The use of collectors and solar panels in home heating. Solar home heating is an effective method of using alternative energy sources Heating a home from the sun
IN Lately Non-traditional methods of heating rooms are becoming more and more relevant. People are striving to find a more efficient and cheaper way to heat their homes. One such method is to use solar energy.
Solar heating for home
Today for transformation solar energy For thermal purposes, special collectors are used. Our article will tell you how you can heat your home using such devices.
Solar system and its advantages
Heating home premises with solar collectors will significantly reduce costs that were previously spent on traditional way heating the house using batteries. Solar systems consisting of such batteries have many advantages:
- solar energy is free. Of course, you will have to spend money on creating a system and connecting it to the house. But the savings will be noticeable immediately after the onset of cold weather;
- this system is environmentally friendly and does not harm the environment;
- she saves Natural resources, such as coal and natural gas;
- is effective solution energy problem for the home;
- The solar collector is capable of providing efficient heating at home when used mixed with other systems;
- long service life;
- The system is autonomous, which eliminates dependence on utility companies. Especially heating system relevant for private houses;
- safe operation;
- the ability to do it yourself;
- aesthetic appearance;
- the ability to select a collector according to parameters.
Solar collectors
You should not think about installing a solar system for your home yourself if your area of residence has a sufficiently large number of sunny days throughout the year.
To get all the above benefits from heating your home or cottage with solar collectors, you should know:
- Availability high-quality insulation home premises;
- You can combine heating using solar energy with other heating options: gas and electric;
- for regions with low insolation (solar flux), it is necessary to correctly calculate how much area the collector should have;
- Installation rules must be followed. Otherwise, the system will not function correctly;
Note! Collectors should be installed at an angle equal to the geographic latitude of the area. In this position they have maximum efficiency.
The correct option for installing the collector
- Solar panels should be placed on the south side, since the maximum intensity of insolation will be observed in the middle of the day;
- installed batteries should not be shaded by neighboring buildings or trees.
If the heating system of the house using solar collectors was organized with your own hands, then winter period the angle of inclination of their surface will need to be slightly increased. But in this case, in summer period Battery efficiency will decrease slightly. However, against the backdrop of an overabundance of lighting, this fact will remain invisible.
Variety of installations
Before you start creating a solar heating system for your dacha and home with your own hands, you need to find out what kind of batteries even exist. Today's solar collectors come in the following types:
- vacuum. In the design of such a battery, there is a vacuum between the shell of the unit and the heating body. With this device you can heat water up to 300 degrees. The downside here is the inability to independently clean snow and frost;
Vacuum manifold
- flat. Externally, such a collector looks like transparent external panel. This type of solar cell has tubes inside it, and the back is equipped with a thermal insulator. There is more heat loss here, but the structure is easy to assemble with your own hands. In addition, you can clean it yourself from frozen snow and ice. Heats water up to 200 oC. The disadvantages include the presence of a large load on the device’s clamps in strong winds, since the battery has a poorly streamlined shape;
Flat-plate collector
- air. Air acts as a heat carrier here. Such batteries can easily be made with your own hands. But the main disadvantage here is the inability to use the device to heat water, as well as the low efficiency of the device;
Air manifold
- tubular. A unit of this type consists of four tubes filled with a base coolant. Its circulation is carried out due to the temperature difference between the battery and its lower zone. Such devices are characterized by a large surface plane;
Tubular manifold
- a mobile system used to heat a house with solar energy. These are specially designed installations that can rotate according to the movement of the sun. Today there are various models, capable of rotating its various parts.
Movable solar panels
Despite the different structure, the operating principle of solar collectors will be almost identical.
The principle of operation of the devices
Heating a house using homemade solar panels is carried out based on the simplest laws of physics. According to one of them, a liquid with a high density will naturally displace a less dense one. This operating principle is used for heating systems operating on the natural circulation of the main coolant.
The principle of operation of the solar collector
Heating of the coolant has the following form:
- the coolant in the tubes is heated by the sun's rays;
- The heat obtained in this way is accumulated in a heat accumulator.
Most often, water heated by the rays of the sun acts as a coolant. The water is in a vertical coil. When heated, the water in such a device rises upward. Next it goes into the container. Liquid will be drawn from it.
For efficient work The solar battery needs to achieve the process of natural circulation of liquid. In a situation where the coolant has cooled down, it must return to the collector to undergo a repeated heating cycle.
To ensure that the water heating process does not stop, additional devices are needed - pumps.
Options for self-assembly of the heating system
Today, there are several ways to assemble a solar heater with your own hands. Let's look at the most popular assembly methods.
First option. Here you need a galvanized container for water. It should have a volume of approximately 100-200 liters. The technology for creating a solar battery has the following algorithm:
- We place the container on the roof. It should be installed on the south side of the roof;
- the roof surface needs to be covered metal sheet with a shiny surface;
- put pipes on top of it;
- we connect them to a barrel and a container for heated water.
Homemade solar collector option
Using such a battery, 100 liters of water can be heated by 60 degrees. This installation has high efficiency. But in winter time such a unit will not be effective.
Second assembly option. To create this type of collector you will need:
- steel boxes;
- several flat steel radiators;
- glass;
- metal-plastic elements - fittings and pipes.
The system builds in this case proceed as follows:
- steel boxes are mounted on the roof;
- radiators are placed there;
- Cover them with glass on top. This will reduce the water heating time;
- the tubes must be laid with a downward slope;
- be sure to ensure that the top of the device is located below the storage tank;
- installed in the attic plastic barrel with water. Suitable volume - 160 l;
- it must be connected to the radiator and water supply using metal-plastic devices - fittings and tubes. The water tube itself needs to be connected slightly above the middle of the tank;
- Drain valves are installed at the bottom of the radiator. With their help, water is drained during the cold season.
Option with plastic barrel
Third option. It is used to heat a fairly large room. Has an efficiency of 45-55%. To create this type of heating system you will need the following materials:
- any thermal insulation material;
- wooden frame with a plywood bottom;
- black metal mesh;
- deflector;
- transparent polycarbonate sheet;
- several fans
The structure is assembled as follows:
- drill in the ramp round holes. They are cut through for air intake;
- to remove hot air we make rectangular holes at the top of the frame;
- We put thermal insulation material on its bottom. A metal black mesh will act as a heat accumulator;
- fans built into round holes;
- then we install the support strips for the deflector. After this, we install the deflector itself. It will shape the air flow;
- We install a transparent sheet on top.
Building solar heating for a private house with your own hands is not difficult task, as it seems to the ignorant layman. This will require welding skills and materials available at any hardware store.
The relevance of creating solar heating for a private house with your own hands
Gaining complete autonomy is the dream of every owner who starts private construction. But is solar energy really capable of heating a residential building, especially if the device for storing it is assembled in the garage?
Depending on the region, solar flux can range from 50 W/sq.m on a cloudy day to 1400 W/sq.m on a clear day summer sky. With such indicators, even a primitive collector with low efficiency (45-50%) and an area of 15 sq.m. can produce about 7000-10000 kWh per year. And this is 3 tons of firewood saved for a solid fuel boiler!
- on average by square meter devices account for 900 W;
- to increase the water temperature, it is necessary to spend 1.16 W;
- taking into account also the heat loss of the collector, 1 sq.m can heat about 10 liters of water per hour to a temperature of 70 degrees;
- to provide 50 liters of hot water needed by one person, you will need to spend 3.48 kW;
- Having checked the data of the hydrometeorological center on the power of solar radiation (W/sq.m) in the region, it is necessary to divide 3480 W by the resulting power of solar radiation - this will be the required area of the solar collector to heat 50 liters of water.
As it becomes clear, effective autonomous heating exclusively using solar energy is quite problematic. After all, during the gloomy winter season there is very little solar radiation, and it is impossible to place a collector with an area of 120 sq.m. on the site. it won't always work out.
So are solar collectors really non-functional? Don't discount them in advance. So, with the help of such a storage tank you can do without a boiler in the summer - the power will be enough to provide the family with hot water. In winter, it will be possible to reduce energy costs if you supply already heated water from the solar collector to an electric boiler.
In addition, the solar collector will be an excellent helper heat pump in a house with low-temperature heating (warm floors).
So, in winter the heated coolant will be used in warm floors, and in summer, excess heat can be sent to the geothermal circuit. This will reduce the power of the heat pump.
After all geothermal heat is not renewed, so that over time an ever-increasing “cold bag” forms in the soil thickness. For example, in a conventional geothermal circuit at the beginning heating season the temperature is +5 degrees, and at the end -2C. When heated, the initial temperature rises to +15 C, and by the end of the heating season does not fall below +2 C.
Construction of a homemade solar collector
For a master who is confident in his abilities, assembling a heat collector will not be difficult. You can start with a small device to provide hot water in your dacha, and if the experiment is successful, move on to creating a full-fledged solar station.
Flat-plate solar collector made of metal pipes
The simplest collector to make is a flat one. For its device you will need:
- welding machine;
- pipes from of stainless steel or copper;
- steel sheet;
- tempered glass or polycarbonate;
- wooden boards for the frame;
- non-flammable insulation that can withstand metal heated to 200 degrees;
- black matte paint resistant to high temperatures.
Assembly of the solar collector is quite simple:
- Pipes are welded to steel sheet– it acts as an adsorber of solar energy, so the fit of the pipes should be as tight as possible. Everything is painted matte black.
- A frame is placed on the sheet with pipes so that the pipes are facing inside. Holes are drilled for the inlet and outlet of the pipes. Insulation is being installed. If a hygroscopic material is used, you need to take care of waterproofing - after all, once wet, the insulation will no longer protect the pipes from cooling.
- The insulation is fixed OSB sheet, all joints are filled with sealant.
- On the adsorber side, transparent glass or polycarbonate with a small air gap is placed. It serves to prevent the steel sheet from cooling.
- You can fix the glass using wooden window beads, after applying sealant. It will prevent cold air from entering and protect the glass from shrinking the frame when heating and cooling.
For full operation of the collector you will need storage tank. It can be made from a plastic barrel, insulated on the outside, in which a heat exchanger connected to a solar collector is laid in a spiral. The heated water inlet should be located at the top, and the cold water outlet at the bottom.
It is important to place the tank and manifold correctly. To ensure natural circulation of water, the tank must be located above the collector, and the pipes must have a constant slope.
Solar heater made from scrap materials
If with welding machine It was not possible to establish a friendship, you can make a simple solar heater from what is at hand. For example, from tin cans. To do this, holes are made in the bottom, the cans themselves are fastened to each other with sealant, and they are seated on it at the junction with PVC pipes. They are painted black and placed in a frame under glass in the same way as ordinary pipes.
Solar house facade
Why not decorate your house with something useful instead of ordinary siding? For example, by making a solar heater on the entire wall on the south side.
This solution will allow optimizing heating costs in two directions at once - reducing energy costs and significantly reducing heat loss due to additional insulation facade.
The device is incredibly simple and does not require special tools:
- a painted galvanized sheet is laid on the insulation;
- stainless steel is laid on top corrugated pipe, also painted black;
- everything is covered with polycarbonate sheets and fixed with aluminum corners.
If this method seems complicated, the video shows a version made from tin, polypropylene pipes and films. Much easier!
Solar heating private home - a modern and environmentally friendly way. This method has many advantages, the main ones being cost-effectiveness and the absence of hazardous waste. However, such an installation costs a lot, and in some regions it is not practical to use it due to the small number of sunny days.
Design and principle of operation
Solar heating of a private home is an innovative technology that not everyone has a clear understanding of yet. Meanwhile, almost any homeowner has all the possibilities for installing and using the appropriate complexes. The need for financial investments exists only to purchase equipment or equipment; he will receive everything else for free.
There are two options for organizing solar heating:
- Solar panels;
- Solar collectors.
Using solar panels is a more expensive method that requires a large amount of equipment. Photovoltaic cells located on open area at the right angle for maximum perpendicular incidence of sunlight. They generate electric current, which accumulates in batteries and is converted into alternating current with standard parameters, after which it is sent to heating devices.
Heating from solar panels in a private house provides a lot of additional features. This method has a significant advantage - the electric current generated by solar panels can be used not only to heat the house, but also to power any devices, for lighting or other needs.
Solar panels for home heating, the cost of which is quite high, may not be financially viable.
Solar collectors operate on a different principle. They do not produce, but receive thermal energy from the Sun, which heats the coolant in containers or tubes. In principle, any container of water exposed to the sun can be considered a collector, but there are special designs that can demonstrate the greatest efficiency. This version of the system is much simpler, cheaper and available for self-production.
The resulting heat is immediately realized in increasing the temperature of the coolant, which is accumulated in storage capacity, from where it is distributed throughout the heating circuits of the house. The optimal heating method is to use low temperature systems, such as heated floors. They do not require strong heating, which corresponds to the capabilities of solar collectors. At night, the coolant heated during the day is consumed.
For maximum efficiency of solar collectors, it is necessary to properly insulate the storage tank.
Pros and cons of using solar energy to heat your home
The second advantage is zero emissions. In fact, it is the most environmentally friendly and natural look energy. Solar panels and collectors do not produce noise. In most cases, they are installed on the roofs of buildings without occupying usable area suburban area.
The disadvantages associated with using solar energy are the variability of illumination. IN dark time days there is nothing to collect, the situation is aggravated by the fact that the peak of the heating season falls on the shortest daylight hours of the year.
A significant disadvantage of heating based on the use of solar collectors is the lack of ability to accumulate thermal energy. Only the expansion tank is included in the circuit
It is necessary to monitor the optical cleanliness of the panels; slight contamination sharply reduces the efficiency.
Efficient use of solar energy
The most obvious advantage of using solar energy is its universal availability. In fact, even in the gloomiest and cloudiest weather, solar energy can be collected and used.
The second advantage is zero emissions. In fact, it is the most environmentally friendly and natural form of energy. Solar panels and collectors do not produce noise. In most cases, they are installed on the roofs of buildings, without occupying the usable area of a suburban area.
The efficiency of solar heating in our latitudes is quite low, which is explained by the insufficient number of sunny days for regular operation of the system (+)
The disadvantages associated with using solar energy are the variability of illumination. At night there is nothing to collect, the situation is aggravated by the fact that the peak of the heating season occurs during the shortest daylight hours of the year. It is necessary to monitor the optical cleanliness of the panels; slight contamination sharply reduces the efficiency.
In addition, it cannot be said that operating a solar energy system is completely free; there are constant costs for depreciation of equipment, work circulation pump and control electronics.
Open solar collectors
An open solar collector is an unprotected external influences a system of tubes through which coolant heated directly by the sun circulates.
Water, gas, air, and antifreeze are used as coolants. The tubes are either fixed to the supporting panel in the form of a coil, or connected in parallel rows to the outlet pipe.
Open solar collectors are not able to cope with the heating of a private home. Due to the lack of insulation, the coolant cools quickly. They are used in the summer mainly to heat water in showers or swimming pools.
Open collectors usually do not have any insulation. The design is very simple, therefore it has a low cost and is often made independently.
Due to the lack of insulation, they practically do not store the energy received from the sun and are characterized by low efficiency. They are used mainly in the summer to heat water in swimming pools or summer showers.
Installed in sunny and warm regions, with small differences in temperature of the ambient air and heated water. They work well only in sunny, windless weather.
The simplest solar collector with a heat sink made from a coil polymer pipes, will ensure the supply of heated water at the dacha for irrigation and domestic needs
Tubular collector varieties
Tubular solar collectors are assembled from individual tubes through which water, gas or steam flows. This is one of the types of open solar systems. However, the coolant is already much better protected from external negativity. Especially in vacuum installations designed like thermoses.
Each tube is connected to the system separately, parallel to each other. If one tube fails, it is easy to replace it with a new one. The entire structure can be assembled directly on the roof of the building, which greatly simplifies installation.
The tubular collector has a modular structure. The main element is a vacuum tube; the number of tubes varies from 18 to 30, which allows you to accurately select the power of the system
A significant advantage of tubular solar collectors is cylindrical shape the main elements thanks to which solar radiation is captured all day long without the use of expensive systems for tracking the movement of the luminary.
A special multilayer coating creates a kind of optical trap for sunlight. The diagram partially shows the outer wall of the vacuum flask reflecting rays onto the walls of the inner flask (+)
Based on the design of the tubes, feather and coaxial solar collectors are distinguished.
The coaxial tube is a Diaur vessel or a familiar thermos. Made from two flasks between which air is evacuated. On inner surface The inner flask is coated with a highly selective coating that effectively absorbs solar energy.
With a cylindrical tube, the sun's rays always fall perpendicular to the surface
Thermal energy from the internal selective layer is transferred to a heat pipe or internal heat exchanger made of aluminum plates. At this stage, unwanted heat loss occurs.
The feather tube is glass cylinder with a feather absorber inserted inside.
The system gets its name from the feather absorber, which tightly wraps around a thermal channel made of heat-conducting metal.
For good thermal insulation, the air has been evacuated from the tube. Heat transfer from the absorber occurs without loss, so the efficiency of feather tubes is higher.
According to the method of heat transfer, there are two systems: direct-flow and with a heat pipe. Thermal tube is a sealed container with an easily evaporating liquid.
Since the highly evaporating liquid naturally flows to the bottom of the heat tube, minimum angle the inclination is 20° C
Inside the heat tube there is an easily evaporating liquid that receives heat from inner wall flask or from a feather absorber. Under the influence of temperature, the liquid boils and rises in the form of steam. After the heat is transferred to the heating or hot water supply coolant, the steam condenses into liquid and flows down.
Water is often used as an easily evaporating liquid at low pressure. A once-through system uses a U-shaped tube through which water or heating fluid circulates.
One half of the U-shaped tube is intended for cold coolant, the second removes the heated one. When heated, the coolant expands and enters the storage tank, providing natural circulation. As with heat tube systems, the minimum angle of inclination must be at least 20⁰.
With a direct-flow connection, the pressure in the system cannot be high, since there is a technical vacuum inside the flask
Direct-flow systems are more efficient because they immediately heat the coolant. If solar collector systems are planned for use all year round, then special antifreeze is pumped into them.
The use of tubular solar collectors has a number of advantages and disadvantages. The design of a tubular solar collector consists of identical elements that are relatively easy to replace.
Advantages:
- low heat loss;
- ability to work at temperatures down to -30⁰С;
- efficient performance throughout daylight hours;
- good performance in areas with temperate and cold climates;
- low windage, justified by the ability of tubular systems to pass air masses through themselves;
- production possibility high temperature coolant.
Structurally, the tubular structure has a limited aperture surface.
It has the following disadvantages:
- not capable of self-cleaning from snow, ice, frost;
- high price.
Despite the initial high cost, tubular collectors pay for themselves faster. They have a long service life.
Tubular collectors are open-type solar systems and are therefore not suitable for year-round use in heating systems (+)
Flat closed systems
A flat-plate collector consists of an aluminum frame, a special absorbent layer - an absorber, a transparent coating, a pipeline and insulation.
Blackened sheet copper is used as an absorber, which has ideal thermal conductivity for creating solar systems. When solar energy is absorbed by an absorber, the solar energy it receives is transferred to a coolant circulating through a tube system adjacent to the absorber.
WITH outside closed panel protected transparent coating. It is made of shockproof tempered glass with a transmission band of 0.4-1.8 microns. This range accounts for the maximum solar radiation. Shockproof glass provides good protection against hail. On the back side the entire panel is reliably insulated.
Flat-plate solar collectors are characterized by maximum performance and simple design. Their efficiency is increased due to the use of an absorber. They are able to capture diffuse and direct solar radiation
The list of advantages of closed flat panels includes:
- simplicity of design;
- good performance in regions with warm climates;
- the ability to install at any angle with devices for changing the angle of inclination;
- the ability to self-clean from snow and frost;
- low price.
Flat-plate solar collectors are especially advantageous if their use is planned at the design stage. The service life of quality products is 50 years.
The disadvantages include:
- high heat loss;
- heavy weight;
- high windage when the panels are positioned at an angle to the horizontal;
- performance limitations when temperature changes exceed 40°C.
The scope of application of closed collectors is much wider than that of open-type solar systems. In summer they are able to fully satisfy the need for hot water. On cool days, when utilities do not include them in the heating period, they can work instead of gas and electric heaters.
Those who want to make a solar collector with my own hands To install a heating system in your dacha, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with practice-tested diagrams and step-by-step assembly instructions.
Comparison of solar collector characteristics
The most important indicator of a solar collector is efficiency. The useful performance of solar collectors of different designs depends on the temperature difference. At the same time, flat collectors are much cheaper than tubular ones.
Efficiency values depend on the manufacturing quality of the solar collector. The purpose of the graph is to show the effectiveness of the application different systems depending on temperature difference
When choosing a solar collector, you should pay attention to a number of parameters showing the efficiency and power of the device.
There are several important characteristics for solar collectors:
- adsorption coefficient - shows the ratio of absorbed energy to total;
- emission coefficient - shows the ratio of transmitted energy to absorbed energy;
- total and aperture area;
The aperture area is the working area of the solar collector. A flat-plate collector has a maximum aperture area. The aperture area is equal to the absorber area.
Selecting a solar collector and its installation
A homeowner who decides to create solar heating for a private home with his own hands is faced with the task of choosing the most suitable type of collector. This issue is quite complex, but it is necessary to understand it.
Open collectors are not suitable due to their low capabilities, so there is no point in talking about them. Usually the choice is made between tubular and flat types. The first and most significant selection criterion is usually the ratio of price and quality of products.
This approach is justified, but maintainability cannot be ignored. Thus, vacuum tubes cannot be changed in all types of manifolds, which makes the choice risky. If one of them fails, for some types of collectors the entire panel will have to be replaced, which will require expense. In general, all vacuum devices are a rather risky purchase, since any mechanical impact threatens the loss of a source of thermal energy.
By selecting best option, begin installation. For it you need to choose a suitable site located near the house. This is important, since transporting coolant over long distances will require high-quality insulation and installation of a circulation pump. Typically, collectors are installed on the roof to allow circulation by gravity.
The only problem is the location of the slopes relative to the position of the sun in the sky - sometimes you have to install a tracking system to rotate the panels. This is expensive and requires the use of flexible tubes, but the resulting effect is much higher.
Options for self-assembly of the heating system
Today, there are several ways to assemble a solar heater with your own hands. Let's look at the most popular assembly methods.
First option. Here you need a galvanized container for water. It should have a volume of approximately 100-200 liters. The technology for creating a solar battery has the following algorithm:
- We place the container on the roof. It should be installed on the south side of the roof;
- the roof surface must be covered with a metal sheet with a shiny surface;
- put pipes on top of it;
- we connect them to a barrel and a container for heated water.
Homemade solar collector option
Using such a battery, 100 liters of water can be heated by 60 degrees. This installation has high efficiency. But in winter, such a unit will not be effective.
Second assembly option. To create this type of collector you will need:
- steel boxes;
- several flat steel radiators;
- glass;
- metal-plastic elements - fittings and pipes.
The system builds in this case proceed as follows:
- steel boxes are mounted on the roof;
- radiators are placed there;
- Cover them with glass on top. This will reduce the water heating time;
- the tubes must be laid with a downward slope;
- be sure to ensure that the top of the device is located below the storage tank;
- A plastic barrel with water is installed in the attic. Suitable volume - 160 l;
- it must be connected to the radiator and water supply using metal-plastic devices - fittings and tubes. The water tube itself needs to be connected slightly above the middle of the tank;
- Drain valves are installed at the bottom of the radiator. With their help, water is drained during the cold season.
Option with plastic barrel
Third option. It is used to heat a fairly large room. Has an efficiency of 45-55%. To create this type of heating system you will need the following materials:
- any thermal insulation material;
- wooden frame with a plywood bottom;
- black metal mesh;
- deflector;
- transparent polycarbonate sheet;
- several fans
The structure is assembled as follows:
- drill round holes in the ramp. They are cut through for air intake;
- to remove hot air we make rectangular holes at the top of the frame;
- We put thermal insulation material on its bottom. A metal black mesh will act as a heat accumulator;
- fans built into round holes;
- then we install the support strips for the deflector. After this, we install the deflector itself. It will shape the air flow;
- We install a transparent sheet on top.
Finished design
With the help of such a unit, you can effectively heat your home, as well as heat water.
How to calculate the required collector power
When calculating required power solar collectors often erroneously make calculations based on incoming solar energy during the coldest months of the year.
The fact is that in the remaining months of the year the entire system will constantly overheat. In summer, the temperature of the coolant at the outlet of the solar collector can reach 200°C when heating steam or gas, 120°C for antifreeze, 150°C for water. If the coolant boils, it will partially evaporate. As a result, it will have to be replaced.
- provision of hot water supply no more than 70%;
- provision of the heating system no more than 30%.
The rest of the required heat must be generated by standard heating equipment. Nevertheless, with such indicators, an average of about 40% is saved per year on heating and hot water supply.
The power generated by one tube of the vacuum system depends on geographical location. The rate of solar energy falling per 1 m2 of land per year is called insolation. Knowing the length and diameter of the tube, you can calculate the aperture - the effective absorption area. It remains to apply the absorption and emission coefficients to calculate the power of one tube per year.
Calculation example:
The standard tube length is 1800 mm, the effective length is 1600 mm. Diameter 58 mm. Aperture is the shaded area created by the tube. Thus, the area of the shadow rectangle will be:
S = 1.6 * 0.058 = 0.0928m2
The efficiency of the middle tube is 80%, solar insolation for Moscow is about 1170 kWh/m2 per year. Thus, one tube will produce per year:
W = 0.0928 * 1170 * 0.8 = 86.86 kWh
It should be noted that this is a very rough estimate. The amount of energy generated depends on the orientation of the installation, angle, average annual temperature, etc. published econet.ru
System cost
There is no fixed cost for individual heating using solar collectors, since it always contains a boiler, and what it will be - floor or wall-mounted, condensing or traditional, gas, diesel or electric - is decided for each specific house. Just like in any other heating system, the price will consist of such indicators as the area of the house, calculation of heat loss, the presence and area of heated floors.
In the case of organizing hot water supply by connecting solar collectors, there are developed package offers, since the required volume of water can be classified according to the number of people living in the house and total number consumers. For example, the cost of a hot water supply system using a flat solar collector from the German company Huch EnTEC will be about 165,000 rubles. This amount also includes all necessary fasteners, thermostatic mixer, connection group expansion tank, bivalent water heater, water heater safety group, non-freezing coolant for solar system.
Helpful advice! Trust the calculation of solar heating and water supply to professionals with many years of experience and dozens of similar completed projects behind you! This is the only way you can insure yourself against unnecessary overpayments.
Are the costs justified?
The cost of the equipment included in the solar installation kit is quite high, so always, before deciding to purchase such products, you need to calculate the cost of the required kit and the financial return that can be obtained from using such installations.
The set of equipment that will provide autonomous heating of the house, in addition to the collector, includes a number of other technical devices, which is also reflected in the amount of costs for the entire set of equipment.
So, to create a heating system based on a solar collector you will need:
- Collector.
- Tank heat accumulator.
- Expansion tank.
- Circulation pump.
- Pipes and valves.
Of all the equipment listed, the most expensive unit is the collector itself, therefore, in order to determine whether the costs of installing such a system are justified, you need to decide what is the prerogative in this matter, because the cost of boilers operating on gas or solid fuel , comparable to the cost of a solar collector.
In this regard, the decision on the advisability of installing this particular type of heating, and accordingly the cost of equipment, is determined by the criteria for selecting such systems, as well as the pros and cons of their operation, which were described above.
Video
The development of new technologies in alternative energy has prompted people to think about their use in Everyday life. Recently, the use of solar energy has become increasingly popular.
Abroad, this heating method has long replaced the traditional one. Moreover, now the cost of supplying heat to homes is increasing. And heating from the sun does not require payment every month. A solar panel for a summer residence is a productive way to reduce costs in the summer.
Living in an apartment, many people think about installing such a system in country house. After all, it will require investments only at the initial stage. The service life can reach a quarter of a century. And the payback of this method will be achieved within three years.
Solar energy used for heating can be converted by two types of equipment:
- batteries – produce electric current, which is then supplied to electrical equipment;
- collectors - the coolant (liquid) is heated in them, which gives off its heat.
The solar collector for heating can be connected to an existing heat supply system. You can also use this device to heat water.
Advantages and disadvantages
The heat supply provided by light has the following positive qualities:
- fuel costs are reduced;
- inexhaustibility of the source;
- environmental clean energy;
- ease of use;
- independence from world problems;
- free possibility of application;
- possibility of installing additional devices;
- quiet operation;
- long service life.
But solar heating also has a number of disadvantages:
- high installation and installation costs;
- the need for placement on the south side of the house;
- the territorial location of the facility where solar panels for the home will be installed is important;
- durable roof surface due to heavy weight;
- in winter, work productivity decreases;
- requires precise calculations during installation;
- compatibility with other heating methods to guarantee constant heat supply.
Battery structure
It is best to place the installations on the south side of the house to maximize the flow of rays. The batteries on the roof should be located at an angle that corresponds to 30°.
Heating with solar panels involves the generation of voltage under the influence of light. The voltage is then applied to other objects. They are equipped with a battery that stores energy and then releases it in cloudy weather.
The batteries consist of:
- an external transparent panel within which water or air moves;
- a black metal platform that absorbs rays;
- a storage tank containing heated water or gas.
The solar heating system includes the main components:
- ordinary converter;
- DC to AC converter;
- sensor for adjusting the charge level;
- battery;
- power selection mechanism.
Rooftop solar panels are primarily used to generate electricity. Therefore, this method is combined with electrically heat supply in the house, as well as where heated floors are present. When choosing to heat your home with powerful models, you can still get power to heat the water.
Collectors arrangement
Solar collectors for heating involve the conversion of thermal energy. The thermal fluid heats up under the influence of light and subsequently releases heat. The efficiency of heat received from solar collectors depends on the volume of light flux, and affects heating.
Types of collectors:
- antifreeze is used as a coolant;
- Air is used as a coolant.
If a coolant liquid is used, then a distinction is made between flat and tubular collectors.
Flat plate collectors consist of:
- absorber - absorbs light rays;
- transparent layer;
- heat insulating surface.
Flat-plate collectors are equipped with tubes laid in the form of a snake. The tubes have two holes - inlet and outlet. Connection from one or two pipes is possible.
Tubular collectors, like flat ones, contain tubes through which the coolant moves. Tubular manifolds are equipped with two categories of tubes. The first category is coxial. Their design consists of a tube placed inside another tube. Moreover, the ends of both are sealed. A vacuum is created between the walls. The second category is feather ones, consisting of one tube. It contains an adsorber feather bar.
Air collectors involve air transfer of heat. The air flow can be adjusted taking into account the room temperature and the heating level of the collector. The air from the collector has a direct opportunity to enter the room or ventilation system. Air collectors are suitable for heating a garage or cottage. They are usually mounted on the wall.
Selecting the heating type
How to choose a solar battery for your home - this question is of interest to many who want to purchase this type of heat supply for their home. For the southern regions it is better to choose flat view collector, since under such conditions the efficiency of the installation will be higher.
In areas where a cold climate prevails, it is better to use a tubular-type solar collector to heat the house. These heaters can be selected according to the substance located in the thermal channel, which will suit the climate of the area.
Air manifolds serve as auxiliary solar equipment for heating. They heat up well in the sun, but problems arise in cloudy weather. Solar systems of this type perfectly absorb energy in winter, when the rays are still reflected from the snow. Thus, you can choose solar panels taking into account the purpose of application and climatic conditions.
Solar heating systems powered by batteries are most often used in conjunction with other types of heating devices powered by electricity. Solar panels can be combined with electric batteries to generate additional electricity for your garden. Although solar heating systems in this case will require large area Houses.
This equipment can be placed on the roof. At the same time, installing solar panels on the roof requires either its modification or the replacement of any part with heater plates. You can select heaters that look similar to roofing material. Another choice of solar panels can be used to completely replace a small roof.
Installation of solar panels includes the main steps:
- the panel is installed on the roof of the house;
- a controller is placed on some wall (for low-voltage devices);
- battery installation;
- connecting an inverter (for high-voltage devices).
Solar systems for heating a home must be installed with the help of special qualified services.
During the winter, the solar heating system can be cleared of snow with a special brush.
There are many opinions that solar heaters take too long to pay for themselves and have low efficiency. Despite this everything appears more people, which use solar panels to heat the house in combination with other sources. After all, many are trying to save money thanks to solar systems in such an unstable economic situation. A heater in the country, powered by solar panels, reduces many costs.
The main criterion for comfort in a private cottage or apartment is warmth. In a cold house, even the most luxurious furnishings will not help create comfortable conditions. But in order to maintain the optimal temperature for living in the room not only in summer, but also in winter, you will need to install a heating system.
This can be done easily today by purchasing a gas, diesel or electric boiler as a heat source. But the problem is that fuel for such equipment is expensive and is not available in all localities. What then to choose? The best solution is alternative heat sources and in particular solar heating.
Design and principle of operation
What is such a system? First of all, it should be said that there are two options for solar heating. They involve the use of elements that are different both in design and in purpose:
- Collector;
- Photovoltaic panel.
And if the equipment of the first type is intended purely for maintaining indoors comfortable temperature, That solar panels for heating a home they can be used to generate electricity and heat. Their operating principle is based on converting solar energy and storing it in batteries, which can then be used for various needs.
Let's watch the video, everything about this collector:
The use of a collector allows you to organize only a solar heating system for a private house, while using thermal energy. This device operates as follows. Sun rays water is heated, which is a coolant and comes from the pipeline. The same system can also be used as hot water supply. The composition includes special photocells.
Collector device
But besides them, the solar heating package includes:
- Special tank;
- Forecameras;
- A radiator made of tubes and enclosed in a box with a front wall made of glass.
Solar panels for heating the house are placed on the roof. In it, the heating water moves into the front chamber where it is replaced with a hot coolant. This allows you to maintain constant dynamic pressure in the system.
Types of heating using alternative sources
The easiest way to convert solar energy into heat is to use solar panels to heat your home. They are increasingly used as additional sources energy. But what are these devices and are they really effective?
Let's watch the video, types and their operating features:
The task of a solar heating system collector installed on the roof of a home is to absorb as much solar radiation as possible, then converting it into much-needed energy for humans. But it should be taken into account that it can be converted into both thermal and electrical energy. Solar heating systems are used to generate heat and heat water. For getting electric current use special batteries. They accumulate energy during the daytime and release it at night. However, today there are also combined systems. In them, solar panels produce both heat and electricity.
As for solar water heaters for home heating, there is a wide range of them on the market. Moreover, models may have various purposes, design, principle of operation, dimensions.
Various options
For example, according to appearance and the designs of the heating system of a private house are divided into:
- Flat;
- Tubular vacuum.
According to their intended purpose, they are classified into those used for:
- Heating and hot water systems;
- For heating the water in the pool.
There are differences in the operating principle. Solar heating using collectors is the ideal choice for country houses, since they do not require connection to the electrical network. Models with forced circulation connect to common system heating systems, in which the coolant is circulated using a pump.
Watch the video and compare flat and tubular collectors:
Not all collectors are suitable for solar heating country house. According to this criterion they are divided into:
- Seasonal;
- Year-round.
The former are used for heating country houses, the latter in private households.
Compare with conventional heating systems
If we compare this equipment with gas or electric, it has much more advantages. First of all, this is fuel economy. In summer, solar heating can fully provide people living in the house with hot water. In autumn and spring, when there are few clear days, the equipment can be used to reduce the load on a standard boiler. As for winter, usually at this time the efficiency of collectors is very low.
Watch the video about the efficiency of collectors in winter:
But in addition to saving fuel, the use of solar-powered equipment reduces dependence on gas and electricity. To install solar heating, you do not need to obtain a permit and anyone with basic knowledge of plumbing can install it.
Watch the video, equipment selection criteria:
Another plus is the long service life of the collector. The guaranteed service life of the equipment is at least 15 years, which means for this period your utility bills will be minimal.
However, like any device, the collector has some disadvantages:
- On solar water heaters for a private house the price is quite high;
- Inability to use as the only source of heat;
- Installation of a storage tank is required.
There is one more nuance. The efficiency of solar heating varies by region. In the southern regions, where solar activity is high, the equipment will have the highest efficiency. Therefore, it is most profitable to use such equipment in the south and it will be less effective in the north.
Selecting a solar collector and its installation
Before you begin installing the equipment included in heating system it is necessary to explore its capabilities. In order to find out how much heat is required to heat a house, you need to calculate its area. It is important to choose the right place to install the solar collector. It should be illuminated as much as possible throughout the day. Therefore, equipment is usually installed on the southern part of the roof.
Performance installation work It is better to leave it to the experts, because even a small mistake in installing a solar heating system will lead to a significant decrease in the efficiency of the system. Only when correct installation The solar collector will last up to 25 years, and will fully pay for itself in the first 3 years.
Main types of collectors and their characteristics
If for some reason the building is not suitable for installing equipment, then you can place the panels on an adjacent building and place the drive in the basement.
Benefits of solar heating
The nuances that you should pay attention to when choosing this system were discussed above. And if you did everything correctly, then your solar heating system will bring you only pleasant moments. Among its advantages it should be noted:
- Possibility of providing the home with heat all year round, with the ability to adjust the temperature;
- Complete autonomy from centralized utility networks and reduced financial costs;
- Use of solar energy for various needs;
- Long service life equipment and rare emergency situations.
The only thing stopping consumers from buying solar system for heating a private house - this is the dependence of their work on the geography of residence. If clear days are rare in your region, then the effectiveness of the equipment will be minimal.
