New Generation Solar Ltd: Solar Heated Hot Water Systems

Solar Heated Hot Water Systems

Solar heated hot water systems are used to convert the sun's energy into hot water for your home. If you are thinking about having a solar energy system installed, then a hot water system is a good place to begin as they provide the most energy for the least investment, lowering your energy bills as well as reducing your carbon footprint.

A hot water system is straight forward and the technology is relatively low in cost and highly effective. When the sun shines, water is pumped through the solar panel and is heated by the sun's energy. This heated water then flows through a heat exchanger which heats the water for your hot water cylinder

Maximum efficiency is gained during the summer months when it may well be possible for you to turn your boiler off completely and rely solely on a solar heated water system. During the summer months it can typically heat water to 80ºC in about half a day and can reduce your domestic hot water bill by 50%, or more.

Each installation is individual and our trained and certified engineers can advise you on which solar collector best suits your requirements, whether that be flat plate or evacuated tubes (direct flow or heat pipe).

How a Solar Hot Water System Works

As soon as the sun begins to shine the solar panels will start to heat up. The stronger the sun is shining, the more energy will be available—but don't worry, it will still produce some useful energy on a cloudy day!

Sensors in the panels then send temperature information to the controller and when the difference between the roof panel temperature and that at the bottom of your water cylinder reaches 4ºC then a pump is automatically switched on to send the water down off the roof and into your home hot water system.

This heated water enters the bottom of your cylinder, where the water is coldest as that is where the mains water arrives in the cylinder. It then travels up through your cylinder through a coiled pipe where the heat is transfered from the coil to the water that is in your cylinder.

You can then use this heated water in all the normal ways: washing, bathing and showering. When the panels cool below the cylinder temperature, the controller shuts down the pump so that none of the heat in the cylinder is lost.

In the colder months, if the solar heated water system does not provide all your hot water needs, your normal boiler, or immersion heater, can be used.