Are You Considering a Solar Water Heater? Learn the Difference Between Concentrating and Non-Concentrating
Investing in a solar water heater can be a great way to save money, be kind to the environment, and increase the value of your home. At The Stanley Louis Company, we find that many clients don’t know how to choose the right option or which choices they can even choose from. That is why we are here! You can always call us at 800-217-6527 for advice, or read on to learn the difference between concentrating and non-concentrating options.
Non-Concentrating Collectors
The collector, which is the area that takes in solar radiation, is also known as the absorber area – the area that absorbs energy and radiation from the sun. When you get a solar energy system to heat water or air, it will generally be a non-concentrating collector. The most common example is the flat-plate collector, which works with water and space heating. These are more often used in buildings when they do not need temperatures of more than 200F.
There are three essential components of a flat-plate, non-concentrating collector:
- A flat metal plate. Its job is to take in and absorb solar energy.
- A transparent cover. It allows the solar energy to get through the cover and lowers the heat loss from the absorber.
- A layer of insulation. This is located on the back of the absorber, and its job is to prevent or reduce heat loss.
Note that solar water heating collectors will have metal tubes attached directly to the absorber. Then a heat-transfer fluid moves through those tubes to get rid of heat from the absorber and move it to the water in the storage tank.
For solar pool heaters in warmer climates, there is no usually a cover or insulation for the absorber. Instead, the pool water goes from the pool through the collectors and then right back to the pool. On solar air heating systems, fans are used to move air through the flat-plate collector and into the interior of the building.
Concentrating Collectors
With this option, the area that intercepts the solar radiation is much larger than the absorber area. In some cases, it might be hundreds of times larger. The collector concentrates solar energy onto an absorber, and throughout the day, it moves so that it is able to maintain a high degree of concentration. These options are used on solar thermal power plants because they need much higher temperatures to create electricity.
If you have additional questions about solar power, contact The Stanley Louis Company now at 800-217-6527 and let us help you right away.
