Solar panels for heating a house, heating with thermal panels, radiators, heated floors, collectors

The reasons for the popularity of alternative energy sources are quite understandable: there is an opportunity to save on fuel and make dreams of environmentally friendly life support systems come true. By skillfully using the energy of the sun, wind and water, you can turn an ordinary country house into a modern eco-house.

We will tell you how to install solar heating in a private home, and we will analyze with you how profitable it is. In order to thoroughly cover the issues of using daylight energy, we have described in detail all the popular options that have received practical application and positive user reviews.

Taking into account our recommendations, you can build an effective solar system for a summer house or country house. To make the difficult material easier to understand, we have supplemented the information with visual diagrams, illustrations and video tutorials.

Solar heating

The essence of the process comes down to absorbing the thermal energy of the sun and transferring it to the coolant, which, in turn, must be transferred to the heating system of the house and transfer the heat to the air in the rooms. Considering how hot water left in an open container at midday heats up, the process does not represent anything supernatural.

Unfortunately, such a system will be most effective during the period of maximum activity of the star, that is, during the period from May to August, when the sunny day has the longest duration and the least amount of precipitation falls. In the winter-autumn period, when the need for heating arises, the picture looks different.

A short sunny day already limits the life of a solar device. On cloudy days, it will not be possible to use either the collector or the battery. Therefore, it is not possible to use solar heating as the main one. However, as an alternative source of heat in winter and hot water in summer, the system is quite effective.

Tips for use

The operation of a solar heating system is carried out in accordance with the design of the collectors, their number and other features.
The main task for the owner is to maintain cleanliness and timely removal of dust and other contaminants . This allows for maximum thermal energy intake and increases the efficiency of the entire system as a whole.
It is necessary to properly insulate all connecting pipelines and storage tanks , excluding heat loss.
It is recommended to always keep one or two panels in reserve so that in case of mechanical damage you can quickly replace them. Following these simple recommendations will increase the efficiency of the system and ensure comfort and coziness in the home.

Advantages and disadvantages of solar heating

Solar heaters for any type of home have the following advantages:

system autonomy - you will no longer depend on utility services and their prices;
despite the high price of the equipment, the total operating cost will decrease every year;
noiselessness;
long service life;
environmental safety of the generated energy;
operation in various climatic conditions: wind, rain, snow;
the ability to accumulate received energy.

Flaws:

The efficiency of use decreases sharply when the photocells become very hot, so it is advisable to install additional cooling systems.
The outer surface of the panels must be regularly cleaned of dirt and dust.
Presence of toxic substances in photocells. During operation, they do not in any way affect the purity of the energy released, but require safe disposal.
After 25–30 years of active use, the performance of panels drops by at least 10%.
The efficiency of batteries directly depends on weather conditions, so they need to be equipped with additional energy storage systems.

Application and reliability of solar panels

The system of generating electricity from solar energy has been used all over the world for 30-40 years, if not more. During this time, panels and photocells have been seriously improved, the equipment has been tested in different climatic conditions on all 5 continents.

Considering the fashion in the 21st century for everything natural and environmentally friendly, there is every reason to believe that in the next 15-30 years the majority of the population around the world will switch to heating using solar panels and photovoltaic systems, thanks to which there will no longer be a need to build expensive large power plants and substations, as well as spending money on expensive and unfriendly fuel from oil and gas. Over time, as the cost of solar cells decreases and technology improves, more opportunities for the use of these devices will open up.

Solar energy, in fact, is already actively used by humanity (and not only in advertised electric cars). The simplest systems that already use photocells include:

Photoelectric pumping units, which have become an excellent alternative to hand pumps and diesel generators;
Battery systems that allow the battery to charge and store energy to be released when needed at any time;
Systems with a generator will provide electricity in cases where more is needed than a photovoltaic battery can provide. This combined use of a generator and photocells will significantly reduce the initial cost of the system;
Photovoltaic systems integrated into the electrical grid. Thus, part of the electricity can be taken from photocells, and if there is a shortage, from the general public power grid, while the battery is not used or is simply charged;
Industrial photovoltaic systems that operate completely silently, do not require fossil fuels and do not pollute the environment.

Principle of operation

The operating principle of solar panels is to generate electrical energy; they do not accumulate or generate it in any way. When the sun's rays directly hit their surface, they are immediately converted into current and removed from the panel.

Each plate can produce 250 W, so to improve the principle of operation they try to install them closer to each other. The current obtained as a result of photosynthesis flows through the distributor into the batteries, and then into the inverter of the power grid at home.

It should be noted that the volume of solar batteries affects the duration of daily operation of the batteries. The batteries are recharged throughout the day while the energy generated the previous day is used.

The operating principle is simple and at the same time effective thanks to the “semiconductor”. A semiconductor contains atoms that, thanks to an external electron, can capture or reflect other electrons. As a result, the surface of the solar cells is covered with this material. This “semiconductor” is Selenium and Silicon.

Peak load and average daily energy consumption

The pleasure of having your own solar station is still worth a lot. The first step on the path to harnessing the power of solar energy is to determine the optimal peak load in kilowatts and the rational average daily energy consumption in kilowatt-hours for a household or country house.

The peak load is created by the need to turn on several electrical appliances at once and is determined by their maximum total power, taking into account the overestimated starting characteristics of some of them.

Calculating the maximum power consumption allows you to identify which electrical appliances need simultaneous operation and which ones are not so vital. The power characteristics of the power plant components, that is, the total cost of the device, are subject to this indicator.

The daily energy consumption of an electrical appliance is measured by the product of its individual power and the time that it worked from the network (consumed electricity) during the day. The total average daily energy consumption is calculated as the sum of electricity consumed by each consumer over a daily period.

Subsequent analysis and optimization of the obtained data on loads and energy consumption will ensure the necessary configuration and subsequent operation of the solar energy system at minimal cost

The result of energy consumption helps to rationally approach the consumption of solar electricity. The result of the calculations is important for further calculation of battery capacity. The price of the battery pack, a significant component of the system, depends even more on this parameter.

Why are there no solar power plants on the roofs of our houses?

The Internet is replete with advertising materials with beautiful pictures telling about the extraordinary benefits of solar systems. Craftsmen post videos on YouTube on the topic “do-it-yourself solar heating” about their own know-how, assembled on their knees from scrap materials. The Internet is buzzing with reposts of enthusiastic articles about the wonderful benefits of solar heating. However, how many houses with solar collectors on the roof have appeared in recent years near your home? No one? What are the reasons that solar heating is not recognized in our area?

Unfortunately, solar energy for heating a home does not arrive when or where it is needed. It gets cold closer to the poles, in winter and at night. And the maximum solar radiation occurs in the equatorial regions, during the summer and during the day. At the very least, heat accumulators help smooth out daily, but not seasonal, differences.

Map of the intensity of distribution of sunlight across the territory of Russia. In the Western part of the country, where the lion's share of the population lives, there is little sun. And in eastern Siberia, where the share of radiation is noticeably higher, it is cold, which makes it difficult to use active systems. By the way, solar panels that generate electricity are not so sensitive to severe frosts. Quite powerful solar power plants have already been built and are successfully operating in cold but sunny Yakutia.

Passive heating with solar energy is ineffective and cannot significantly warm a house in Russian winter conditions. “Windows facing south” is a really useful design method that costs nothing, but helps optimize heating costs. But solar greenhouses, Trombe walls and their derivatives, once relatively popular in the United States, gradually faded away even in their homeland.

Active solar heating systems for a private home are very expensive; you will have to pay a lot of money for the equipment. Operation, contrary to some claims, is by no means free: electricity is consumed and equipment maintenance is required. At current prices, compared not only with cheap natural gas, but even with rather expensive pellets and diesel fuel, installing a vacuum solar collector in the vast majority of the territory of the Russian Federation will never pay off at all; the payback period exceeds the service life of the equipment. Only in some southern regions of the country can solar heating systems for a private home not be unprofitable under certain conditions.

Scientific station on Olkhon Island (Russia). The use of vacuum collectors (on the right on the roof) for preparing hot water and solar panels (on the left) for generating electricity makes sense, because there are no central communications on this rocky Baikal island. However, for proper heating in the climate of Buryatia, solar systems are not enough; the house is heated by “normal” stoves, the fuel for which is imported from the “mainland”, because it is impossible to destroy the local forest for firewood

What's happened

A solar power plant is a modern, environmentally friendly way to obtain and subsequently use thermal energy from the sun. In many countries, installations have long been used in the private sector and on an industrial scale. The systems are suitable for water heating or heating. Benefits for the owner:

The owner of the installation receives solar energy for free, which he can then distribute throughout the house.
The process of obtaining and converting energy is environmentally friendly and does not harm the planet.
The sun's energy is inexhaustible, so the owner of the installation can always be sure of receiving it.
Compared to other alternative energy plants, the cost of the collector is low.

Like any installation, the solar collector also has its disadvantages - the result of the work depends on the weather.

In our country, the use of solar systems is not as widespread as in Europe and America, due to low efficiency associated with weather conditions. The leaders in the installation of solar collectors today are Japan and China.

What does a solar collector consist of and how does it work?

Each solar collector includes the following elements:

collector for energy collection;
circulation pumps;
pipeline where the coolant circulates;
installation control system;
coolant;
boiler.

The solar installation is compatible with water heaters and gas boilers. Additionally, a heat meter is installed, which helps calculate the energy generated and calculate the real savings of kilowatts.

1. Solar collector. 2. Buffer tank. 3. Hot water. 4. Cold water. 5. Controller. 6. Heat exchanger. 7. Pump. 8. Hot flow. 9. Cold flow.

System selection and installation

The first thing that is required when choosing a particular system is to carefully study its capabilities. It is imperative to calculate the area of the home, as well as the amount of heat required to heat it. The installation location is another significant point. Reviews suggest that it would be best to use the help of qualified specialists in this field. This is due to the fact that even with a slight miscalculation, the effectiveness of the finished solution during operation can be greatly reduced. If a solar battery for heating a house is installed correctly, it will last at least 25 years. Only 3 years are needed for its full payback. Many people do not consider this period too long, judging by the same user reviews

This allows you to become completely independent from utilities, and this is very important

The solar panel for heating the house should be installed so that the solar illumination in this place is maximum. If the selected building is not suitable for installing such a system, then you can use a neighboring building. The drive can easily be placed in the basement. There are also systems where several drives are used. In this case, their sizes will be a little more modest. Those who have decided to choose heating a private home with solar panels can confidently say that their decision was correct. Solar energy is an inexhaustible source of heat, and it is absolutely free. To do this, you only need to invest a certain amount in equipment and installation of the system, and then it will not only fully pay for itself, but will also eliminate the need to pay money to utility services.

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Classic shower design with a barrel and a solar collector with a plastic coil

All the methods of the considered homemade products are simple: in general, this is an insulated housing with tubes (metal, plastic), a barrel on the top of the cabin in direct sunlight and a circulation line. All other methods are modifications of the described design. Under ultraviolet light, plastic loses its strength and cracks, so a metal tank is also good. However, you can use any material, even a wooden barrel, as long as it does not dry out.

It is also not necessary to make a complex design for the water outlet, or to provide for the possibility of mixing it with cold liquid. You can get by with a simple flexible overlapping hose with a shower head. If the barrel is filled with a household pump, manually with buckets from a well, then there is also no need to build a pipeline to the supply tap (our example with it).

Assembly Features:

Frame for the cabin: metal profiles, strips (even suitable from a landfill), PVC pipes, wood, any material from which you can build a stable structure. You can do without a frame, if there is somewhere to secure the barrel, but the place should be open on all sides, they will do , for example, unshaded roofs of extensions and other structures. As walls, you can use fabric drapery, opaque polyethylene.
Barrel. The volume and material are chosen by the user at his own discretion, our case is 120 l, plastic.
Water supply, piping: garden hose, plastic pipes (25 mm) with fittings, quick-release connections.
Drainage: trench and pit.

Iron frames from old spring beds were used for the cabin. Welding was used. There are jumpers on the frame and a seat for a barrel on top.

Drainage is a hole at a distance from the shower with grooves that gradually deepen away from it. The depressions are filled with coarse crushed stone, gravel and construction waste.

Next, holes were made with a hand drill for the legs of the frame, which were installed in them and concreted (a bucket for each support).

The procedure for constructing a summer shower with illustrations

Preparation of elements: barrel, pipes, shower head, hose, float valve for water supply.

The supply will be carried out through a dedicated channel using a flexible hose (10 m ¾ inch). We also purchased 5 m of a tube thinner than ½ inch to separate the flows - to the shower tap and for filling.

First you need to make a flooring so as not to step on dirt while taking a shower. This element is treated with antiseptic impregnation and painted with yacht varnish.

We mark the barrel to correctly install the supply/fill line. On the east side, to the left of the entrance to the shower, there is a water inlet (for filling from the yard tap). There we will mark the place to drill a hole for a regular float valve from the toilet tank. We drill with a screwdriver and a step drill.

The valve (float) is inserted and secured with a nut. We install the faucet with the hole down, so the hose will not break. We use tow and Unipack sealing lubricant.

Next, we use quick-release connections to connect to the hose. You can also insert a thermometer into the barrel.

We install 2 fittings. First, we designate the filling level, cold water outlet (bottom), hot water inlet (top).

We cut 2 more fittings into the bottom - for the shower and for the drain, just in case. We attach a faucet to the first one. In our case, it has a tee with a valve for adding cold water. You can get by with a simpler design - one tap. We put a plug on the drain pipe. We attach a sinker to the supply hose.

The top of the barrel is covered with a lid, and several small holes are drilled there for “breathing.” The tank is filled with a yard tap through a flexible line. But you can also fill water in buckets, using a pump through the top without a separate line.

The barrel itself acts as a kind of solar collector, a thermos, heating up in the sun.

solar collector

A grid (coil) is assembled from ordinary plastic pipes (external diameter 20 mm) and fittings. Plugs are welded diagonally at the upper and lower ends. A manifold of 25–20–25 mm tees is welded on top and bottom.

The next stage is the body: a frame made of 50x50 mm timber with sides:

We make thermal insulation so that the captured solar heat is accumulated inside the box. We use extruded foil polystyrene foam 30 mm:

Marking for pipe holders and their installation:

We install the solar collector just below the barrel; a metal frame was built for the structure, but it can also be made simpler: from wood or simply fixed with support on a suitable surface.

Next are the important “little things”: glass, plexiglass or thick film for the box, transparent/translucent plastic, sealing with polyurethane foam. The latter measure is extremely desirable, since even a small hole can lead to critical heat loss. The lid is transparent so that the effect of the rays is enhanced: they get inside and once again heat the pipes by reflecting from the foil coating. The entire line is insulated with penofol.

This system provides heating up to +51° C. Natural circulation: water, heating up inside the collector, periodically splashes out of it into the barrel, is taken from the upper segment to the shower, and the cold layer is simultaneously forced out from below onto the coil.

Flaws

The reason for the relatively weak heating: the thermal conductivity of polypropylene (the coil is made from) is very low, comparable to expanded clay and wood, that is, it is better suited for insulation rather than heat transfer. If you use metal (especially blackened copper), including as the inner lining of the box, then the temperature can be raised to the boiling point in hot climates.

You can also replace polypropylene with corrugated stainless steel tubes, like those from a shower hose. Place duralumin plates inside as reflectors.

Advice: do not use a plastic valve with a float - it will crack, as it is not designed for warm water; use a brass design.

Possible knot variations

The barrel can be insulated with polyethylene and similar materials; if they are black, the efficiency will improve.

Faucet principle: If there is a cold water supply line, it can be used to both fill the tank and dilute the hot shower. That is, there must be power from a yard tap or another tank for cold water connected to a “hot” barrel.

Are solar panels beneficial for a private home?

In Western countries, the fashion for solar energy is dictated more by concern for the environment than by the search for economic benefits. Our realities are somewhat different.

At current prices for supplied electricity, a solar panel system assembled with your own hands for one private home and a family of 4 people will fully pay for itself in 4-5 years. At the same time, the service life of photocells is 20-25 years, but the batteries will have to be changed after 5-7 years, depending on the quality of the batteries.

So far, nowhere in the world (and Russia is no exception) there has been a reduction in prices for supplied electricity, so over the life of the photocells in the solar panel, the system will have time to pay for itself at least 4-5 times.

Device types

To convert solar energy into thermal energy, special technical devices called collectors are used. Depending on the design, they can be divided into two types:

Flat-plate collectors - this design is based on a flat box, closed on the outside with glass, in which tubes are placed through which the coolant circulates. Insulation is laid between the tubes, and an absorber is laid under the glass, a material that has the ability to accumulate thermal energy. The collector is connected to the external network through pipes mounted at the inlet and outlet of the pipes being laid.
Vacuum collectors - this group of devices is based on the use of vacuum tubes, which are mounted on a special frame and their upper part is placed in the coolant layer. The vacuum tube consists of two tubes, one of which is copper, placed in a larger glass one. A material with a high degree of absorption is placed in the interior of the glass tube. The air is evacuated from the glass tube, thereby creating a vacuum, which improves the characteristics of the device in terms of heat accumulation and transfer.

There is another type of solar collectors, these are flat air devices. In this design, air is used as a coolant, but due to the low efficiency of such models and inefficiency, such collectors are practically not used for heating houses.

Design of a heating system using collectors

First of all, we will take a closer look at the differences in the structure and functioning of batteries and collectors.
The panel consists of several photocells interconnected on a frame made of non-energy-conducting materials.

Photoelectric converters are quite complex structures, representing a kind of sandwich of plates with different characteristics and purposes.

In addition to solar modules and special fasteners, the system consists of the following elements:

batteries for energy storage;
a controller that will monitor the level of charge in the battery;
inverter - to convert direct current into alternating current.

There are two types of collectors: vacuum and flat.

Vacuum collectors consist of hollow glass tubes containing smaller diameter tubes containing an energy absorber. Smaller tubes are connected to the coolant. In the free space between them there is a vacuum that retains heat.

The principle of operation of the solar collector

Flat-plate collectors consist of a frame and reinforced glass with a photoabsorbing layer. The absorber layer is connected to the coolant tubes.

Both of these systems consist of a heat exchange circuit and a heat accumulator (liquid tank).

From the tank, water enters the heating system using a pump. To avoid heat loss, the tank must be well insulated.

Such installations should be located on the southern slope of the roof. The tilt angle should be 30–45 degrees. If the location of the house or the roof structure does not allow installing solar system panels on the roof, then you can install them on special reinforced frames or on racks fixed to the wall.

The amount of solar energy released at different times of the year varies greatly. The insolation coefficient for your place of residence can be found on the solar activity map. Knowing the insolation coefficient, you can calculate the number of modules you need.

For example, you consume energy 8 kW/h, insolation is on average 2 kW/h. Solar panel power – 250 W (0.25 kW). Let's do the calculations: 8 / 2 / 0.25 = 16 pieces - this is exactly the number of panels you will need.

Example of calculating the required power

When calculating the required power of a solar collector, calculations are often mistakenly made based on the incoming solar energy in the coldest months of the year.

The fact is that in the remaining months of the year the entire system will constantly overheat. In summer, the temperature of the coolant at the outlet of the solar collector can reach 200°C when heating steam or gas, 120°C for antifreeze, 150°C for water. If the coolant boils, it will partially evaporate. As a result, it will have to be replaced.

Manufacturers recommend proceeding from the following figures:

provision of hot water supply no more than 70%;
provision of the heating system no more than 30%.

The rest of the required heat must be generated by standard heating equipment. Nevertheless, with such indicators, an average of about 40% is saved per year on heating and hot water supply.

The power generated by one tube of a vacuum system depends on the geographic location. The rate of solar energy falling per 1 m2 of land per year is called insolation.

Knowing the length and diameter of the tube, you can calculate the aperture - the effective absorption area. It remains to apply the absorption and emission coefficients to calculate the power of one tube per year.

Calculation example:

The standard tube length is 1800 mm, the effective length is 1600 mm. Diameter 58 mm. Aperture is the shaded area created by the tube. Thus, the area of the shadow rectangle will be:

S = 1.6 * 0.058 = 0.0928m2

The efficiency of the middle tube is 80%, solar insolation for Moscow is about 1170 kWh/m2 per year. Thus, one tube will produce per year:

W = 0.0928 * 1170 * 0.8 = 86.86 kWh

It should be noted that this is a very rough estimate. The amount of energy generated depends on the orientation of the installation, angle, average annual temperature, etc.

You can familiarize yourself with all types of alternative energy sources and methods of their use in the presented article.

Active heating sunlight collected by vacuum collectors

Airborne solar collector

An airborne solar collector, equipped with a system of forced transmission and distribution of energy, is capable of producing much more heat compared to the passive option. The air circulation speed is automatically adjusted depending on the temperature in the house and the degree of heating of the collector. The air heated in the collectors can enter the ventilation system or room directly. If its temperature is high enough, it can also be used to heat the coolant liquid. Excess energy from the day is stored overnight in heat accumulators.

Solar air heating based on a solar collector. From the hollow panel (1) through the air channels (6), the fan drives air into the technical room, where automation, depending on the situation, distributes it to the air treatment unit (3) or a massive heat accumulator (2). At the same time, the hot water supply coil (5) can also heat up. During the day, when the rooms need heating, the system operates in mode B, warm air from the collector is directed to the rooms. When the required temperature in the house is reached, the air flow is redirected to the heat accumulator, mode A. At night, when the collector does not provide heat, the damper closes the channel leading to it, circulation is carried out between the heat accumulator and the rooms.

Vacuum solar collector

The most advanced solar heating device to date.

Schematic diagram of a vacuum solar collector. The liquid absorber circulating through the U-shaped tubes evaporates when heated and rises upward into the collector. The latter is connected to the circuit of the heating system and, in turn, coolant fluid circulates through it. The absorber releases energy to the coolant, cools, condenses, and falls down. The cycle repeats

Solar heating of a country house based on vacuum collectors is much more effective than other solar systems, however, in addition to the traditional uneven heat generation for solar systems, it has three more significant drawbacks: in severe frost, heat transfer drops sharply, the installations are fragile and expensive.

Vacuum solar collectors should be installed in such a way that they are protected from vandals. This is especially true for our country; getting a pebble into a glass tube is a nice thing

Vacuum panels are not connected directly to the heating system. At a minimum, buffer tanks are needed that will smooth out uneven heat generation.

The “correct” diagram for connecting a vacuum solar collector to a heating system. Heat is not transferred directly, but through a heat exchanger; excess heat during the day is stored at night in a heat accumulator (buffer tank)

Please note that the diagram shows a “normal” heating boiler; the solar system only complements it

Electric solar panels can only be used indirectly for heating. It is unwise to spend electricity directly on heating rooms; it can be used more rationally. For example, direct the operation of fans and automation of active solar systems.

The principle of heating and its effectiveness

The absorbers of air collectors are made of black color to increase the heating intensity under the influence of solar radiation. The air temperature in the collector reaches 70-80°C. There is more than enough heat to fully heat small rooms.

The operating principle of the air heater is as follows:

air is pumped from the street into the collector body by force;
Absorbers are installed inside the block, reflecting heat, raising the temperature inside the box to 70-80°C;
the air is heated;
heated air masses are forced into heated rooms.

In factory models, air circulation is provided using fans connected to solar panels. Once the ultraviolet radiation becomes intense enough to generate some electricity, the turbines turn on. The collectors begin to work for heating. In winter, the intensity of solar radiation decreases.

The house will not be able to fully function on solar air heating. Air heaters are used as an additional source of heat. With correct calculations, one installation (data taken from the technical characteristics of Solar Fox airborne solar collectors) will provide the following savings during the heating season:

gas up to 315 m³;
firewood up to 3.9 m³.

The solar air heating system compensates for about 30% of the building's heat requirement. Full payback is achieved within 2-3 years. If we consider that the principle of operation is associated with the use of the installation for air conditioning, and about 4000 kW is generated during the year, the feasibility of use becomes even more obvious.

In the EU countries, the “solar wall” design solution has become widespread. The design is as follows:

in the building, one of the walls is made of accumulating material;
a glass partition is installed in front of the panel;
During the day, heat is accumulated and then released into the room at night.

To enhance convection, the solar collector is not made into the entire wall. There are sliding curtains at the top and bottom.

Features of solar heating installation

Solar heating is most effective in areas characterized by a large number of sunny days (especially during the winter).

Do-it-yourself solar (solar heating) home heating should be done taking into account the specific features of the installation:

Scheme of solar panels operation. Click to enlarge.

One of the most optimal options is combined heating of the house with gas (or electric) and solar energy.

This option, characterized by the integration of solar system elements into the existing heat supply scheme, can significantly increase heating efficiency and increase economic indicators.

When carrying out work in areas characterized by low levels of insolation (the flow of direct sunlight onto a horizontal surface), special attention must be paid to the optimal choice of collector area and the correct installation. When determining the level of insolation, it should be remembered that its intensity is higher in the middle of the day

In this regard, the collector planes should be oriented in a southerly direction. There may be some deviations in the southwest or southeast directions

When determining the level of insolation, it should be remembered that its intensity is higher in the middle of the day. In this regard, the collector planes should be oriented in a southerly direction. Some deviations in the southwest or southeast directions are possible.

When installing collectors, it is necessary to ensure that shadows from neighboring buildings or trees do not fall on them. Installing collectors at an angle equal to the geographic latitude of a given area can significantly increase their efficiency.

This is due to the fact that the maximum level of solar energy absorption occurs on collector surfaces located at right angles to the direction of insolation.

That is why it is necessary to increase the angle of inclination, which will increase the efficiency of the collector in winter, slightly increasing heat loss in summer. However, in summer, an increase in heat losses is quite acceptable due to an excess of thermal energy.

Advantages

The main advantage is that the Sun is a constant and inexhaustible source , stable and completely predictable. Unlike wind turbines, which can sit idle for weeks, solar energy is supplied at predetermined time intervals. The only drawback is the possibility of cloudy or cold weather, when the efficiency of the batteries and collectors decreases. However, modern designs make it possible to obtain a minimum amount even in the most difficult conditions, therefore, with correct calculation, no surprises threaten the heating system.

In addition, we must not forget that solar energy is obtained completely free of charge . If, when heating a house with gas or electric boilers, you need to purchase the equipment itself and then constantly pay for energy or fuel, then solar energy is not paid for, which significantly changes the level of profitability of the equipment and the entire system as a whole.

However, we should not forget that solar heating of a private house, the price and labor costs for installation of which often become the main problem, is beneficial only in regions with suitable climatic and weather conditions .

An additional advantage is the high maintainability of the system and the ability to increase its productivity . There are no restrictions in this matter - how many panels or collectors are installed, so much energy will be received. If the installed kit turns out to be incapable of effectively heating the house, it can always be strengthened by adding the required amount of equipment . This is convenient if you need to rebuild or expand the house, make an extension, etc. There is no need to buy a new system completely.

Heating a house with collector-type solar panels

At their core, collectors are really similar to solar panels, since they capture direct sunlight. An exception for the latter are thin-film plates that produce current from scattered light. As for collectors, flat models need hot solar radiation to heat water. The only option that actively supplies hot water to the pipes of the heating system all winter, even in dense clouds, is vacuum collectors

. It is the vacuum that saves precious heat.

If you decide to take the vacuum option, in this case you also have a choice - a direct or indirect water heating model. The former are considered seasonal, since the storage tank is located directly in the collector body, and tubes with a double shell, inside of which there is a vacuum environment, are directly connected to the tank. In winter, such models cannot be used, the water in them freezes.

Another thing is heating a house with solar panels of an all-season collector type. They will work even at -50 degrees and cloudy cover, since the storage tank is installed in the house. This system operates thanks to a coolant fluid moving through pipes between the spirals located inside the tank and the collector. The same liquid is poured into the cores of the vacuum tubes. The water is only in the storage tank; from it it flows through pipes into the batteries.

Varieties

Solar energy used for heating can be converted by two types of equipment:

batteries – produce electric current, which is then supplied to electrical equipment;
collectors - the coolant (liquid) is heated in them, which gives off its heat.

The solar collector for heating can be connected to an existing heat supply system. You can also use this device to heat water.

Solar Heating Efficiency

Solar panels are most often used as a source of renewable and free energy. Therefore, for home heating purposes, they will be effective for electric heating systems, as well as for heating water. The solar panel kit includes:

ordinary converter;
AC/DC converter;
battery level sensor;
power take-off system;
panels and battery.

Heating for the home can be done using electric heaters. In this case, you can choose beautiful wall-mounted radiators with sensors and temperature control. to achieve the greatest savings. It is also convenient to use a system such as underfloor heating. In this case, the heating will be uniform and distributed in the room by the movement of air flows. The system will not be inferior in efficiency to a radiator or convector. And when using batteries with high power (the power can be increased by adding panels), you can use the energy to heat water. A set of solar panels for a summer house or country house in this case will not only be economical, but also useful, especially in areas where there are interruptions in the water supply or it is turned off for the summer.

In order to heat water and supply electricity to the house with maximum benefit, a solar battery is installed on the roof of the house. In this case, heating the panels will be as efficient as possible. Two batteries lead from the plates; one at a time, cold water flows to the battery, heats up and enters the external heat exchanger. Next to the boiler and distributed to the shower or sink. If the solar battery is quite large, you can try connecting radiators with coolant in the form of water. This will require a large boiler or tank, an electric pump and a heating element.

If the source of hot water will also be powered by solar energy, then it is necessary to calculate the power for it as well. On average 1 square meter of panel area per person. Approximately the same formula is used to calculate the cost of a heated floor, one square meter of panel per 10 square meters of floor.

If there are not many sunny days in the year, cloudy days and long winters prevail, it is better to use solar energy as an additional source of electricity. Also, for effective work, you should remove possible obstacles (shadow from trees) or exclude the proximity of high-rise buildings. To install the equipment and mount the panels, you can use the video instructions.

Efficient use of solar energy

The most obvious advantage of using solar energy is its universal availability. In fact, even in the gloomiest and cloudiest weather, solar energy can be collected and used.

The second advantage is zero emissions. In fact, it is the most environmentally friendly and natural form of energy. Solar panels and collectors do not produce noise. In most cases, they are installed on the roofs of buildings, without occupying the usable area of a suburban area.

The efficiency of solar heating in our latitudes is quite low, which is explained by the insufficient number of sunny days for regular operation of the system (+)

The disadvantages associated with using solar energy are the variability of illumination. At night there is nothing to collect, the situation is aggravated by the fact that the peak of the heating season occurs during the shortest daylight hours of the year. It is necessary to monitor the optical cleanliness of the panels; slight contamination sharply reduces the efficiency.

In addition, it cannot be said that operating a solar energy system is completely free; there are constant costs for equipment depreciation, operation of the circulation pump and control electronics.

A significant disadvantage of heating based on the use of solar collectors is the lack of ability to accumulate thermal energy. Only the expansion tank (+) is included in the circuit

Open solar collectors

An open solar collector is a system of tubes, unprotected from external influences, through which coolant heated directly by the sun circulates.

Water, gas, air, and antifreeze are used as coolants. The tubes are either fixed to the supporting panel in the form of a coil, or connected in parallel rows to the outlet pipe.

Open solar collectors are not able to cope with the heating of a private home. Due to the lack of insulation, the coolant cools quickly. They are used in the summer mainly to heat water in showers or swimming pools.

Open collectors usually do not have any insulation. The design is very simple, therefore it has a low cost and is often made independently.

Due to the lack of insulation, they practically do not store the energy received from the sun and are characterized by low efficiency. They are used mainly in the summer to heat water in swimming pools or summer showers.

Installed in sunny and warm regions, with small differences in temperature of the ambient air and heated water. They work well only in sunny, windless weather.

The simplest solar collector with a heat sink made from a coil of polymer pipes will provide the supply of heated water to the dacha for irrigation and domestic needs

Tubular collector varieties

Tubular solar collectors are assembled from individual tubes through which water, gas or steam flows. This is one of the types of open solar systems. However, the coolant is already much better protected from external negativity. Especially in vacuum installations, designed on the principle of thermoses.

Each tube is connected to the system separately, parallel to each other. If one tube fails, it is easy to replace it with a new one. The entire structure can be assembled directly on the roof of the building, which greatly simplifies installation.

The tubular collector has a modular structure. The main element is a vacuum tube; the number of tubes varies from 18 to 30, which allows you to accurately select the power of the system

A significant advantage of tubular solar collectors is the cylindrical shape of the main elements, thanks to which solar radiation is captured all day long without the use of expensive systems for tracking the movement of the luminary.

A special multilayer coating creates a kind of optical trap for sunlight. The diagram partially shows the outer wall of the vacuum flask reflecting rays onto the walls of the inner flask (+)

Based on the design of the tubes, feather and coaxial solar collectors are distinguished.

The coaxial tube is a Diaur vessel or a familiar thermos. Made from two flasks between which air is evacuated. A highly selective coating is applied to the inner surface of the inner bulb, effectively absorbing solar energy.

With a cylindrical tube, the sun's rays always fall perpendicular to the surface

Thermal energy from the internal selective layer is transferred to a heat pipe or internal heat exchanger made of aluminum plates. At this stage, unwanted heat loss occurs.

The feather tube is a glass cylinder with a feather absorber inserted inside.

The system gets its name from the feather absorber, which tightly wraps around a thermal channel made of heat-conducting metal.

For good thermal insulation, the air has been evacuated from the tube. Heat transfer from the absorber occurs without loss, so the efficiency of feather tubes is higher.

According to the method of heat transfer, there are two systems: direct-flow and with a heat pipe. Thermal tube is a sealed container with an easily evaporating liquid.

Since the easily evaporating liquid naturally flows to the bottom of the heat tube, the minimum inclination angle is 20° C

Inside the heat tube there is an easily evaporating liquid that receives heat from the inner wall of the flask or from the feather absorber. Under the influence of temperature, the liquid boils and rises in the form of steam. After the heat is transferred to the heating or hot water supply coolant, the steam condenses into liquid and flows down.

Water is often used as an easily evaporating liquid at low pressure. A once-through system uses a U-shaped tube through which water or heating fluid circulates.

One half of the U-shaped tube is intended for cold coolant, the second removes the heated one. When heated, the coolant expands and enters the storage tank, providing natural circulation. As with heat tube systems, the minimum angle of inclination must be at least 20⁰.

With a direct-flow connection, the pressure in the system cannot be high, since there is a technical vacuum inside the flask

Direct-flow systems are more efficient because they immediately heat the coolant. If solar collector systems are planned to be used all year round, then special antifreeze is pumped into them.

The use of tubular solar collectors has a number of advantages and disadvantages. The design of a tubular solar collector consists of identical elements that are relatively easy to replace.

Advantages:

low heat loss;
ability to work at temperatures down to -30⁰С;
efficient performance throughout daylight hours;
good performance in areas with temperate and cold climates;
low windage, justified by the ability of tubular systems to pass air masses through themselves;
possibility of producing high temperature coolant.

Structurally, the tubular structure has a limited aperture surface.

It has the following disadvantages:

not capable of self-cleaning from snow, ice, frost;
high price.

Despite the initial high cost, tubular collectors pay for themselves faster. They have a long service life.

Tubular collectors are open-type solar systems and are therefore not suitable for year-round use in heating systems (+)

Flat closed systems

A flat-plate collector consists of an aluminum frame, a special absorbent layer - an absorber, a transparent coating, a pipeline and insulation.

Blackened sheet copper is used as an absorber, which has ideal thermal conductivity for creating solar systems. When solar energy is absorbed by an absorber, the solar energy it receives is transferred to a coolant circulating through a tube system adjacent to the absorber.

On the outside, the closed panel is protected by a transparent coating. It is made of shockproof tempered glass with a transmission band of 0.4-1.8 microns. This range accounts for the maximum solar radiation. Shockproof glass provides good protection against hail. On the back side the entire panel is reliably insulated.

Flat-plate solar collectors are characterized by maximum performance and simple design. Their efficiency is increased due to the use of an absorber. They are able to capture diffuse and direct solar radiation

The list of advantages of closed flat panels includes:

simplicity of design;
good performance in regions with warm climates;
the ability to install at any angle with devices for changing the angle of inclination;
the ability to self-clean from snow and frost;
low price.

Flat-plate solar collectors are especially advantageous if their use is planned at the design stage. The service life of quality products is 50 years.

The disadvantages include:

high heat loss;
heavy weight;
high windage when the panels are positioned at an angle to the horizontal;
performance limitations when temperature changes exceed 40°C.

The scope of application of closed collectors is much wider than that of open-type solar systems. In summer they are able to fully satisfy the need for hot water. On cool days, when utilities do not include them in the heating period, they can work instead of gas and electric heaters.

For those wishing to make a solar collector with their own hands for a heating device in their dacha, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with practice-tested diagrams and step-by-step assembly instructions.

Advantages of a solar heating system

There are several advantages of solar panels for home heating:

All year round your home is provided with the necessary heat. You can also adjust the temperature in the house at your discretion.
Total independence from housing and communal services. Now you don't have to pay huge heating bills.
Solar energy is a reserve that can be used for various household needs.
These batteries have a very good service life. They rarely fail, so you won't have to worry about having to repair or replace some components.

There are some nuances that you should pay attention to before choosing this system. After all, such a system may not be suitable for everyone.

In many ways, the quality of such a heating system depends on the geography of residence. If you live in a region where the sun does not shine every day, then such systems will be ineffective. Another disadvantage of this system is that solar panels are expensive. However, we should not forget that such a system will completely pay for itself over time.

Duration of sunshine in Russia

In order to supply the house with the necessary amount of heat, you will need from 15 to 20 square meters. meters of solar panel area. One square meter produces an average of up to 120W.

In order to receive about 500 kW of heat per month, it is necessary that there are about 20 sunny days per month.

A prerequisite is to install solar panels on the south side of the roof, since it receives the most heat. In order for solar heating to be as efficient as possible, the roof angle should be about 45 degrees. It is advisable that there are no tall trees near the house or other objects that can create shadows. The rafter system of the house must have the necessary strength and reliability. Since solar panels are not entirely lightweight, care must be taken to ensure that they do not damage the building or provoke destructive processes. The likelihood of collapse increases in winter, since at this time snow will accumulate on the roof, in addition to heavy batteries.

Solar panels are usually placed on the roof of a house

Despite the fact that solar panels are quite expensive, they are increasingly gaining popularity. They are used even where the climate is not too hot. This system can also be used as additional heating at home. Such systems are most effective in the summer months, when the sun shines almost every day. However, do not forget that the house must be heated mainly in the winter months.

Method for increasing productivity

Usually, after experimenting with a small number of solar modules, private home owners go further and improve the system in various ways.

The easiest way is to increase the number of modules involved, accordingly, attract additional space to accommodate them and purchase more powerful related equipment

What to do if there is a shortage of free space? Here are some recommendations for increasing the efficiency of a solar station (with photocells or collectors):

Changing the orientation of modules. Moving elements relative to the position of the sun. Simply put, installing the bulk of the panels on the south side. During long daylight hours, it is also optimal to use surfaces facing east and west.

Tilt angle adjustment. The manufacturer usually indicates which angle is most preferable (for example, 45º), but sometimes during installation it is necessary to make adjustments taking into account geographic latitude.

Correct choice of installation location. The roof is suitable because it is most often the highest plane and is not obscured by other objects (for example, garden trees). But there are even more suitable areas - rotating sun tracking devices.

When the elements are positioned perpendicular to the rays of the sun, the system works more efficiently, but on a stable surface (for example, a roof) this is only possible for a short period of time. To increase this, practical tracking devices have been invented.

Tracking mechanisms are dynamic platforms that rotate with their planes following the sun. Thanks to them, generator productivity increases by about 35-40% in summer, and by 10-12% in winter.

The big disadvantage of tracking devices is their high cost. In some cases, it does not pay off, so there is no point in investing in useless mechanisms.

It is estimated that 8 panels is the minimum number at which the costs will be justified over time. You can use 3-4 modules, but under one condition: if they are directly connected to the water pump, bypassing the batteries.

Just the other day, Tesla Motors announced the creation of a new type of roof - with integrated solar panels. Elon Musk said that the modified roof will be cheaper than a conventional roof with collectors or modules installed on it.

The simplest options for solar collectors for a summer shower

The elementary nature of the most unassuming options for solar collectors does not mean they are ineffective. Despite the sometimes flimsy, unattractive design, often assembled from rubbish, they perform their functions.

Recommendations:

It is advisable to place the absorber in a sealed case, at least wrap it in polyethylene;
the front cover should be transparent, and if it is part of the absorber, then you can use a dark or matte material recommended for other parts;
the back wall must be treated specially - black material or foil is placed on it to reflect light and retain heat inside;
the best material for the coil, body, and parts is metal. In the sun, it will not just heat up, but glow.

However, even if you do not adhere to some of the above tips, the collector will perform its functions. Let's look at some striking examples.

Simple rubber hose, polypropylene pipes in a sealed housing:

The last photo above is an excellent solution - the black limited space creates the effect of an oven, the coil is thick, its walls are thin, it heats up quickly.

From PET bottles, carboys

An elementary method is solar collectors made from plastic bottles. Of course, it is highly recommended to paint them black; even a regular can of spray paint will do. In one embodiment, the bottles are used as a casing for the coil pipes.

System diagram with PET bottles:

Here plastic bottles with a black seal act as a casing for the coil: