Solar Water Heating

Solar thermal systems are generally composed of panels that convert sunlight to heat. The systems may be used to heat domestic hot water or a swimming pool, or to even make a contribution towards under floor heating. Solar heating panels are one of the most cost effective ways to reduce your utility bills and make a positive contribution towards the environment. In fact the amount of pollution reduced by installing a domestic solar heating system is equivalent to taking one car off the road (i.e. about 1500m³ CO₂ per annum).

There are two types of solar heating collectors; the conventional flat plate collector and the more efficient vacuum tube collectors.

Solar energy - Solar collectors

Sun is ours closest star and directly or indirectly source of almost all available energy on Earth. Sun's energy originates from nuclear fusion in its core, where temperature reaches 15 millions °C. Nuclear fusion is process of joining two light atoms into one heavier atom. Sum of all masses before reaction is larger than sum of all masses after reaction - difference is transformed into energy by famous Einstein's equation E=mc². On Sun, light atoms are hydrogen atoms (input) and resulting atom is helium atom (output). Thanks to nuclear fusion on Sun, every second about 600 million tons of hydrogen is transformed into helium, having 4 million tons of hydrogen transformed into energy as side effect. This energy in form of light and heat spreads itself into the universe with one small part of that energy reaching the Earth. Nuclear fusion on Sun is about five billion years old, which is estimated age of the Sun, and considering available hydrogen stocks it is calculated to last approximately next five billion years. Although Sun's energy makes other energy sources possible, in this chapter we will concentrate strictly on direct use of solar energy. Under optimal conditions, on earth's surface can be gained 1 kW/m², and real value depends upon location, season, day time, weather conditions, etc. On map that shows insolation level is clearly visible that Europe is not located on best place for exploitation, but despite of that direct use of solar energy in constantly increasing in Europe. This is mostly result of some countries politics, which are subsidizing installment of elements which are transforming solar energy in to a usable form of energy. General problems of using this solar energy are small energy flow, huge oscillations of radiation intensity and large investment costs.

Basic principles of solar energy direct use are:

• Solar collectors - preparing hot water and warming the chambers
• Photovoltaic - direct transformation of solar energy to an electricity
• Concentrating solar power - use in large power plants

Concentrating solar power

Concentrating solar power is used for large generators installation or heating installations. Concentrating can be achieved by using many lenses or more often with help of mirrors compounded in to a dish or Power Tower configuration. Power tower configurations are using computer controlled mirror's field for focusing sun radiation to a central tower, which then turns the main generator on. Till this date demonstration systems with output power above 10 MW have been designed. Those new systems have also possibility of night work as well as bad weather work in a way of storing hot liquid in very efficient container (some sort of thermo bottle). Dish systems are observing Sun's movement focusing on that way its radiation. There is also "Trough" system of concentrating solar power, which can be very efficient. Such power plants can be very strong: California has installed one with power of 354 MW. When there's not enough solar energy, systems that are concentrating solar power can be without bigger problems easily converted on natural gas or some other energy source. That is possible because Sun is used for heating the liquid, and if there's no sun liquid is heated on some other way. Problem when concentrating solar power is large space required for power plant to be built, but that can be solved for instance by building power plant in desert. Deserts also have far more expressed sun's radiation than any other areas. Major problem as well is price of mirrors and concentrating solar power systems.

Heating Your Home and Efficient Appliances"

It doesn't matter if you are building your home or remodeling, you can turn it into a solar energy home by making a few simple changes to your plan. If electric and gas become hard to manage you may want to consider heating your home with the sun. Solar energy is the heat that comes from the sun down to the earth. When it reaches the earth it spreads evenly but you may need it to go to a certain area like your home. How do you get that much sunlight to heat a home? It's easy to do and takes a few extra steps to help get it started.

There are several different ways to heat your water using solar power. You can even make your own solar power source. The water runs through pipes before it enters your home. Heating water using solar power will occur before the water gets into your home as it passes by the solar source that attracted the light. You may also have a tank to store the water in that can heat the water up. In order to heat your water successfully you will need to have both a solar collector and a storage tank.

Solar water heating systems are divided into two groups: Active and passive. When the heating systems are active, that means that they rely on the pumps or other mechanical device that can move the water between the flat plate collector and the storage tank. Active is the most common because it is quicker and more efficient. The passive system relies on gravity to feed the water from the flat plate collector to the storage tank. This may be slow at times and may not be sufficient enough to keep up with the demand. Both ways are logical and may be more of a choice of preference for you. Another thought that you need to consider is that if your flat plate collector and your storage tank is not angled right it may be hard for the gravity to feed the liquid through.

Solar power efficient appliances

Refrigerators: The one great thing about solar power refrigerators is that they offer the convenience of a refrigerator and freezer in one at a minimal amount of cost. They are thermostat controlled which allows you to set the temperature of your refrigerator and freezer. There is minimal noise as it runs because the power to it is a natural constant flow. They also come in a variety of sizes as well as colors in order to fit into any solar power kitchen.

Appliances that are Efficient: Not all appliances can be solar powered and for that reason appliances that are efficient are the next best thing. They conserve the energy that it takes to run that appliance and provide you with the service that you expect out of that appliance. Chest freezers, dishwashers, stoves, microwaves, washers and dryers are all appliances that can be purchased with efficiency to save on energy and money. When you use appliances that are efficient they usually cost more up front but in the long run they are worth the effort and can last you a lifetime with proper maintenance.

Owning a solar power home means that you are encouraging preserving our natural resources for the future. It also means that you will not worry with the increase in cost of electricity and gas because you are using the best source out there without hurting the environment.