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HOW
SOLAR WATER HEATING WORKS
Solene is fully self-automated! Solene knows exactly when to turn on
and off daily and collects heat whenever it’s available. When
sunlight heats the roof collector, the pump and controller are automatically
activated. The pump circulates cold water through the collector, where
it is warmed by the sun, and returns the heated water back to the tank.
Solene’s backup heating element takes over during periods of prolonged
cloudy weather or heightened demand, assuring a seamless supply of household
hot water every day of the year.
Understanding
Solar Technologies: A Solar Primer
Most applications for solar in the home or office fall into one of three
categories. Because each application has a different need or requirement
for the solar energy, the technology is different for each.
Solar
Water Heating – Sometimes also called Domestic Hot Water
(DHW), collectors designed for solar water heating are made of glass,
copper and insulation. They are designed to heat relatively small amounts
of water (40 to 80 gallons in a home) quickly, to high temperatures
suitable for bathing, laundry and dish-washing. Just as with an electric
water heater, most solar water heaters require a circulating motor and
a storage tank.
Solar Pool Heating – Pool heating technology
requires that large amounts of water (thousands of gallons) be heated
to more moderate, comfortable temperatures which are typically lower
than bathing requirements. Thus, this technology is designed to circulate
high volumes of water slowly & repeatedly through polypropylene
collectors. Since high temperatures are not desired, glass and copper
are not needed to overly heat the water. Solar pool heating technology
is similar to the water that is warmed in your garden hose when it sits
in the sun; it therefore requires far fewer enhancements than other
forms of solar energy.
Solar Electric – Demand for electricity
requires vast amounts of sophisticated solar collection. Also known
as photovoltaics (PV), solar electric technology features large arrays
of collectors made up of silicon-coated cells. When sunlight strikes
the surface of a PV cell, electrical fields are directed to electrons,
resulting in a flow of current. PV electric systems require major components
to properly conduct, control, convert, distribute, and store the energy
produced by the array – items such as a power inverter, battery
bank, system and battery controller, auxiliary energy sources and sometimes
the specified electrical load (appliances). Photovoltaic systems can
be designed to provide DC and/or AC power service, can operate interconnected
with or independent of the utility grid, and can be connected with other
energy sources and energy storage systems. The current high cost of
PV modules and equipment (as compared to other solar applications) is
the primary limiting factor for this technology today.
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