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Passive Solar Heater Cans

Can you build a passive solar water heater with just copper pipe and some black and clear corrugated panels?

I'm planning to buy some black tarp, put it on my roof, lay out a meander of copper pipe on it, and cover the whole thing with clear, corrugated polycarbonate panels. Will that work?
The climate where I live is a bit like that of Oregon, or the southern UK (I'm in New Zealand). So, usually no ice, and a narrow temperature band tending toward 15 Celsius.

In the 70's, magazines such as Popular Mechanics and Mechanix Illustrated often featured articles on building thermal solar collectors just like that though they often used plate glass which would trap and concentrate the infrared heat (greenhouse effect). Polycarbonate panels wouldn't last very long as plastics break down in UV light. Usually the process is to build an insulated box in which copper pipe meanders over a copper plate to which it's welded to and the box is covered with a glass pane. It should get plenty hot enough for heating and for hot water, you could use small gas fired tankless heaters as backups near to the faucets, ie.: one per bathroom and one for the kitchen and laundry room, that will also give you instant heat instead of waiting for the hot water to come from the storage tank. It won't be hot enough to run a lithium bromide chiller for air conditioning or refrigeration, that would require an evacuated tube system but it sounds like your climate doesn't really need air conditioning.

Considering Passive Solar Water Heater?

The popularity enjoyed by passive solar water heaters is much bigger than you might imagine. The problem is that a lot of people do not actually know what they are. You might be faced with noticing one big tank inside a house and not being aware of its main purpose of being a good passive heating system. So how can we define a passive solar heating system?

Passive solar technologies stand out as ways in which you use sunlight to gain energy without the extra addition of mechanical systems. This is in contrast with the use of active solar technologies. This is one type of technology that is really useful in converting sun energy into heat in order to be used for heating purposes. One really interesting fact is that you will not need extra energy sources and if they are needed only minimal use is required. One good example that we can mention is solariums built on southern sides of buildings. Alternatively passive cooling can also be utilized and all is based on the same principles but with opposed goals. It is used to reduce cooling requirements during summer.

Do not make the mistake of thinking that a passive solar water heater system is actually an active system. One highly simple fact stands around conventional energy use. If it is used to power pumps or fans then we do have one active system. Different passive system will also utilize conventional energy but only a small amount of it.

Passive water heater technologies based on solar power will include both direct and indirect solar gains for space heating purposes. Heating systems are usually based on the use of thermal mass, thermosiphon or even phase-change materials. In wider spreads technology that is used in passive solar systems also include solar furnaces or solar forges. These systems are to need extra energy sources so that receiver alignment andmirror concentration can be achieved. We have noticed them to be ineffective in a wide spread use. The proper way for you to implement any passive solar system is by using low grade energy needs.

About the Author

Dennis C. Onputtha is an article marketing in association with PLRPro the world's #1 content provider. Providing useful information and products review on residential solar power systems. How to make your own solar panels, protect the environment and reduce your power bill.

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