Want To Know About Solar Panels? Here’s All You Need To Know
Solar panels including the solar thermal systems are the future energy source and involve numerous benefits. Discover how they work, their benefits and more in this article.
SOLAR PANELS: HOW THEY WORK AND WHAT THEY ARE USED FOR
Nowadays it has become increasingly necessary to look for new sources of energy to heat the home because of the two main reasons:
• Reduce consumption and expenses.
• Reduce negative impact on the planet
Solar thermal panels are one of the most efficient solutions in terms of renewable energy, even on domestic rooftops: using solar energy and thus converting sunlight into heat makes it possible to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
How to choose between different types of solar panels?
When you are considering installing solar panels in your home, you cannot disregard the choice of the type to be installed.
Understanding how a solar thermal system works is transparent: the panel captures the heat radiated by the sun and then proceeds to collect it. The sun’s rays that are collected through this process then can heat a fluid that will successively flow through a coil to release heat to the water in a tank.
Once there is enough heat accumulated, it can be used for two jobs: to heat hot water or, in addition, can be used for domestic heating through what is known as a 'combined' system.
The difference lies mainly in how the sun's heat is converted into energy:
• NATURAL CIRCULATION SYSTEM
In this type of system, the principle of gravity plays a crucial role, which causes cold fluids to go down and hot fluids to go up.
The heat from the fluid is then gradually transferred to the water in the tank that is being cooled, becoming heavier and then flowing downward.
In this way, heat is distributed throughout the heating system naturally in a cyclic manner without the need for a pump. In order to have this happen, the tank must be installed higher than the panels.
• FORCED CIRCULATION SYSTEM
On the other hand, when the storage tank is in a lower position than the collector, the latter needs a water pump to specifically manage fluid circulation.
In addition, there is often a special antifreeze component within the circuit, as these systems tend to be placed outside the home, and thus have to deal with the consequences of harsh climates.
THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF THERMAL SOLAR PANELS
Flat-roof solar panels are perhaps the ones you’re most familiar with being that they’re the most popular on the market. They are divided into glazed and unglazed (or uncovered) flat-plate solar collectors. They are built with a thermally insulated capturing plat that prevents heat loss.
Both types of thermal solar panels can deliver a service life of approximately 20 years if properly maintained. Glazed panels are the most efficient ones because they disperse less thermal energy than unglazed models and are ideal for domestic needs or swimming pools.
A secondary kind of thermal solar panel is the vacuum tube collector, which performs more efficiently than the best plate panels on the market today. It is a tube system that collects heat and transfers it to the copper plate. The heat is kept inside the collector and the vacuum created between the tubes prevents the heat from escaping.
For solar thermal panels, too, it is appropriate to make the proper distinctions between the different types available, partly on the basis of the functionality they are able to offer.
We have just seen how absorber tube panels work; these are the ideal solution for those who are looking for solutions that have a long lifespan. Solar panels for flat roofs (glazed and unglazed), can in fact last up to 20-30 years with the right maintenance.
The operation of these panels is made optimal by the presence of a heat-insulating sheet and a protective glass, which make it possible to avoid the consequences of different kinds of weather, including heat loss, which is instead retained in this way. In addition, they are the ones with the best cost-efficiency ratio, despite the fact that they are mainly indicated when higher temperatures are not required.
Less durable but in some ways more efficient are panels composed of vacuum glass tubes, which can instead heat water to very high temperatures.
This system captures heat and transfers it to the copper plate, and it is because of the vacuum between the tubes that heat is prevented from escaping.
In order to achieve optimal thermal output from solar panels, it is therefore important to compare the different types on the market, considering the cost-value ratio but also the longevity of the systems.
What are the benefits of solar panels?
The benefits of installing thermal solar panels are that they don’t cost as much compared to other forms of power resources. In addition, fuel isn't required.
Moreover, solar panels have become an increasingly effective solution for homeowners and businesses seeing how the total costs of their installation has decreased.
Understanding how thermal solar panels work lead you to having the choice of transforming your home or business for the better.