Solar water heating systems utilize solar collectors to harness the sun's energy and heat water.
How Solar Water Heating Works
Here's a breakdown of how solar panels are used to heat water:
- Solar Collectors: Solar water heating systems employ panels or tubes called solar collectors. These collectors are designed to capture solar energy, specifically the infrared portion of visible light. According to research, these panels are filled with a mixture of water and glycol.
- Heat Conversion: The solar collectors convert the captured solar energy into heat.
- Fluid Circulation: The water and glycol mixture within the collectors is pumped through a closed circuit.
- Heat Transfer: This heated fluid passes through the hot water cylinder, where the heat is transferred to the water stored within. This indirectly heats the water available for domestic use.
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Solar Collection | Solar collectors (panels or tubes) capture solar energy, especially the infrared part of visible light. |
| 2. Heat Conversion | The captured solar energy is transformed into heat within the collectors. |
| 3. Fluid Circulation | A water and glycol mixture is pumped in a circuit through the collectors. |
| 4. Heat Transfer | The heated fluid transfers its heat to the water in the hot water cylinder, thus heating the water. |
Therefore, by using solar collectors to gather solar energy and a fluid circuit to move the heat to a hot water cylinder, solar panels effectively heat water for various applications.
