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SOLAR THERMAL HOT WATER SYSTEMS

For people interested in saving money and achieving low and zero carbon homes or businesses with the help of solar panels.

At Solar Planet Earth we offer our clients the opportunity to harness the daily free energy of the sun to power their lifestyles, thereby saving them money and helping to protect the environment. A Solar Thermal Hot Water System could save between 30-70% of your fuel bills, and a quarter of a ton of CO2 per year (compared to a gas fired hot water system).

We aim to offer the best and most reliable systems to our clients, which is why we offer the Solartwin Solar Thermal Hot Water Systems, which are simple, technically elegant, double award winning new solar panel technology, which offers you a sustainable, efficient solar home with a difference. The solar design brief maximises reliability, simplicity, environmental benefits and solar hot water delivery - while minimising capital and running costs for your solar water heating system.

• This solar panel was invented at Napier University, Edinburgh.
• Solartwin won a DTI “Smart Award” for its innovative freeze-tolerant solar water heating technology in 1998.
• In 2003 the solar heating system won again - a Smart Achievement Award  for commercial success.
• In 2008 the solar panels were awarded Solar Keymark - Europe's highest recognition of solar panel quality.

Hidden in Solartwin's simple but efficient solar panel is a patented heat absorber. This contains the unique flexible solar hot water channels which are the key to its success.

• Double glazing in front of the solar panel's absorber surface lets the sun’s heat and light in. The incident solar energy makes it very hot.
• Daylight runs an “intelligent” and efficient variable speed solar electric (photovoltaic) pump.
• It pumps cold water, via a narrow pipe, from the bottom of your existing hot water cylinder into the solar hot water panel. Here, the water heats up.
• Thanks to the solar powered pump, your solar hot water, and the free energy it contains, then delivers itself, direct, to the top of the hot water cylinder. That’s it.

The main Solartwin solar water heating panel measures 2.465m x 1.265m x 80mm deep. (approx 8’ 5” x 4’ 5” x 3”). Fitted, the solar panel normally projects less than 100mm above the roof, so Solartwin solar panels are often treated as “permitted development” by UK planners. The solar panel's “footprint” with frame is 3.2 sq m. The solar panel's “aperture” to the sun is 2.8 sq m. Lightweight, weighing 31 kg (empty) or 33 kg (full) a Solartwin solar panel installation rarely requires UK building control. Below is a diagram which illustrates the size of the standard landscape solar panel.

We think that Solartwin solar panels make a great home improvement and add value to your home! – (See installation photos below) Inevitably, solar heating roof panels can be visible parts of the outside of a building, so we aim for classic good looks (rather than garish & conspicuous!). Solartwin’s slim matt black solar panel frame looks like a big, neat roof window. Optional additional “glazing bars” attached to the front of the solar panel can be of aesthetic value in conservation areas. Solartwin usually comes in black, but additional cost bespoke solar panel frame colours are available. Options include brown, cream, blue-grey and deep red.

 

 

 

The Specification of the Solar Panels Systems

A standard Solartwin solar panel installation supersedes traditional solar thermal technology in several ways. It gives direct solar water heating from a patented, freeze tolerant, double glazed flat plate with a variable low speed photovoltaic circulation pump, using no heat exchanger. (Earlier solar thermal generations used indirect antifreeze circuits, heat exchangers, mains powered control, high speed pumping plus single or double glazed collectors such as metal back-piped flat plates or partial-vacuum tubes / evacuated tube solar panels.)

Solar Panels Construction

The main metal is hydro-electrically made aluminium, with a lower environmental impact than aluminium made using fossil fuel. For durability, external screws / bolts are solid stainless steel. Double glazing is UV-stable polycarbonate. Double, rather than single glazing optimises winter performance. Insulation is zero-ODP pentane-blown rigid foam.

The Solar Pump Specification

The 11 volt (peak) photovoltaic panel powers a self-regulating, variable speed, long life brushless DC motor. This drives Solartwin’s positive displacement pump. Valves in it stop “reverse thermosyphon” at night, and a bypass valve protects against “frozen by day” conditions. The fact that the solar pump is low voltage makes DIY solar hot water installations safer and easier in comparison with solar panel installations which need to be connected to mains electricity in order to get them to work.

Flexible Solar Pipes.

Solartwin’s freeze-tolerant, corrosion-resistant pipes are made of silicone rubber. Its extreme temperature tolerance range is: -50C to +250C! This silicone is also used, for hygiene reasons, for milk pipes in dairies. Its material conforms to the requirements of UK-WRAS for hot water and European Extraction Testing Regs 90/129/EC (BGVV XXI) for food contact, and USA FDA 21 CFR 177.2600 for food contact. That's why it is an ideal solar panel making material.

Energy Saving... How big is Solartwin’s Solar Energy Output

Solartwin typically heats a normal 120 litre hot water cylinder to 50-60C on a sunny March or Sept. day (60C plus in summer). Independently tested, a Solartwin solar heating system delivered 1000 kWh (3.6 GJ) of clean green energy as solar hot water a year in the UK. It saves far more bought-in energy. As for energy efficiency, the solar panel peak output is 1.6 kW, similar to an immersion heater.

Reliability and Maintenance Issues of this Solar Water Heating System

• Solartwin is reliable, proven, robust, safe, low maintenance, form of solar water heating.
• Because Solartwin has a water filled solar panel, it does not need to have antifreeze, so it does not need an engineer to come to replace the antifreeze every 2-3 years. Regular replacement is a requirement of many solar antifreeze suppliers.
• Solartwin comes with a 5 year system performance warranty in UK / Ireland. You may need to use an appropriate hardness control such as an ion exchange water softener on your water supply, to validate this warranty.
• Comprising very few parts and made in UK under ISO 9002 quality management, Solartwin is an intrinsically reliable solar water heating system. It uses no antifreeze chemicals and frees you from safety concerns about
• No highly pressurised piping, mains voltages and large smashable glass panels or tubes.
• Robust yet flexible solar hot water pipes made from silicone rubber give bacteriological safety, as do high water temperatures.
• With Solartwin solar panels installed, you are not dependent on the mains electricity supply working. Electric power cuts do not make Solartwin solar hot water systems need re-pressurisation by an engineer since it is a low pressure, off grid technology.
• Going on holiday? The Solartwin solar panel is inherently self-regulating, so you don’t need to invite neighbours in for baths. You can even turn off the main stopcock if you want.
• Moving house? Simply un-install and re-install your solar panel: your warranty is portable!

Solartwin solar heating systems aim to offer the best quality, convenience and design under the sun...

 

Contact us on 0845 116 1935 to discuss your Solar Hot Water System.