How It Works
This diagrams shows how an Apricus solar hot water system functions.
System Operation Overview
1. The solar hot water collector converts sunlight into usable heat, warming the liquid in the header pipe.
2. Once the temperature in the header pipe is measured to be hotter than the water located in the bottom of the storage tank (T2), the pump will turn on. The liquid is slowly circulated through the header pipe in the collector, heating by ~7oC during each pass.
3. Apricus systems are usually installed to use the water directly from the hot water cylinder. In some areas, a coil in the cylinder is used to protect against hard frosts or water quality issues. Throughout the day, the water in the storage tank is gradually heated up.
4. The temperature in the top of the solar tank (T3) is monitored and the solar system is shut down (or excess heat is dissipated) once a maximum temperature (~75oC) has been reached.
5. If the water is not already hot enough from solar input, then traditional heating systems boosts the solar pre-heated water up to the required temperature. Often, the booster is an electrical element inside the solar cylinder, or it can be a wetback, central heating system or gas water heater. Since the water has already been heated by solar energy, less energy is required to heat further.
Apricus System Video
For more information on how an Apricus solar hot water systems works, including information about evacuated solar collector design, solar hot water system operation as well as collector installation guidelines, please watch this video below.
