Solar Hot Water
Batch Collector

Last Thanksgiving my sister was coming out to Arizona to visit my new home for the first time. I was looking forward to showing off our homemade hot water heating system and treating Caroline to a refreshing solar shower. Well, about a day before she was due to arrive we had a sudden and early overnight freeze. We woke to discover that the collector had been disabled by a burst pipe. In practical terms, that meant no hot water.

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Our week long Thanksgiving vacation would now be devoted to building a newer and more efficient hot water system that would better withstand cold temperatures. Caroline worked with us all week, but sad to say, we did not finish before she departed and she has not yet enjoyed the pleasures of a solar shower.

This diagram shows what we set out to build. Click here to see the illustration full size.

Getting Started

Our first step was to get a used hot water heater. So Caroline and I emptied out the back of the station wagon and headed over to Porfie's Thrift. Porfie had about 10 tanks to choose from. They were all outside and kind of beat up looking, but he swore that they all worked and that none of them had any leaks. We spent about $20 on a smaller tank, loaded it up and took it home to see if it would work.

Preparing the Tank

Once home, we stripped off the outer enclosure and insulation and revealed the metal tank. Next, all of the old pipe fittings had to be removed. This task was actually pretty tricky because many of the pipe threads were stuck after years of rusting while exposed the elements. Another challenge we encountered using an old tank was a build up of sediment in the tank's bottom. The sediment dried and solidified in the bottom of the tank and was difficult to remove, though it was done successfully by rolling and rocking the tank back and forth. Then we filled the tank to rinse it, and happily it was leak-free!

Once stripped and cleaned, the tank was thoroughly sanded and then spray painted black. We put several coats of spray paint on to give it maximum coverage. The spray paint was necessary to protect the metal tank from exposure to moisture and to increase the tank's absorption of heat. The appropriate fittings were then secured and extra holes plugged. There are 2 hose fittings, a pressure release valve, and a drain spigot.

Constructing and Insulating the Collector Box

After working on the tank, we built the collector box. Our measurements were calculated to accommodate the size of the glass, the size of our tank, and our desire for optimum solar exposure. Based on the sun's path we determined that the best angle for the glass to sit was 20°. Once the frame was built, we affixed plywood paneling to the interior of the structure. Then all the interior seems were caulked and we primed and painted the wood.

Next, recycled Styrofoam pieces were cut and wedged into the frame structure to serve as insulation. We also added an additional layer of cardboard beyond the Styrofoam to increase insulation even more. We save Styrofoam, packing peanuts, and bubble wrap to recycle as insulation - we love materials that you don't have to buy! We've also learned that insulation is key to maintaining heat.

After insulating, we painted the outer paneling and affixed it to the outside of the frame. The collector box is essentially a plywood box within a larger plywood box with a layer of Styrofoam as insulation in between.

Tank Supports and Glazing

Before installing the tank we cut 2x4s to match the tank's curve and firmly fastened them into the collector box. These supports were designed to hold the tank and to bear a considerable amount of weight. We used a recycled sliding glass door for the collector's glazing. Our glazing is single pane, however double paned glass is preferred for its superior insulating properties.

Installing the Tank

After the box was built and mostly painted we put the ready tank into place.

Then the water supply and return lines were attached from the house into the collector's storage tank. Cold water flows into the tank from the trailer's water system. Sun strikes the water storage tank and heats the water. The hot water floats to the top and the coldest water remains at the bottom of the tank. A hose leading from the top of the tank carries the hottest water into the house. Later an overflow hose was attached to the TPR valve to carry excess pressure out of the collector.

We lined the interior with reflectix insulation to direct maximum light towards the tank, and to further insulate the box. Because reflectix is reflective the sun is directed to strike the bottom and back of the tank, which would normally be in shadow. We also lined the top edge of the box with foam insulating tape before putting the glass in place.

With all the parts in place and Caroline long gone, we put the collector to the test. Our first full day of sunlight produced hot water and we were back in business. This very batch collector served us all winter and is still in operation. At night we took to covering the collector with a sleeping back to reduce heat loss, even so hot water was rare on winter mornings. With the majority of the pipes inside the collector, we had no more frozen or burst pipes. In the spring we encountered new and different challenges. With longer and more intense sun exposure our homemade hot water heater has become almost too efficient. Water is at scalding temperatures at the height of the day, and the CPVC hoses used for water intake and outlet have burst from heat and pressure! We have come to the conclusion that metal pipes will be necessary, as well as an anti-scald system.

All in all we are happy with the performance of this collector. I think it cost a little more than the first one, but it is much more efficient. I would recommend it as an excellent source of hot water, or as a supplement to conventional water heating systems.

That's not to say that hot water experiments don't have their challenges! Our homemade collector is under constant repair and revision.

Other Solar Hot Water Systems

Unsupplemented Flat Panel Collector

This design has two parts: the collector and the storage tank. The collector is positioned to receive maximum sunlight. Cool water is pumped from the base of the storage tank into the collector. The sun warms the water and it travels back into the storage tank and then into the house. This system is at a disadvantage on cloudy days because it has no back up heating method.

Supplementing a Conventional Hot Water Heater

In this scenario the roof-mounted collector is used to preheat the water that runs through the conventional hot water heater. The hot water heater will only need to run on cloudy days or during periods of heavy hot water use. This is an excellent way to reduce your use of fossil fuels without sacrificing the luxury of continuous hot water.

System with On-Demand Tankless Water Heater

In this arrangement an "on-demand" gas hot water heater acts as a supplemental water heating system. Water heated by the collector is stored in a tank before moving into the on-demand heater and then into the house. While more expensive than conventional hot water heaters, on-demand heaters are more efficient and rapidly heat only the water that is being used. "On demand" hot water systems are also known as tanless water heaters.

Hot Water System with Heat Exchanger

The collector in this design is a closed loop system. Liquid is heated in the collector and then travels through a coil inside a hot water tank. Heat transfers from the coil into the freshwater tank. The closed loop, heat exchange system is advantageous for use in cold climates, because an anti-freeze solution can be used in place of water in the collector.

Roof Mounted Tank and Collector

This design illustrates a commercially available hot water system in which the tank and the flat panel collector are integrated. No pump is required to run this system and installation is fairly simple. The On-demand hot water heater functions as a back up system.

Attic Tank and Roof Top Collector

Storing the hot water tank in the attic has its advantages. The attic provides the storage tank with excellent protection from the elements, allowing hot water to be stored for longer spans. Also, gravity carries water into faucets without the aid of a pump.


Source: ByExample.com

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