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Chapter 16: Problem 3

How do active and passive solar hot-water heaters work?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The active solar hot-water heaters use electric pumps and controllers to circulate water or other heat transfer fluid through solar collectors, while the passive ones heat the water directly within the collector or use natural heat convection to circulate water between the collector and storage tank.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Active Solar Hot-Water Heaters

Active solar water heaters rely on electrically powered pumps and controllers to circulate water or other fluid from the collectors where the fluid gets heated by the sun's energy. The hot fluid is then used to heat the water. A typical active solar hot-water heater is made up of solar collectors, a heat transfer fluid (water or a freeze-resistant liquid), a heat exchanger to transfer the heat to your tap water, and a pump to circulate the fluid.
02

Understanding Passive Solar Hot-Water Heaters

Passive solar water heaters, on the other hand, don't require pumps or controllers. The two common types of passive systems are the integral collector-storage (ICS) systems and the thermosiphon systems. In an ICS system, water is heated directly within the solar collectors before moving into a storage tank. Thermosiphon systems have a separate collector and tank, and they work on natural convection. Warmed water rises into the tank while cold water descends into the collector, no pump is needed for this process.
03

Contrasting Active and Passive Solar Hot-Water Heaters

The key difference between active and passive solar hot-water heaters is that active systems use electric pumps and controllers to heat water, while passive systems rely on natural heat-driven convection or direct water heating within the collectors. Active systems are ideal for colder climates, while passive systems are more suitable for warmer, sunnier regions.

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