Using SunRain Solar Vacuum Tube Collectors in Solar Water Heaters

Solar collector is the engine of a solar water heater. Solar vacuum tubes are well-known for producing solar power more efficiently; but are bit costly than flat panel systems. With the advancement in manufacturing techniques and the growing demands, the cost has driven down such a way that the solar vacuum tube technology delivers the highest return on investment than any other solar collector system. 

How Does Solar Evacuated Tube Collectors Work?

The working principle of solar evacuated tube collector is very simple. It works similarly like the coffee thermos. This collector comprises of two glass layers with vacuum in between the layers. The outermost layer is made from Borosilicate glass which has very low iron and allows around 98% of light energy to pass through. The second inner layer has special coating. 

When it comes to solar vacuum tube technology, the SunRain solar vacuum tubes from Northern Lights Solar Solutions stand out in the competition. They utilize a patented three layer process that results in a coating to absorb more solar energy and withstand temperature in excessive 300 degrees without deteriorating. 

The special coating makes the solar collectors superior to any other collectors available on the market. The selective coating convert the short wave radiation to long wave heat radiation and is around 94% efficient which means 6% solar energy is lost. 

The solar radiation absorbed by the collectors is transferred to the heat transfer fluid in the tube or the liquid inside the thermos. This fluid helps in heating up and rising to the top as soon as possible. The portable water gets heated directly in an open vacuum tube system. Thermosiphon is present inside the vacuum tube which causes the hot water to rise and replaces the colder water eventually. However, the top collector chamber collects the hot water which is again pumped through the system. 

SunRain solar vacuum tubes use copper heating pipe and the special aluminum fins. The solar energy gets transferred into the heat pipe containing a small amount of liquid under a vacuum condition. According to physics, the liquid under a vacuum boils at a lower temperature. Through the phenomenon, the liquid inside the heat pipe boils at 30 degrees Celsius (86F) and converts to vapor. 

The vapor goes up to a condenser bulb which gets cooled by releasing heat through the bulb into the copper manifold and changes its state back to the liquid that again sinks back down the heat pipe. Generally, solar evacuated tubes are arranged in a series fashion and every tube is inserted in a copper header. Actually, the exchange of heat takes place and moves from a hot condenser bulb to the colder heating fluid circulated through the solar heating system. 

Moreover, the copper header is perfectly insulated with mineral rock wool; which loses very little heat to the surrounding air. In addition, the performance curve of a solar vacuum tube heating system is much better than other solar collector technologies available on the industry.  

Bottom Line –

SunRain solar vacuum tubes are perfect for commercial and residential solar water heating applications. They are capable of delivering optimal performance and higher efficiency while allowing you take advantage of higher returns on the investment. 

Author Information –

This article is written by Latitude51 Solar, specializes in providing SunRain solar vacuum tube collectors to use for both residential and commercial solar water heating purposes.