The Main Components of a Solar Hot Water System

Solar Collector Panel - Mounted on your roof, the collector captures the heat from the sun and transfers it to the liquid circulating through the panel. Sometimes this liquid is water, but it can also be a special type of fluid that eventually transfers the heat to your home's storage tank through a heat exchanger. See below.

Storage Tank - The heater storage tank is your home's current boiler/hot water heater. The heated water captured by the solar collector panel is stored in the tank for later use.

Heat Exchanger - The heat exchanger transfers the heat energy captured by the solar collector panel to the potable water that is stored in the heater tank. In our system, the heat exchanger is external to the solar storage tank.

Expansion Tank - The expansion tank ensures that the system's pressure does not exceed the pressure limits set by the system designer.

Control system - The control system consists of a controller and the circulating pump. The controller compares the temperature difference between the heat exchanger exit point and the solar collector's exit point. When the collector panel's temperature is higher than the heat exchanger temperature, the controller turns on the pump and circulates the liquid through the system until the temperature is equalized, and then turns the pump off.

Flat Plate Solar Collectors
The principal component of a flat plat solar collector is the absorber plate, which consists of an assembly of a copper sheet and copper tubing.

The top surface of the absorber plate is coated with either a dark colored material or with a selective absorbent coating that is designed to extract as much as 15% more heat for the same active area. The solar radiation that strikes this surface is converted to thermal energy that's used to heat the fluid flowing through the tubes.

To ensure extended service life, Free Hot Water collector parts are housed inside an anodized Aluminum case that's capable of withstanding many years of exposure to the elements. The components inside and the back of this enclosure are insulated in order to minimize potential heat loss.

The upper surface of the collector is covered with tempered glass with low iron oxide content. The glass is designed to withstand high thermal stress (heat from the sun!) as well as impact from hailstones.

Free Hot Water's Flat Plate Solar Collectors are high performance thermal collectors certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) as OG-100, appropriate for large installations such as apartment buildings, hospitals, restaurants, retirement homes, and other businesses.

SRCC Collector Ratings
Any quality collector sold in the United States is examined and approved by what's commonly known as the SRCC, which stands for the "Solar Rating and Certification Corporation." States such as California will only issue rebates to collectors and complete systems that have been rated by the SRCC.

And who is the SRCC? The SRCC is an independent agency that administers a certification, rating, and labeling program for solar hot water collectors. They also have a similar program for complete residential solar water heating systems.

• Solar thermal collectors have what's known as an "OG-100″ certification. These can be used on any roof with a custom installation. Apartment buildings, hotels, laundry mats, car washes, and hospitals all require custom installations that include OG-100 panels.

• Complete solar water heating systems that include OG-100 solar collectors, storage tank, and other components have an "OG-300″ certification. Residential systems don't typically need custom engineering, which is why most residential systems are sold as complete SRCC rated kits.

All equipment that the SRCC certifies and rates is required to bear a certification label, which shows the performance rating for that product. In addition, each certified product is published by SRCC in a directory.

Each product's directory listing contains information on the product's material and specifications as well as the certified thermal performance rating. For example, our Free Hot Water 7000 and 5000 and 4000 series are all OG-100 certified.

See the label for our 7000 series specifications and how the collector performed on sunny days, cloudy days, and other specifications. You can then compare Free Hot Water solar collectors to other certificates from other brands and make apples to apples comparison of performance and the materials used to make the panels

Sizing Your Solar Water Heater Tank
The simple rule of thumb is that on average, you should consider 1.5 gal of hot water storage for every square foot of solar panel installed.

For example every FHW-FC7275 collector has 25.25 sq ft of active area (the "aperture area"). An average system with two FHW-FC7275 should have a 75 gal storage tank capacity.

Please note that this type of calculation is a rule of thumb and is only intended to give you a good "ball park" number. In reality, storage capacity should be calculated based on:

1. Heat production capacity of the solar array

2. Isolation

3. Water usage patterns

4. Desired water temperature

5. System type

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Versatility of Tubing Plugs

Plugs can come in many forms for the myriad of uses in any household or industry. There are also many commercial applications which make use of plugs. There are tubing plugs, plastic or PVC plugs, vinyl plugs or metal plugs.

Almost all applications today would need some type of plug for safety and longer lasting functioning of the equipment in an application. Although there are currently 10,000 standard plug products in stock, more are designed and manufactured to fit the changing lifestyle of today with the progressive technology that is sweeping the world.

Range of tubing

Plugs can be of tubing form to fit the application like a glove to the hand; banjo union tube plugs are shaped like the banjo to provide a nicer fit. There are plugs for propane cylinder valves, barrels, packaging tubes and other types of components in various environments.

These plugs can come in various sizes, shapes, colors and designs that are functional as well as aesthetically pleasing. Tubing plugs are meant to protect equipment from pollutants like dust, debris, dirt or moisture anytime; whether in a stable condition like the warehouse or transit condition as in shipping and delivery. Sometimes they are called dust plugs, closures, protective tube switchs or end plugs.

Tubing switchs can be center pulled focus, side pulled focus, tapered, threaded or packaged. It depends on the application and budget of the consumer.


Special tubal switch

The TPR flangeless tubal switchs are tapered in design made of black thermoplastic rubber which can withstand high temperatures up to 300°F (149°C). This tubing plug is designed to protect threaded or unthreaded holes effectively without the need to mask the surrounding areas. These are ergonomically friendly plugs that can be easily installed or removed. Such tubing plugs are favored where resistance is high.

Tubing finned plugs are another special type of industrial plug that allow a tight fitting in any application to avoid dirt or debris to get into the tubing. Copper or aluminum material is usually used in this type of L & M tubing finned switchs which are made of low density polyethylene. They have a small unobtrusive tab for pulling which is ideal for thin walled tubing.

Side pull switchs have an integral side pull tab which is ideal for easy removal at difficult or awkward positions. Its tapered design makes plugging in easy for various inner diameters. Hence, this is a useful plug to stock for multiple diameter components in any application.

You can read more about fin tube here.

The Purpose of Using a Fin Tube

Amongst many other uses, a fin tube is also responsible for the transfer of heat and due to that these are being used for many top notch industrial applications in the present times. These are beneficial for anyone who wishes to indulge in the process of successful heat transfer through heat exchangers or other equipment. Here are different types of these tubes which are different in their own way and have various benefits that differ. Due to their high usage, these are available easily within the market at reasonable prices these days and interested buyers should invest in these for good.

Numerous Sizes
The fin tube is available in different sizes, all of which are different from one another. Choosing the best size may be difficult but the process can be made rather easy by selecting the size that is best for any task which a person is wants to complete in the long run. While the sizes range from short, medium and long, others sizes such as extremely short or extremely large ones can also be found without having to struggle too much. Since a lot of sizes of these tubes are currently being created, people can just go on and purchase whichever they prefer.

Rate of Conduction
The fin tube is known to be a high conductor of heat and because of its high conductivity, it is definitely recommended for all those people that require a smooth transfer of heat to take place on a day to day basis. Many other devices and equipment may have heat conductivity rate but none of them matches up to these tubes, which really do make them something worth it. On the other hand, these are also safe from any kind of corrosion that may occur in them in the long run. The high end resistance from corrosion also makes these tubes a great investment in the near future.

Steel & Carbon 
The fin tube has various types and these are made of different materials. The stainless steel and carbon steel tubes are amongst one of the highest sold ones due to the fact that they have a high heat rate in general. Metals are great conductors of heat, which is precisely why these materials of used while making these tubes to be used for high end industrial applications in the near future. The stainless and carbon steel tubes are both equally beneficial but individuals should always purchase the one which tends to fulfill their needs the most.

Other Special Materials
On the other hand, the other types of materials of a fin tube include copper as well as aluminum. These may not be as popular as the steel ones, but they are quite good on their own and still used for a wide variety of reasons. Aluminum and copper are great conductors of heat as well and this truly makes the transfer of heat easy and smooth with the help of these tubes. The best part is the fact that all of these materials used in these tubes make them different from each other, which makes it easy for people to pick out the best ones without having to waste too much time.

The Verdict
Apart from the kinds of these tubes, there are several types which are being used these days by many people. These are inclusive of welded, integral, plate and spiral fin tubes. The uses and benefits of all of these types are different from each other and choosing the best one solely depends on the requirements and needs of an individual. They are not exactly costly and have long-term durability which definitely makes them a high end investment that all individuals must do so as it offers so many benefits.

Major Reasons for Using the Fin Tube

A fin tube is mainly responsible for the transferal of heat and due to that, these are being used for many top notch industrial applications since a long period of time. Here are different types of these tubes which are different in their own way and have various benefits that differ. Due to their high usage, these are available easily within the market at reasonable prices these days and interested buyers should invest in these for good. These are beneficial for anyone who wishes to indulge in the process of successful heat transfer through heat exchangers or other equipment.

Variety of Sizes 
The fin tube is available in different sizes, all of which are different from one another. Choosing the best size may be difficult but the process can be made rather easy by selecting the size that is best for any task which a person is wants to complete in the long run. While the sizes range from short, medium and long, others sizes such as extremely short or extremely large ones can also be found without having to struggle too much. Since a lot of sizes of these tubes are currently being created, people can just go on and purchase whichever they prefer.

High End Heat Transfer
The fin tube is known to be a high conductor of heat and because of its high conductivity, it is definitely recommended for all those people that require a smooth transfer of heat to take place on a day to day basis. Many other devices and equipment may have heat conductivity rate but none of them matches up to these tubes, which really do make them something worth it. On the other hand, these are also safe from any kind of corrosion that may occur in them in the long run. The high end resistance from corrosion also makes these tubes a great investment in the near future.

Materials of a Fin Tube 
The fin tube has various types and these are made of different materials. The stainless steel and carbon steel tubes are amongst one of the highest sold ones due to the fact that they have a high heat rate in general. Metals are great conductors of heat, which is precisely why these materials of used while making these tubes to be used for high end industrial applications in the near future. The stainless and carbon steel tubes are both equally beneficial but individuals should always purchase the one which tends to fulfill their needs the most.

Wide Range of Types
On the other hand, the other types of materials of a fin tube include copper as well as aluminum. These may not be as popular as the steel ones, but they are quite good on their own and still used for a wide variety of reasons. Aluminum and copper are great conductors of heat as well and this truly makes the transfer of heat easy and smooth with the help of these tubes. The best part is the fact that all of these materials used in these tubes make them different from each other, which makes it easy for people to pick out the best ones without having to waste too much time.

Click here to know more about fin tube.