Tree Hugger

DIY Solar Collector from Old Satellite Dish
The Rojas family are beginning to look like mad solar scientists out to take over the world with their accessible home energy projects. Yesterday I posted a video of Denise Rojas, host of Green Power Science, as she cooked an egg in 10 seconds using a fresnel lense. While I was checking out that video, I also came across the above work in progress by Dan Rojas, Denise’s husband and co-host, who is creating a giant solar collector using a discarded satellite dish. Dan reckons he’ll have the project completed in about a week, and we can’t wait to see what he does with it (Dan is also the guy who also brought us the solar space heater made from recycled campaign signs). We’ll be sure to post an update when the project is completed. Click below the fold for more DIY solar projects on TreeHugger.

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Treehugger c/o Discovery Communications
850 3rd Ave., 8th Floor
New York, NY 10022
Email: editor@treehugger.com

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http://www.treehugger.com

 

Solar-Energy-At-Home

 

Solar Collector Guide for Homeowners
“A solar collector is the key component of all active solar heating applications.”
Solar thermal collectors are used to convert the solar energy we receive from the Sun into solar thermal energy. Solar thermal energy is simply the energy created when sunlight is converted into heat.
Don’t confuse solar thermal collectors with solar panels. Solar power panels, also known as solar modules or solar cells, convert solar energy into solar electricity.

Basic Principles
So how do collectors convert the radiant energy we receive from the Sun into heat?
Solar Energy Collectors on a Roof When the radiant energy from the Sun reaches an object, the object absorbs some of that energy. The absorbed energy excites the molecules in the object causing them to move. This movement of molecules is heat.
There are a two basic things most solar thermal collectors do to take advantage of this basic physical reaction in order to increase the amount of heat produced and captured…
Increase solar energy absorption by using dark coatings on the absorbing material of the collector. Dark-colored objects absorb more energy than light-colored objects.
Reduce heat loss by using insulation, air and vacuum spaces, or glazing.
And once the heat is captured it is transferred to a fluid, either liquid or air, that is flowing through the collector.

Types of Solar Thermal Collectors
There are three basic types of solar thermal collectors…
Flat Plate Solar Collector: The most common type of collector. Used for both solar water heating and solar space heating.
Evacuated Tube Solar Collector: Used for solar water heating. Best choice for extreme cold conditions or when higher temperatures are needed (above 200 degrees F).
Swimming Pool Solar Collector: Used for solar pool heating. Able to quickly and efficiently heat a large amount of water to low heat temperatures. Most pools are kept around 80 degrees F.

Before You Purchase a Solar Energy Collector…
If you are planning on taking advantage of the federal solar energy tax credit, you need to make sure the collector you purchase is certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC). The SRCC certification procedure tests both the durability and the performance of the collector. The SRCC certification is needed in order to receive your tax credit.
For more information on applications that use a solar energy collector, check out our page on Solar Heating applications.

Website:

http://www.solar-energy-at-home.com

 

Silicon Solar

Flat Plate Solar Collector
Utilize this newly designed flat plate collector panel for any of your water heating needs. This glazed solar collector includes a selective coating to maximize the solar heat absorption, weather resistant aluminum framing and interior fiberglass insulation for increased efficiency.
Each solar flat plate is constructed with a strong durable aluminum metal allowing for the flat plate collector to withstand heavy weight and multiple environmental changes.
Our flat plates combine strong heat exposure with a new energy efficiency copper flow procedure which allows the heat transfer to be maximized to the hottest degree. Each low heat transfer makes our solar flat plate heat collectors the highest in BTU performance.
To save you money, our flat plate collectors come customized to fit your application on the U.S. standard and not for the European or Chinese market. We make sure that our customer’s have the confidence that our system is compatible with your every day needs in hot water heating.

Contact us：
New York:
Corporate Headquarters
56 Broome Corporate Parkway
Conklin, NY 13748
Hours of operation: 9AM-5:30PM EST
Phone: 1-800-786-0329
Colorado:
7330 S. Alton Way Bldg. 12E Centennial, CO 80112
Phone: 866-SUNMAXX
Hours of operation: 9AM-5PM PST

Website:

http://www.siliconsolar.com

 

Suntask Solar

Solar collector
Solar collectors trap and use heat from the sun to raise the temperature of water. There are two main types of solar collector: flat-plate and evacuated tube collectors.
Flat-plate solar collectors – These are the most common type. They are comprised of:
An airtight box with a transparent cover.
A dark coloured, metallic absorbing plate containing water pipes.
Insulation to reduce heat loss from the back and sides of the absorber plate.
One slight disadvantage of flat-plate collectors is that they only operate at maximum efficiency when the sun’s rays strike perpendicular to the flat plate. They also suffer some heat loss in cold weather.

Solar evacuated tube hot water system.
Evacuated tube solar collectors – This kind of collector consists of:
A series of transparent outer glass tubes that allow light rays to pass through with minimal reflection.
Each tube contains an inner water pipe coated with a layer that absorbs the sun’s rays, generating heat. Water runs through this inner tube and is heated.
A vacuum (hence ‘evacuated’) exists between the outer tube and the water pipe, which acts as insulation, reducing heat loss.
Evacuated tube systems are more efficient than flat-plate systems, particularly in the cooler months and on cloudy days. This is due partly to the vacuum insulation (which minimises heat loss) and partly to the fact that the curved surface of the tubes allows the sun’s rays to strike perpendicular to the water for a greater part of the day. Evacuated tube systems weigh much less than flat-plate systems but cost significantly more. Individual tubes can be replaced in the event of damage, making long term maintenance potentially less costly. In warmer climates, such as Darwin, the additional cost of evacuated tubes is usually not warranted as a flat plate solar collector will provide most of the energy needed for water heating
Properly maintained solar thermal collectors should outlast the life of the storage tank. When the tank needs replacing, the existing collectors can be connected to the new tank.

Contact us:
FAX:+86 573 87862577
info@suntasksolar.com

Website:

http://www.sixriverssolar.com