Solar Systems

Image of Thermal Solar House Diagram

Solar Thermal Energy is a technology for harnessing Solar Energy and converting it into Heat, as opposed to Photovoltaic Collectors, which convert Solar Energy directly into Electricity.

Since the early 1970s, the Efficiency and Reliability of Solar Heating Systems and Collectors have increased greatly, and costs have dropped. Today's Solar Thermal Systems are an affordable solution to the high cost of energy, and the need to reduce our emission of Greenhouse Gas Pollution.

When properly designed and installed, today's systems can reduce your annual Hot Water production costs by as much as 80% to 100% and reduce Space Heating costs by an average of 50% or more.

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Thermal Solar Collectors are generally defined as as Low Temperature, Medium Temperature, or High-Temperature Collectors. Collectors used for Water and Space Heating in Residential and Commercial Buildings are usually of the Medium Temperature type and operate in a temperature range of from about 15 to 200 degrees F above the outdoor ambient temperature.

Applications Include:

  • Residential & Commercial Hot Water Heating
  • Radiant Floor Heating Systems
  • Private & Public Swimming Pool Heating
  • GeoThermal Heat Pump Supplement
  • Snow Melting Systems
Image of Solar Collector

Solar Collector Types

Image of Flat Plate Solar Collector

Flat Plate Collectors

Flat-Plate Collectors have been the most common type of Collector for Space Heating and Solar Hot Water Heating. A Typical Collector is an insulated metal box with an Absorber Plate, usually with a Selective Surface Coating, and covered with either a single pane or double pane glass cover.

Fluid is heated as it is circulated through tubes either in the Absorber Plate, or attached to it's surface.

Image of Evacuated Tube Solar Collector

Evacuated Tube Collectors

An Evacuated-Tube collector contains a series glass tubes connected to a header pipe. Each tube has the air removed from it (evacuated) to eliminate heat loss through convection and radiation.

There are two basic types of Evacuated-Tube collectors Direct-Flow and Heat Pipe Evacuated Collectors.

Direct Flow Collectors have a tube that runs inside of the tube, through which fluid circulates to and from the manifold. Since these tubes are brazed onto the header, tubes are not easily replaced if broken.

Evacuated-Tube Heat Pipe Collectors contain a Heat Pipe that tranfers heat to the header by means of a "dry" connection making installation easier. In this type of Collector individual tubes can be replaced if broken, and if one tube should break, there is little impact on the complete system.

We represent Apricus Solar and their line of Evacuated Tube Solar Collectors. One of the most cost-effective ways to include Renewable Technologies into your Home is by installing An Apricus Solar Hot Water Heating System.

Since the early 1970s, the Efficiency and Reliability of Solar Heating Systems and Collectors have increased greatly, and costs have dropped. Today's Solar Thermal Systems are an affordable solution to the high cost of energy, and the need to reduce our emission of Greenhouse Gas Pollution. These system can reduce annual Hot Water production costs by as much as 80% to 100% and Space Heating costs by an average of 50% or more.

Diagram of Solar Hot Water System

These systems minimizes the expense of electricity or fossil fuel by working with your existing Hot Water Heater to produce "free" hot water.

In addition, your Solar System generates almost no Greenhouse Gas CO2 emissions, you can expect to decrease you homes overall CO2 output by up to 30%. In fact, a family of 4 will see a reduction of 10,000 Pounds-Per-Year in CO2 emissions.