About 3% of all US energy consumption is dedicated to the activity of heating water. Whether in industry or in the household, water must be heated for all sorts of necessary activities. Fortunately, solar heating is the most efficient and cost effective of all of the solar technologies. Depending on what kind of system you use, solar water heating can be about 60% efficient. In its simplest form, this technology is the idea of exposing a water container to sunlight to heat the water up. But solar water heating systems range in complexity.
The basic types of San Diego solar water heating systems are:
1) Passive
2) Active
3) Thermo Siphon
The differences between these systems consist in cost, complexity, efficiency, and maintenance.
San Diego Passive Solar Water heating Systems
San Diego Passive heating systems are characterized by very simple ingenuity. This San Diego solar water heater system consists of a water tank that is painted black to absorb more heat from the sun’s rays. The water tank is then encased in a sealed wooden box with a big window facing south. The box is completely sealed and insulated to trap the heat in. This system is the most inexpensive but also the most inefficient. It usually takes a while for the sun to fully heat up the tank. But it’s the perfect system for the do-it-yourself person.
San Diego Active Solar Water Heating Systems
This system is by far the most complex of all three. Most active water heating systems consist of various pumps, controls, and valves. The idea behind active solar heating systems is to pump water through these solar collectors on the roof for it to be heated. The water is then pumped back to a holding tank to be used by the household. Some systems have a solar powered pump to run the water through the collectors.
There are three types of San Diego active solar water heating systems: drain-down, drain-back, and closed loop antifreeze systems. Each of these systems varies in complexity and maintenance. San Diego Active water heating systems were designed to be used in very cold climates to prevent water from freezing. There is still a chance water may freeze in the pipes leading to and from the water tank, thus needing to be freeze protected. Because of the many parts to these systems, they require much maintenance and oversight.
The Thermo Siphon System
These systems consist of a large water storage tank mounted above a San Diego solar water collector. The water collector is exposed to the sun and is sealed and insulated so that the heat accumulates. Since the heated water is less dense than cold water, it starts to rise through pipes up to the storage tank above the collector. It’s a very simple yet ingenious system.
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