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Guidelines & Technical Modules > Key Message: Solar Hot Water and Heating

The basic principle common to all solar thermal systems is simple: solar radiation is collected and the heat is absorbed by the heat transfer medium, usually a fluid. The heated medium is used either directly (e.g. to heat the swimming pool) or indirectly by using a heat exchanger , which transfer the heat to its final usage (e.g. space heating or hot water).   

The heart of a solar collector is the absorber. The Absorber consists out of one or more absorber panel sheets made out of aluminium or copper. Assisted by a surface coating (normally in black for a high degree of light absorption) the absorber heated up in the sunlight.

Different types of solar collectors can be found on the market:

  •  collector without glass cover/protection (“Swimming pool absorbers”)

A collector without glass cover – often called also swimming pool absorber – is an ideal application for the use of solar energy for heating swimming pools during summer. The absorber can be placed in simple way on the roof, and is ready for use.

  •  Flat Collectors with glass cover

Flat collectors can provide a good price-performance ratio, as well as a broad range of mounting possibilities (on the roof, in the roof itself, or unattached).

  •  Vacuum Absorber Tubes

A vacuum collector is a collector where the absorber strip is located in an evacuated and pressure proof glass tube.

The purpose of the hot water storage tank is to stockpile energy for days with less solar radiation. Its volume capacity should be larger than the daily hot water consumption, to avoid a lack of hot water, when there is less sun.

It is the best, if the calculation for the size of the collector field and the size of the hot water storage is done by an expert, who is working with special software.  In many cases it is also possible that the solar energy supports the heating of the building. This is usually possible, where the heat demand is very small.

Useful links:

1. http://www.solarserver.de/wissen/index-e.html

2. http://www.soltherm.org/

3. http://www.top50-solar.de/

4. http://www.solarwaerme.at/

5. http://ec.europa.eu/energy/res/sectors/solar_thermal_power_en.htm

6. http://www.solarpaces.org/

7. http://esttp.org/cms/front_content.php

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