Solar Panels Explained By SEI (Sustainable Energy Ireland)

Solar Panels, also known as "collectors", can be fitted to a building’s roof. They use the sun’s heat to warm water, or another fluid, which passes through the panel. The fluid is then fed to a heat store (e.g. a hot water tank) and helps provide hot water or a source of hot water for the building’s central heating system.
Solar panels work throughout daylight hours, even if the sky is overcast and there is no direct sunshine, which means they can make a useful contribution even during the winter by pre-heating the water in the storage tank. Your boiler or heat pump will boost the water temperature.
The cost of a professionally installed solar system can vary greatly. If you are considering investing in this technology you should do sufficient research to ensure that you are getting the best system for your needs and value for your money.
A solar water heater is composed of:
A solar collector which absorbs solar radiation (sunlight) and changes it into heat;
A pump which transfers the heat from the collector to hot water in a storage tank;
The storage tank accumulates the hot water produced by solar energy so that it can be stored for use when needed;
A number of accessories which ensure the regulation and the safety of the system;
A back-up heater (gas, oil, or wood fuelled boiler, immersion heater or heat pump) which will bring the hot water to the temperature required when there is not enough sunlight to do so (mostly in winter).

Flat Plate and Evaporated Tubes:
There are two main forms of solar panels on the marker, Flat Plate collectors and Evaporated Tube collectors. The main component of each is the absorber, which absorbs solar radiation and converts it into heat. In a plate collector, the absorber is in the form of a flat, black plate in a shallow metal container covered with one or more layers of transparent glass or plastic; either air or a liquid is circulated through the cavity of the container. Heat is directly transferred from the absorber to the circulating liquid (air, water)
The absorber in an Evacuated tube collector consists of a relatively narrow strip of copper with a selective black coating bonded to a single copper tube. The tube contains a special fluid which evaporates when heated. This vapour rises and transfers heat to the water circulating in the systems primary circuit.
Evaporated tubes are more efficient than flat plate collectors; consequently they take up less space. They are, however, more expensive that flat plate. Generally speaking, to produce a given amount of hot water, whether using flat plate or evaporated tubes, the installation costs will be roughly the same.

Solar Heating (water)
In Ireland, solar collectors alone cannot provide all the hot water for a household’s needs throughout the year. Correctly sized they will supply 60% of heat / domestic hot water needs. They are normally installed in conjunction with a conventional back-up heating system.

Solar Heating (space)
In a solar central heating system, the heat generated by the solar panels is used to warm up water stored in a large tank. The heated water is circulated into radiators or underfloor heating to distribute warmth around the house, and is also used to produce hot water for bathing, showers, etc. A control system ensures the regulation and safety of the whole equipment. A solar space heating system is generally designed to cover between 30% and 40% of the annual space and water heating requirement; this can reduce fuel bills by a similar amount.

Solar Air Heating
For comfortable and healthy living, homes require heating and ventilation. Solar air heating systems use air instead of water to circulate the heat collected by roof mounted solar panels in order to provide space heating and ventilation simultaneously. They are particularly effective in well insulated houses which are built airtight and, when used in combination with a heat recovery ventilation unit can reduce heating bills considerably. They can also be used to produce hot water through an air-to-water heat exchanger.

Source : SEI Ireland

Heating Solutions Ltd

Solar Panels – Underfloor Heating – Heat Pumps

29 Suil na Habhann, Mill Rd, Limerick, Ireland

Tel: 086 3823062; Fax: 061 346011

Email: info@heating-solutions-ireland.com

http://www.heating-solutions-ireland.com/