Alternate Energy Technologies- Direct PV w/ 120 Gal. Tank & 64 SqFt Collectors: Energy Efficient Water Heaters: Eco20/20

Alternate Energy Technologies- Direct PV w/ 120 Gal. Tank & 64 SqFt Collectors

This appliance or device can circulate household water directly through the solar collectors. They are less applicable and usable in cold climates. The system does not have any heat exchanger or freeze resistant heat transfer fluid.

In a nutshell, it does not have any freeze protection system. The system can be operated in places of cold climate, but a FP 45 dribble valve has to be fitted in order to give at least some sort of freeze protection. It will help the water to drain out of the collector before they become frozen.

The backbones of these systems are the AC collectors having solid, copper absorber plates. The uniqueness of the appliance is that all the components used are of equal quality as the collectors. The welding process done by AET is so fine that the heat path is uninterrupted and clean. The joints created are wider by two times than that of the copper fin.

A nice solar selective coating is used on the absorbers. The coating has an emissivity of .10 and absorptive of 0.95. The premium absorber is placed in a solid aluminum frame and a sheet of durable, low iron, tempered glass is placed on it. There is a layer of insulation done with a layer of foil between the collector plate and the aluminum frame. Finally, the unit is gasketed by a high temperature silicon sealant.

A solar tank with 120 gallon capacity is mainly used for large household with 5 to 6 persons. Having a proper collector area is also very important for proper performance of the solar heaters. The common rule is that 20 square feet of area is needed for first two family members and for every additional member, you need 8 square feet. This is applicable only if you stay in a hot area. If you stay in the colder belts, additional 12 to 14 sq ft area is needed. If the climate is very hot, it is suggested that the ideal ratio should be 2 gallons of storage to one square foot of collector area. If you maintain this ratio, the system remains safe from overheating.

Though the item has been priced at $3547, you can generally get it at $3311. The deliver y will take one to two weeks after placing the order. The manufacturer of the product is Alternate Energy Technologies of the USA.