Solar Thermal
Solar Water Heating uses the radiation from the sun to heat water in a panel often sited on the roof which in turn can supply that heat as hot water or to a central heating system. Unfortunately the demands on your central heating system are at their highest when the sun is weakest so a solar heating system will only contribute to part of your heating energy requirements.
The positive side to the strength of the sun in summer is that it is the peak demand for swimming pools, static caravans and holiday lets.
If the system has been sized correctly, it can provide at least 40-60% of all your hot water requirements throughout the year. The average domestic system reduces carbon dioxide emissions by around 400kg per year.
Solar panels should be sited on a south-facing pitched roof, free of shade, at an angle of between 20 and 50 degrees, or may be mounted on an angled frame on the ground or on a flat roof. The typical domestic installation requires 2 - 5 square metres of roof area and you may also need space to locate an additional water cylinder if required.
Solar collectors are currently available in two types; Flat Plate Collectors and Evacuated Tube Collectors.
Evacuated tube collectors have evacuated tubes each with a liquid filled copper conductor inside. As the liquid heats up it rises to the top of the tube where the heat is transferred in a manifold to the water from the cylinder.
In flat plate collectors the water passes through the whole plate where it is heated before returning to the cylinder. Flat plate collectors can more easily be integrated into the roof fabric and tend to have a lower profile than evacuated tubes.
Each system has its advantages in terms of price, efficiency and aesthetics. In general, evacuated tube collectors are more efficient and more expensive.
Please contact us for more information on our solar power solutions.
Contact Details
1 Lenziemill Road, Cumbernauld,
Glasgow. G67 2RL
T: 0870 242 7772
E: info@mmaxx.com