This is a good practical use for solar energy. The temperature is moderate, which is good for efficiency, and the solar energy will be well utilized summer and winter. Architectural restrictions are few and economic performance is very good.
The sun will shine upon the solar collectors and warms the anti-freeze solution within. The hot anti-freeze is pumped to a heat exchanger that surrounds the domestic water tank and the heat is transferred to the domestic water inside.
Operation
The sun will shine upon the solar collectors and warms the anti-freeze solution within. The hot anti-freeze is pumped to a heat exchanger that surrounds the domestic water tank and the heat is transferred to the domestic water inside.
Performance expected A solar domestic hot water heater can produce 40-89% of a family's domestic hot water needs.
Economic Performance If oil costs $1.00 per gallon, a solar domestic hot water heater will save enough money to yield about 10% annual return on the investment (tax free). If the cost of oil goes up in the future either because of inflation or escalation, the return on the solar investment will go up as well.
These applications heat the earth outside by means of plastic heat exchanger tubing. An advantage is that the operating temperature will be very low and the solar system can be put to use on cloudy days when the sun is not strong enough to do a higher temperature application.
These applications heat the earth outside by means of plastic heat exchanger tubing. An advantage is that the operating temperature will be very low and the solar system can be put to use on cloudy days when the sun is not strong enough to do a higher temperature application.
The gardening application extends the season, allows the cultivation of plants and varieties that would otherwise be impossible to grow, helps protect against frost and makes everything grow better. Again, this use can make use of low-grade solar energy that is not useful for anything else.
What system do I need?
Here are some general design rules of thumb: Water Storage: 20 gallons/day per person Collector Surface Area: 1.5 (colder climate) to 2 gallons (warmer climate) of storage per square foot of collector surface area.
Example: 4 person household in a colder climate: 4 x 20 gal/person/day = 80 gal tank 80 gal tank / 1.5 gal/sq.ft. Gobi area (cold climate) = 53.3 sq. ft. Result: 2 Gobi 3366 collectors (26.8 x 2= 53.6, 53.6 sq.ft. X 1.5 gals= 80.4 gals.)
Advantages and benefits 
The sun will shine upon the solar collectors and warms the anti-freeze solution within. The hot anti-freeze is pumped to a heat exchanger that surrounds the domestic water tank and the heat is transferred to the domestic water inside.
Performance expected 
The gardening application extends the season, allows the cultivation of plants and varieties that would otherwise be impossible to grow, helps protect against frost and makes everything grow better. Again, this use can make use of low-grade solar energy that is not useful for anything else.
