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Solar energy is an effective way to heat water. Using the technology described here, we can use the sun’s energy to heat water even on cold or overcast days. This hot water can then be used for our daily activities, including washing dishes, taking showers or doing laundry. We can also use the hot water to heat our living spaces by passing it through tubes in our floors, or radiators where it will give off heat.
There are two main types of technology used to collect solar heat for water. The first is a flat plate collector. Flat plate collectors have a dark-colored absorption plate that gets hot in the sun. The plate is contained in a well-insulated box with a transparent cover to keep as much heat inside as possible. Water, or sometimes air, flows across the top of the heated plate, and the heat is transferred to where it can be used or stored.
The other main type of technology used to collect solar heat for water is called evacuated tubes. This technology is very efficient in high latitudes and cloudy climates.
These tubes are designed to capture the most possible energy from the sun and use it to heat water. The tubes are “evacuated,” which means that a vacuum is created inside the tube so that all the sun’s energy will go into heating the water, and none of it is used to heat molecules of air inside the tubes. Inside the tube, the sun’s heat is collected on a black plate with a thin tube running down the middle. This tube is filled with a solution that boils easily. As the sun’s heat is passed into the tube, the solution boils. The resulting steam rises to the top of the tube where its heat is passed on to an antifreeze solution that is running in a pipe across the top of all the tubes. This solution carries the heat to a heat exchanger, which transfers the heat to your home’s hot water system. |
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Projects for Students
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Web Site
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Description
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| Build a Solar Collector |
Scroll down half way for instructions on how to build your own solar collector. |
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More Information
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Web Site
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Description
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| Solar Education |
Tucson Electric Power Company's solar Education site, great kid-friendly intro with fun animations and simple graphic explanations. |
| Renewable Energy |
Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Page. Lots of good info and links. |
Solar Hot Water
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US Department of Energy site for info specific to solar hot water. |
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Resources for Teachers
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Web Site
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Description
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| Solar Education |
Educational Programs and Services for children, teachers and parents to teach important lessons about science, electrical safety and energy efficiency. |
| Chewonki Lessons |
Bring your class to Chewonki to learn about the alternative energy sources we use everyday. We can also come to your school to teach about Global Climate Change. |
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