How it works
- 1- Solar Collector: Sun warms a glycol/water mix that is carried into the home via pipes. Collectors are typically ‘flat plate’ or ‘evacuated-tube’ designs.
- 2- Circulating Pump: Moves the glycol/water mix through the collector when there is sufficient heat to absorb on the roof.
- 3- Solar Water Storage Tank: Cold potable water enters the tank, where it is warmed by the glycol/water mix via a heat exchanger. The cooled glycol/water mix is then sent back to the solar collector.
- 4- Water Heater: A traditional water heater takes in preheated water from the solar tank when household demand arises. If the solar-heated water isn’t hot enough, the heater activates to bump up the temperature before sending it to sinks, bathtubs, etc
- 5- Antiscald Valve: Mixes hot water with cold if needed to prevent scalding.
- 6- Control Panel: controls the system and monitors temperatures via sensors on collector and in solar tank to determine when to activate circulating pump
- 7- Expansion Tank: If the system overheats this tank acts as a reservoir for fluid displaced by the water/glycol mix turning to steam.