Types of  Solar Hot Water Systems

In Australia, for the most part, there are two main different types of solar hot water systems that are commercially available and have Federal and State Rebates Attached. (These vary depending upon which state you are in).

The first is what is called a Flat -Plate Solar Collect type system which are the most common system that you would typically see around your neighbourhood. The physical make up consists of the following:

• An insulated air-tight housing with a translucent cover.
• A dark, absorbing plate (usually metallic) which houses the water pipes.
• Insulation & Lagging to reduce the amount of heat loss from the rear and sides of the absorber plate.

Unfortunately, these systems (especially going back 10-20years) used to loose quite a bit of heat in winter. However, the technology has greatly improved today and any heat loss if any is usually minor if any.
Another possible disadvantage of this type of Solar Hot Water System is that they are most efficient in the middle of the day when the sun is directly overhead.

Flat Plate Solar Collector

Evacuated Tube Hot Water

The second type of Solar Hot Water System available and lessor know is the Evacuated Tube Solar Hot Water System (see above right)

This kind of system has a much different physical make-up which includes:

• A series of See Through Glass Tubes which allows the sun’s rays to pass through with minimum reflection.
• Each of these tubes contains an inner tube which is coated with heat attractant material which absorbs the sun’s rays and heats the water.
• A vacuum occurs between the outer tube and the inner water pipe, which acts as insulation and reduces heat loss.

What areas are best suited to each?

Evacuated Tube Solar hot water systems are generally more efficient that flate-plate solar hot water systems, especially in cooler climates like Victoria & Tasmania.
However, in the more tropical climates like Cairns & Darwin these types of systems are often overkill and the added expense would not warrant installation.

At hotwaterquotes.org we have companies that offer both these types of Solar Hot Water Systems.  Why not get an obligation free hot water quote by clicking the “get three quotes” button at the top of the page.