manifold for evac tubes

[cssolar]

direct plug tubes

Hi Russ

I personally have not had a problem with water in tube type swhs

Heat pipes in tubes are also very good, and are generally used in high pressure swhs.

tank assembly deno 008.jpg
What is your reason for not liking the water in tube type ?

Tony

[russ]

Heat pipes are used in most residential vacuum tube type collectors - the greatest percentage by far - nothing to do with high pressure really.

Why would I want water going into the tube when it does not need to? Additional problems for no gain.

Many good quality heat pipe type units are on the market.

[cssolar]

Hi Russ

Hamish and I were talking about the use of a stand alone compact pre heat solar water heater.

not collectors

yes I guess heat pipes collectors are good, but if you intend to pump pool water through them water in tube collectors would be better.

Tonytank assembly deno 012.jpg

[russ]

Pool water is not clean - pumping that through the tubes does not make sense at all. You could at least clean the header on a heat pipe unit.

Very expensive collectors for heating pool water as well - low temp recovery works fine.

Preheat, electric or gas backup in the tank - all the same - the end product is hot water.

[cssolar]

HI Russ

I think all types of solar water heaters are good and most work well,

The manufacturer I work with produces all types including flat plate and heat pipe.

I have been told by them pool water will damage copper heat pipes, unless you use a heat exchanger.

plastic collectors for pool are great and as you said low costing, but if the client wants all year use they must consider vacuum tube collectors.

Russ your solar system looks great and I am sure it works well too!

My system also works well, with the water in the tubes !!!

Are you saying my system dose not work and is a pile of junk ?

cheers Tony

[russ]

I am simply saying that given the choice of water tube type or heat pipe type I would always go for the heat pipe type.

Putting pool water through the tubes - no way that is good.

[cssolar]

help !

Ok Russ

Nice to have your opinion !!

Mine is there isn't a problem with water in tubes.

So I guess we must agree to disagree on this subject !!!


All the best Tony

cssolar

[russ]

Great Tony,

You are the first I have run into that likes the water tubes - most installers run away from them. Between this forum and a couple of others they are generally considered as not so good.

However, we all go the directions we think best - good luck.

[hamish]

hey russ I hear you where you are coming from but you must put it in context. In certain applications they are the best suited,for example the poor
who dont even have electricity which speaks for most of the people on this planet, this is a godsend to have free hot water regularly, a very basic
system comes in a kit. Anyone can put it together, easy to repair and maintain. The basic ones Ive seen here in africa dont even have a electrical
connection and element. They are also every cheap about 375 usd . Water tubes have there place in the solar industry its not for you and most
first worlders but see it for what it is.

[LucMan]

Beware pumping chlorinated pool water through aluminum or copper is never a good idea. Highly Chlorinated water requires plastic or stainless steel piping, if a salt & ozone based disinfection system is used the heatexchanger better be titanium and the piping PVC or in less than six months there will be many pin holes in the HX even stainless won't work. For pools why not just use black plastic pool type collectors, that's what they are designed for. They are simpler & more cost effective than a thermosyphon system.
Solahart is a US company that has been manufacturing thermosyphon systems for 25+ years, they use flat plate panels vs the U tube type.
The advantage of U tube collectors over evacuated tube is that the U tubes can be mounted vertically where the evacuated tubes can't go past 70 degrees. As with all tube type collectors they require a larger footprint on the roof than flat plates for the same amount of BTU capacity.

[russ]

hey russ I hear you where you are coming from but you must put it in context. In certain applications they are the best suited,for example the poor
who dont even have electricity which speaks for most of the people on this planet, this is a godsend to have free hot water regularly, a very basic
system comes in a kit. Anyone can put it together, easy to repair and maintain. The basic ones Ive seen here in africa dont even have a electrical
connection and element. They are also every cheap about 375 usd . Water tubes have there place in the solar industry its not for you and most
first worlders but see it for what it is.

Then a flat plate collector is the choice 100% - simple thermosiphon system. No way a vacuum tube collectpr can be cheaper.

[cssolar]

I think you will find solahart is an Australian company ( or at least it started there in 1901 in Perth and began producing solar heating equipment in 1953 )

I have seen many of their flat plate units fitted here in Spain, mainly the compact type ( collector and tank joined )

In fact compact type swhs of all types ( flat and tube ) are more popular than split systems here,


I guess it is because they are lower costing to buy and install, also it is now law to use some form of solar energy on new builds or major renovation projects and solar water heating is normally the cheapest option !

Yes plastic mat type collectors are mainly used for pools here, I have also seen tube collectors used.

Tony cssolar

[russ]

Here the thermo siphon systems probably out number anything else by 10 to one - cheaper.

I just didn't care for the looks of the tank on top of the house.

[cssolar]

swhs

I have heard they are popular too in Turkey, also Cyprus.

lower price, no pump, easy installation, work well , are all factors that help sell compact units

At first I thought like you that they look ugly, but now I have kind of got used to them, in fact I am a bit of a solar water heater spotter !

Sad !


Tony

[hamish]

hi tony spot this one, completely custom made with my own two hands, except the geyser and the et's, and it works very well.



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