumps, heat exchangers, and controllers here...
The $1K Solar Water Heating System The next 3 Entries are for a simple, all climate, drain back solar water heating system I have been developing, and have installed at my place. Objectives for the system are: high performance, easy construction with simple materials, long life, and low maintenance -- all for a price that is about 1/7th of equivalent commercial systems. Quite a bit of prototyping and testing were done to get to a design that (hopefully) achieves these objectives. Quite a few people have built these systems with good results -- some have taken the time to send in material on their projects ...
A $1000 solar water heating
Full Details ... Gary As of late May 2009, the system has been in operation for about 9 months and has performed well and reliably, achieving solar fractions over 90% over our cold Montana winter.
This is a cut at $1000, all
climate, high performance, long life, low maintenance, and easy to build solar water heating system.
It combines one of the two collector designs just below with a very simple drain back scheme. The system is unique in that it combines drain back and storage tanks into a single, large, inexpensive, non-pressurized tank. A unique heat exchanger that is inexpensive and very efficient is used. Extensive build, testing, and performance information is provided ...
A $5/sqft solar collector using Copper tubing and Aluminum fins
Full Details ... Gary This is one of the two collector types that can be used in the $1K system described above. This is a cut at a solar water heating collector that offers a combination of high performance with a low cost per sqft, and an easy build. See what you think!
The fin to tube thermal connection is similar to the collector above, but copper is used for the tubing instead of PEX. This provides performance within 4% of an all copper collector in an easy to build package. Extensive build, testing, and performance information is provided...
A $4/sqft solar collector using PEX tubing and Aluminum Fins This is a cut at a solar water
Full Details... Gary This is one of the two collector types that can be used in the $1K system described above. There has been a lot of interest in a collector that uses PEX tubing rather than copper to convey the heat transfer fluid. Here is a cut a collector that does this -with careful attention to the PEX/fin joint, it can perform surprisingly well.
heating collector that uses PEX tubing instead of copper to convey the heat transfer fluid. The fins are aluminum, and a lot of effort was put into attaining a good thermal bond between the PEX and aluminum. Testingindicates that the collector performs at 84% of and all copper commercial collector at about 1/7th the price.
Extensive build, testing, and performance information is provided...
Road Map of $1K Solar Water Heating Pages
This is a list of all of the pages on the $1K solar water heating system.
There are some alternative designs, lots of construction detail, several tests to verify performance of key components, performance data, and several descriptions of example systems....
Working DIY examples of the $1K Solar Water Heating System
I've received feedback from a number of people who have built or are building the system described above or variations on it -- I've included some below that provide good pictures and/or writeups. The examples listed below are from people who built a system and documented it. The new things they have tried, and the ways in which they have adapted the system to their circumstances should be very helpful if you are building your own system. Thanks very much to the people who have taken the time to carefully document their systems!
Kevin's WAY North Solar Water Heating System
Full details on design, construction, and performance... NEW Performance update...
Kevin has done a really fine job on his system, and provides a very helpful write-up. His system is in Northern BC at 55 degrees latitude, a very challenging location. Kevin had limited space for a tank, and worked out a copper/PEX hybrid heat exchanger design that requires less tank space, and has proven to be very efficient. Kevin has installed a data logging system, and provides data on both
system performance, and the performance of his hybrid heat exchanger.

Knick's $1K Solar Water Heating System This is a very
Full construction details here...
aesthetically pleasing $1K system installation. The system uses large vertical collectors to give good winter performance without overheating in the summer. The twinwall glazing also improves winter performance. Aluminum trim work looks great and provides weather resistance. Full construction details here... Solar Water Heating Using a Unique Master and Slave Collector Design This is a very unique solar water heating system with several innovative features: - It uses a Khanh Master/Slave collector to improve collector performance. - The storage tank uses a low profile galvanized metal livestock tank. - The heat exchanger is multiple coils of small diameter copper pipe in parallel.
Full details Gordon's new solar water heating system... Gordon's deep energy retrofit of a schoolhouse into a very low energy use home...
Gordon also shows how a drain back system can be adapted to a difficult situation. Full construction detials... Chad's Solar Home Heating System
Details here... Note: this is a space heating system that uses the same collector design as the $1K solar water heating system.
Chad uses 6 4X8ft collectors mounted on his shop to heat his home, which is 200 ft away. The collectors are based on thesecopper/aluminum collectors with some refinements for Chad's situation. The collectors pivot to allow the tilt to be adjusted. This is a closed loop system with antifreeze for freeze protection. Details here... Scott's 24X8 ft Solar Space Heating Collector
Details ...
This is Scott's very unique collector. It is built as one single unit that is 24 ft wide by 8 ft high. The absorber is a wide version of the PEX/aluminum collector. The ground mount and single unit construction make for an attractive and easier to build collector. Details ...
Sandy's $1K Solar Water Heating System on Prince Edward Island
All the details...
This is a very nicely done system. The collector design uses a unique horizontal "riserr" arrangement, and the tank includes a couple innovations, including a large PEX coil heat exchanger wound on a form for more efficient heat transfer.
Lots of good pictures and construction detail...

$1K in the UK This is a very nicely designed and built system by Neil in the UK. While the system is modeled after the $1K system, Neil has included a number of unique features including a fiberglass tank liner, a very nice big copper coil heat exchanger, integration with a combi boiler system, and a unique design for the collector absorber plate.
All the details on Neil's $1K solar system here...
All the details here...
Ken's Large Solar Water (plus) Heating System
All the details on Ken's system...
This is a very
nicely done solar water heating system that generally follows the $1K design, but includes 200 sqft of collector and a larger tank to provide excess capacity for hot tub and space heating.
Very nice workmanship, and the tank and heat exchanger show some well thought out variations that you might want to adopt.
Denver in Ohio Does a $1K System for $800!
Full details on Denver's $800 Solar Water Heating System ...
This is a very nice job on a $1K type solar water heating system with some newwrinkles including: small footprint but high capacity tank, new absorber fin former, and a cheap and efficient pump/controller combo. With some creative scrounging, the total cost was $800.
Woodsy's System
Full construction details and pictures...
This is Woodsy's $1K style solar water heating system. It has some interesting design changes that might suit your circumstances. The system is doing well heating water for Woodsy's family. Cory's Copper/Alum Collector Some pictures of Cory's nicely constructed
Pictures of Cory's collector ...
copper/aluminum collector.
Cory is using this for pool heating in Edmonton, Alberta.

Paul's Metal Framed "$1K" Solar Water Heater This is Paul's $1K style water heater. Some of the unique features: Metal collector case, Selective finish on absorber, Poly drum heat storage. Paul also fitted the fins to the tubes with a copper based heat transfer compound.
Full description of Paul's system...
Matt's copper HX "$1K" Solar Water Heating System
Full details here...
Matt tried a number of
innovations on this system, including: copper heat exchanger, metal collector frame, glass glazing, and the worlds first bicycle powered fin grooving machine! Some of the changes may be just what you are looking for. Gordon's New Zeland "$1K" Solar Water Heating System A nice "$1K" type system from Gordon on the South island of New Zealand.
Details... (pdf)
The system features a very nice, all copper single pass heat exchanger coil, and a nice roof top, high tilt angle support for the collectors. Details... (pdf)
Mike's $1002 Solar Water Heating System This is Mike's nice clean
Details...
implementation of the $1K system with an adjustable tilt roof mounted collector.
Details...
A DIY Thermosyphon Water Heating System, by Lonnie
Full details on construction...

I'm listing this system in both the Thermosyphon and $1K sections because it shows how the $1K style collector can be used for a thermosyphon system. This simplifies the system, and eliminates the cost of pump and controller.
This is a very nicely done and very simple thermosyphon solar water heating system. The system basically consists of a collector, a tank, and connecting plumbing -- no pumps, no controllers -- very simple, not expensive, yet quite efficient.
Making or Buying Collector Fins How to make collector fins and evaluate collector fin designs This article covers the various ways people have worked out for making the heat absorbing fins for collectors, fin performance, and some construction tips.
How to make and evaluate collector fin designs...
How to make and evaluate collector fin designs...

Evacuated Tube Water heater This system uses evacuated tube collectors. It is a closed loop system, similar to the systems described just above.
Large Drainback System for 16 Unit Appartment

A really

Performance of Vacuum Tube and Flat Plate Collectors Concerning Domestic Hot Water Preparation and Room Heating, Trinkl, Zorner, Alt, Stadler, Centre of Excellence for Solar Engineering A paper directly
www.thermo-dynamics.com/ ...
comparing the performance of evacuated tube and flat plate collectors on the same house and roof exposure. I don't want to get into the never ending which is better battle, but this paper points out an important consideration for some evacuated tube installations. Another live, online comparison of side by side flat plate and evacuated tube collectors...
Compares two side by side systems with performance logging on both.
Flat-Plate & Evacuated-Tube Solar Thermal Collector, Brian Mehalic, Home Power Magazine, issue 132, August 2009
The article may be available here... Or, How to get articles from Home Power ...
A recent Home Power article
comparing flat plate collectors for evacuated tube collectors. One thing that I don't think was adequately pointed out in the article is the very wide variation in SRCC tested perfomance among different models of evacuated tube collectors. Solar Flat Plate vs Evacuated Tube Collectors Heliodynes Opinion This is a short
www.heliodyne.com/...
paper from the Heliodyne website on flat plates vs evac tubes. Heliodyne makes only flat plates, so one would expect some bias -- but they make some interesting points. I'd be happy to point to similar articles from evac tube makes -- if you see any, please let me know. Solar Air Collector Water Heater -- A bit unusual, but may be a good fit for some circumstances.
Solar Air Heating Systems -- Water Heating, Steve Kornher and Andy Zaugg
Solar Water Heating With An Air Collector (1.2 MB pdf)
This is a somewhat unusual scheme for Do-It-Yourself domestic water heating with a solar air collector.
This may work out particularly well if you are already building an air collector for winter space heating, and want to make use of its heat output in the summer, or if you just like the trouble free operation of air collectors. This is the Water Heating chapter from the book "Solar Air Heating Systems" -- download the full book here.
Tracked Solar Water Heaters A Tracking Solar Water Heating Collector Here is a unique solar water heating collector array that tracks the sun. Its a nice, simple tracking and actuation system that uses readily available components. While the tracking makes for some plumbing challenges, the benefit is an about 30% gain in heat collected over a day.
Details here...
A parabolic trough solar collector you can build
www.ffwdm.com/solar/solar-index.htm More information on the tracker: http://georgesworkshop.blogspot.com/ Good Youtube Videos on the collector...
A very nice set of ganged, parabolic, tracked, concentrating collectors used to heat water. Can be made with common shop tools.
George now offers plans for this collector --my thoughts on these plans...
(This is certainly well designed and skillfully built, but one question I always have when I see a tracked, concentrating collector used in an application that does not require very high temperature water is how the output compares to a low tech, flat collector? -- maybe George will let us know) (Thanks to Curtis for suggesting this)
Gray Water Heat Exchanger

Grey water heat exchangers offer a way to recover the heat energy in the hot water that goes down the drain, and use it to help heat water.
GFX Gray Water Heat Exchanger
www.gfxtechnology.com/ DOE Inventions & Innovations report: DOE report on GFX (pdf)
A well designed gray water heat exchanger can recover a large fraction of the heat that would normally go down the drain in your shower, and some other hot water uses.
In a normal shower, you spend a lot of energy heating water from 50F or so up to 110F. It flows out the shower nozzle, over your body, and down the drain taking 95% or so of the energy you just spent heating it. The gray water heat exchanger uses the heat in the drain water to heat the incoming water.
Heat Recovery Units Use waste AC heat to heat water Heat Recovery Units -- heating domestic water with waste heat from AC Potential Suppliers: http://www.turbotecproducts.com/EPspecs.html These Heat Recovery Units are heat exchangers. They pick up waste heat from your Air Conditioner just after the refrigerant is compressed and before it goes to the condenser. This recovered heat is used to heat water in your hot water tank. The heat is "free", and also makes your AC run more efficiently. These units may may make sense for people who have long cooling seasons, and run AC a lot. The saving depends on the size of your AC, its efficiency, how much you run it, and the length of your cooling season. They are somewhat less effective for high SEER AC's, so make sure they will work well with your AC. While the yearly saving in water heating costs for these units is likely to be less than a solar water heater, they are also less expensive, and potentially easier to install.
(Thanks to Gary M. for suggesting this!)
http://www.trevormartin.com/hru.asp A calculator to estimate saving: http://www.turbotecproducts.com/EPcalculator.html Installation slide show: http://www.turbotecproducts.com/EPinstallation.html

(this could likely be a DIY installation with help from a HVAC person to evacuate and recharge AC of refrigerant)
Florida Power Description: http://www.p2pays.org/ref/11/10104.pdf
Heat Pump Water Heaters These are small heat pumps that basically provide a more efficient electric water heater.
Heat Pump Water Heater
A couple (of many?) suppliers: http://www.etechbyaosmith.com/res_waterheating.html http://www.northrdt.com/ http://www.airgenerate.com/products/airtap.html
These are small heat pumps that can be added to an electric water heater to increase its efficiency.
They also produce some cool air as a byproduct that may be useful in the summer.
I'm not a big fan of electric water heaters because of the high CO2 cost of using power from our very dirty US grid, but if you have an electric tank, this is one way to make it more efficient.
Good Video on Installing a Heat Pump Water Heater, Tom Gocze,
http://vimeo.com/7293519
This is a very good video from Tom Gocze on installing and using the Geyser Heat Pump Water Heater.
Tom goes through the fairly simple install, and also explains some other potential uses for the heat pump water heater -- very good.
Winter use of a Heat Pump Water Heater One
The paper... (pdf)
problem with heat pump water heaters is that in the winter, they
dump cold air into the house. This cold air ends up having to be heated by your space heater, and this costs energy.
This paper shows the way in which the Heat Pump Water Heater was hooked up in a Building America demonstration home to overcome this difficulty.
Water Heating with Compost
Several schemes for heating water with compost here...
There are several schemes that can be used to heat water for domestic or space heating use are shown at the link to the left.
These schemes generally use a pipe coil embedded in the compost heap, and collect heat that is generated by the composting process. I'd like to hear from anyone with composting experience on how workable this all seems? Gary
Heating Water for Animals Solar Heated and Insulated Horse Tank - Version 2
Full details - performance and construction ...
Newest version of the solar heated, well insulated, double glazed horse/stock tank. Full construction step-by-step.
All the details ...

Keeping the drinking opening from freezing
This is a great idea from Art for keeping the drinking opening in solar heated tanks from freezing during extended periods of not much sun and lots of wind. This technique can be used on any of the tanks described here. Details... Solar Heated and Insulated Stock Tank Very nicely done
Description and construction pictures here ...
insulated and solar heated stock tank. This design uses a galvanized stock tank as a base and builds an insulating and solar heat collecting structure over the tank.
Description and construction pictures here ...
Heated Water Trough for Livestock -- Using the Sun, Steven Fahey, SW Alberta
Very
Full Construction Details...
nicely designed and built insulated and solar heated horse watering tank.
Good photos, plans and construction detail. Steven lives in a very cold climate (even colder than mine!), so it will be interesting to see how the tank does over time. Full Construction Details...
Super Insulated Stock Tank This is
All the details on how to build it....
Scott's really nice design for a well insulated stock tank. Its basically a heated bucket inside of a larger tank with the space between filled with insulation.
The energy saving for Scott has be 61%! All the details on how to build it....
Bob's Insulated Stock Watering Tank
Full Construction Details...
This is a fully
insulated stock tank with complete how to build it instructions. The insulation should dramatically reduce, and possibly eliminate any need for a tank heater -- depending on climate. Full details ... Freedom's Well Insulated and Solar Heated Stock Tank A solar heated and well
Full Construction Details ... This is an actual implementation of the prototype described in the design in the entry just below.
insulated horse watering tank. It provides 140 gallons of water that is protected from freezing by lots of insulation and a solar collector that is built into the south wall of the tank. Glazed with very though dual wall polycarbonate. This tank should avoid most of the high electric bills and wasted CO2 emissions that go with electric tank heaters. Full Construction Details...
Experimental DIY Solar Stock Watering Tank
Details to date ... Gary
This is a first cut at a simple
insulated stock watering tank that has an integrated solar collector on the south side to provide heat and prevent freezing.
The tank basically a plywood box lined with pond liner, and with a glazed sout side for solar collection. Details to date ... See also the entry just above for an actual version of this tank.
All-Weather Concrete Stock Tank, Charles D. Fulhage, University of Missouri Extension Freeze resistant stock tank design from U of M Extension relies on earth berming and a small trickle of water in very cold weather to prevent freezing.
From Mark:
Ive got a technique I have used in the past, with pretty good success, to reduce the open water exposure yet give a good drinking area for the horses. I cut a board to cover the top of the tank. In that board I cut a hole that is the diameter of a 32 gallon plastic trash can. The hole is cut to the size of the trash can such that the lip around the top of the can will not go through the hole. These trash cans taper from the top to the bottom of the can (I imagine so they will come out of the plastic mold). I cut the bottom off of the can. I then slide the can (minus bottom)
http://extension.missouri.edu/...
Idea to Reduce Exposed Water Surface On Stock Tanks
down into the hole that I cut in the top of the lid. The lip of the can stops the can from going all the way into the tank. I then screw the can to the top of the tank so the horses dont pull it out. Next I fill the tank with water. Now the only exposed water area I have is the diameter of the plastic trash can. I then use the bottom of the trash can that I cut off as my floating cover. It fits in the top of the trash can pretty well because of the taper to the trash can and it limits my exposed water to only a small ring which is the diametrical difference between the top and bottom of the can. All of the horses quickly learned to just push against the trash can bottom to drink.
Thanks to Mark for sending in this idea!
Solar electric air bubbler
http://www.solarranch.com/spbubbly.html www.sacredpowercorp.com/ ... More PV pool pump info: SunCentric pdf ... http://www.solarwindtec.com
This is a small PV powered air pump that bubbles air up through the water during the day to bring water up from the bottom of the tank and prevent freezing.
I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has some experience with this arrangement. It seems like one could be put together from off the shelf parts.
Freeze Protection for Solar-powered Livestock Watering System, National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service Some more suggestions on keeping stock watering tanks ice free in the winter.
http://attra.ncat.org/new_pubs/attra-pub/freeze.html? id=Montana
Sun Tanks
This is a
http://www.horsesonly.com/amesco/info.htm
commercial product to keep water tanks for stock from freezing.
Seems like a build-it-yourself one would be pretty easy? Dark colored tank, insulation under and around back, Lexan for glazing, plywood housing? Elevate it, and you could make a nice summer shower out of it?
Corbett Waterers Uses a
http://cobett.com
combination of insulation and ground heat to keep water line from freezing. CANARM Insulated Stock Watering Tanks Several heated stock watering tanks with R15 insulation and float valves to add water.
www.canarm.com/comm/livestock_waters/waterers.ht ml www.canarm.com/agricultural/pdf/dwaterers.pdf
Said to cut heating expense by 75%.
Bar-Bar-A Horse and Cattle Drinker
http://www.horsedrinker.com/index.html
Pumps water out to the waterer when the animal presses a paddle. Water is drained from bowl to a dry well before it freezes. This link to Pet Finders provides a list of potential solutions to keeping water dishes from freezing for cats, etc. The electrically heated bowls they list use 45 watts intermittently -- about 15 KWH and 30 lbs of CO2 a month if on half the time -- not sure why that's their "ideal solution" -- some of the other solutions look better to me.
Heating Water for Small Animals
http://www.petfinder.com/...
If you have any other ideas, please let me know.

Other Applications
Agricultural, commercial, industrial applications for solar water heating.
Solar Water Heating for Making Cheese
http://jackrabbitcheese.com/...
Making cheese requires lots of water heating for pasteurizing -- here is a way to do it with solar.
Large Drainback System for 16 Unit Appartment

A really

Solar Showers -- A fun summer project
Nice Outdoor Shower
http://www.kidsfromkanata.ca/files/solarshwr.html
A really well thought out outdoor shower that uses roof collected water. The solar heated pipe coil is gravity feed from rain collection barrels.
(I found this at: http://www.RootSimple.com a good site on urban homesteading)
Solar Shower
Solar Shower User
This is a little write-up from a satisfied user of the solar shower. You put it out in the sun for 3 hours, and get a 5 gallon hot shower.
And, yet another solar shower
http://manuka.orcon.net.nz/solarh2o.jpg
A $10 DIY solar shower from New Zeeland
And, yet another solar shower
From PB Floyd and the Slingshot newspaper Plans
A simple homemade solar shower made from a few lengths of 3 inch ABS plastic pipe.
Economy Solar Shower
Bob Battagin How to get articles from Home Power ...
If you are looking for simple, this is it. Here is an even simpler one -- the hot hose shower.
A Portable Solar Water Heater (Shower), Raymond Meloy, Mother Earth News Mother Earth News, Issue 62. S simple homemade shower made from a car inner tube.
https://www.motherearthnews.com
The Hot Hose Shower
A very simple one: the hot hose shower. And another one with more capacity: Black plastic pipe shower ... And another very nice one: http://dervaesinstitute.org...
Adding an Al Fresco Shower, Ron Cascio
Schemes to use the hot water from a garden hose or plastic pipe coil left in the sun for a shower.
http://www.deckmagazine.com/article/101.html
These are plans for building a pretty spiffy outdoor shower. Its not a solar shower, but I thought the detail on constructing it and dealing with drainage etc were worthwhile -- converting it to solar is left as an exercise. Please send pictures if you do.
A Very Nice Solar Shower
http://homesteadingtoday.com/showthread.php? t=321571
This is a very nice solar shower project that was posed on the Homesteading Today forum.
Very nicely done with its own solar batch water heater.
Collector Glazing Materials Comparison of Solar Collector Glazing Materials... A comparison of glass, corrugated polycarbonate, sheet polycarbonate, and other potential glazing materials
Gary
for DIY solar collectors. Protecting Pumps and Other Equipment From Freezing Protecting pumps and other equipment from freezing... If your pump is located in an area that can go below freezing, you will need to protect the pump (and possibly other equipment and plumbing) from going below freezing.
Here are some methods....

Maintenance and Buying Used Collectors Secondhand Solar -- Choosing A Good Used Hot Water Collector Chuck Marken Home Power Magazine article, issue 112 April 06
Good article on how to select and test a used solar water heating collector. Used collectors if in good shape, can have 20 or so years of life left in them. Some of the high points on how to check a collector
Solar Water Heater System Maintenance and Repair
EERE site www.eere.energy.gov
Information on Diagnosing solar water heating system problems.
Troubleshooting Solar Water Heaters, Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC)
See the Troubleshooting section of this guide: http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en
This is a checklist to go through if you are having problems with your solar water heating system.
GoSolar Repair Guides
www.solarexpert.com/Repair.html#anchor13854
Some helpful troubleshooting information for solar water heating systems.
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Image of water heaters utilised in the past.

1 Types of water heating appliance

1.1 Gravity system 1.2 On-demand water heaters

1.3 Storage systems

2 Thermodynamics and economics 3 Water heaters 4 History

4.1 Insulation and other improvements

4.2 Electric water heating

5.1 How tankless water heaters work

5.2 Combination boilers

5.3 Electric shower head

5.4 Various types and their advantages

5.5 Advantages 5.6 Disadvantages

of water heating appliance

See also: Instant hot water dispenser

A storage water heater