Use solar energy for your ownneeds a person learned a long time ago. Today, people use this knowledge, including for the manufacture of solar collectors, through which the sun's energy is converted into heat. Such a device can not be called quite complicated, so you can make it yourself.
Vacuum collector
The vacuum collector isequipment that more than others reduces heat loss. This becomes possible due to the conditions that are maintained between the shell of the unit and the heater. The system has glass tubes that are air free. The black tube located inside heats up, thanks to which the design is capable of raising the water temperature to 300 degrees. Despite the high efficiency, the system does not have the possibility of self-cleaning from frost and snow.
Flat collector
Flat collector is different from the abovethe fact that heat loss is much higher. Such structures can be cleaned without the help of man from minor snow drifts. The device has the form of a transparent panel, inside which is a tube. The back wall has a thermal insulation layer. Water is able to heat up to 200 degrees. When a strong wind is applied to the mount, an impressive load can be carried out, which is also facilitated by non-streamlined shapes.
Air collector
Air collector is a flat installation, inas the heat carrier in which air is used. Such equipment is easy enough to make yourself, but it is worth considering that the unit has a low efficiency, and it can not be used to heat water. The tubular collector consists of four tubes filled with coolant. Circulation becomes possible due to the temperature difference between the lower zone of the reservoir and the collector. Such a system differs from a flat more impressive surface area, which is designed to absorb light. Mobile systems are installations that rotate to follow the movement of the sun. For work, you can choose a design that unfolds completely, or a device that is equipped with a mirror, as well as a heating element. The master should be aware of the principle of the collector, which consists in the fact that in the process of operation the solar radiation heats the tube with the coolant, and then the heat passes into the battery. You can independently make vacuum collectors for heating from improvised means, but first it is important to get acquainted with the technology of the work.
Making a simple solar collector
If will be made vacuum solarcollector with your own hands, you should prepare galvanized containers intended for water. Its volume can range from 100 to 200 liters. Capacity to be located on the roof. 100 liters of fluid can heat up to the mark of +60 degrees if the barrel is installed on the south side of the roof. The latter is to be covered with a shiny metallic sheet. The efficiency in this case will be much higher, since the area of heat exchange with air is minimal. It is recommended to use such a simple solar collector in areas where the ecology is maintained at the required level, it is best to operate such a system away from gassed areas. It is worth considering that in winter, such a unit is able to produce less heat.
Production of a collector from a radiator and metalplastic pipes
If a vacuum collector will be made,then you can use more sophisticated technology. Quite cheap materials can be used for work, but water can be heated in a very simple way. For the manipulation will need steel boxes, fittings, plastic pipes, glass, as well as radiators made of steel, in the amount of two pieces.
Technology of work
In order to make a vacuum collector,radiators should be placed in metal boxes on the roof surface. They are covered with glass, and their purpose is to reduce the period of heating water. When installing them, you need to remember that the top is below the storage tank. This will allow the water to rise naturally into the tank. When making a vacuum manifold, you must remember that circulation must be done in the usual way. Tubes of water wire should be laid with a slight slope down, turning the elements in the direction of the radiators. A plastic container with a volume of 160 liters must be installed in the attic of the house. It connects to radiators using metal-plastic pipes that are mated with fittings.
Вода с наиболее высокой температурой должна located at the top of the tank. To do this, a tube with warm water must be connected to a container above the central part. In the lower part of the radiator drainage taps are installed to drain the water in the winter.
Making a collector on the basis of a wooden frame
Если вы решили изготовить вакуумный солнечный collector do it yourself, you can use the technology below. To do this, prepare the insulation material, black metal mesh, deflector, fans in the amount of two pieces, a sheet of polycarbonate and a wooden frame, which has a bottom of plywood.
Nuances of works
In the bottom of the frame you need to make two holes inthe shape of a circle in order to be able to produce air. In the upper part, you need to make 2 holes, which will have a rectangular shape. They are necessary for removal from the design of hot air. Insulate the material at the bottom. The accumulation of heat occurs with the help of a metallic black mesh. Two fans should be installed in the round hole. The deflector support strips are installed in the structure, and then the deflector itself is fixed. It is required to form the air flow. If you decide to make such a vacuum tube collector, in the final stage the device is fixed to the wall of the building. As practice shows, the effectiveness of this equipment is 50%. It can be used for space heating.
Features of the collector installation
Vacuum solar collector for heatingAlthough it is possible to make one yourself, however, the work differs to some degree of complexity. It is important to correctly determine the installation site so that the efficiency can be raised as high as possible. Installation must be oriented to the south. The deviation is 25 degrees in both directions. It is important to eliminate all shading factors. The movement of the coolant should be directed upwards. Equipment must not reach an overheating point before and after installation. In the same row should not be more than 3 collectors. If you do a vacuum collector with your own hands, and then you plan to install it in a larger quantity than indicated above, then you need to build in a compensator and ensure linear thermal expansion.
Making a collector from the refrigerator coil
If you plan to make yourselfdescribed in the article design, it will be important to know what the device is a vacuum collector. You can understand this from the method presented below, which involves the use of a refrigerator coil. Among other things, you will need foil and slats, which will form the basis of the frame. Prepare a rubber mat, water tank or container. It is important to stock up on glass, as well as valves as a type of pipes and valves. Initially, you must flush the coil from freon. Further the rack frame gets off. Its exact dimensions depend on the size of the working unit. The mat must be adjusted to the available slats, among which it is important to position the coil freely. On the rubber mat, which will act as the bottom of the frame, you need to lay a layer of insulation. After the coil is strengthened with screw clamps. The master must make holes in the walls through which the vacuum tubes will pass. Solar collector for this technology will be highly effective. If there is a need to increase productivity, it is possible to seal the resulting joints with a sealant. Glass is fixed on top by means of adhesive tape. In order not to worry about strength, it is recommended to prepare aluminum plates, making special clamps of them.
Alternative solution for vacuum collector
It is important not only to choose the right vacuumpipes for the collector, but also to build the remaining elements that will form the basis of the system. For the box, which will be installed radiator, fit wooden 120-mm boards, which is their width; the thickness of the blanks should be 30 cm. For the bottom, textolite can be used, which is complemented by stiffeners. The bottom should be insulated with foam or mineral wool, which is covered with galvanized top. Next, prepare two pipes, the diameter of which should be 1 inch. You will need 15 thin-walled pipes with a diameter in the range of 0.5 inches. Drill holes in thicker elements to install thinner components perpendicularly. The design is welded into a single device. The heat exchanger is installed on a galvanized sheet, strengthened with steel clamps. In order to increase the formation of heat, you can paint the surface black, the outer elements are painted white to reduce heat loss. At the final stage, you should install glass to the walls of the box, making a high-quality sealing. The step between the pipes and the glass should be 12 millimeters. These parameters are extremely important to take into account, only then it will be possible to achieve the expected positive result, at which the efficiency of the installation will be at its best.
