What Do Mean by Solar Hot Water Collector?

The solar hot water collector or the flat plate collector, as it is commonly called, basically functions as a heat exchanger. The solar radiation or the energy from the sun is converted into the required heat energy with the help of these collector plates.

The solar hot water collector uses the now famous greenhouse effect to convert the sun’s energy into heat. One of the most advantageous factors about solar water heater is that the energy that is going waste literally is trapped efficiently to produce an alternative energy source. Since the source of energy is also renewable and abundantly available, it forms a sustainable and cost-effective use of energy all around.

The solar hot water collector consists of heat-absorbing flat plates, which are made up of copper or aluminum metal. The use of these two metals – copper or aluminum is widely prevalent because of their characteristics as good conductors of heat. The plate collectors are further painted in chemical black colours to make it all the more effective as heat absorbers.

These plates are consistently connected with several copper pipes, wires or tubes and form as an efficient heat absorber. The heat from the plate is then transferred to the ‘heat transfer fluid', which is mostly water. The risers or the copper pipes are soldered for efficient heat transfer. So, when the plate gets heated up by sun's rays, the heat is transferred through the risers to the water flowing inside. This water then flows throughout to produce heating all across the surface to which the heater is connected.

A good solar water heater consists of pipes and plates completely enclosed by non-conductive metals or wood to ensure safe usage. The solar hot water collector, thus, helps in making use of a renewable and green source of energy to heat up homes and office premises.