Why do I need a Solar Geyser?

Solartech - Imported

Closed Circuit

• The system is fitted with a separate inner tank and heat exchanger
• The inner tank contains the warm water, which is heated by the heat exchanger

Indirect System

• The drinking water does not flow through the collector
• Uses a heat exchange fluid [glycol] to heat up the water, rather than the water itself
• The Glycol is a food grade exchange fluid that has anti-freeze properties which protects the system from harsh weather conditions, like freezing temperatures
• The exchange fluid also has anti-corrosive properties, therefore extending the product life cycle
• Unlike a direct system, the collector does not calcify

A Thermosyphon System

• This system relies on the physics of nature to circulate the heat exchange fluid
• The liquid is heated in the collectors, expands becomes lighter. The cold heavier liquid falls to the bottom of the collector and pushes the hotter, lighter liquid back into the heat exchanger
• This natural action without any moving parts or auxiliary electrical input into the system
• The system has an automatic overheating control which will release some hot water from the system if it reaches 95o C

Tank Features

• Long life favoured by vitreous enamel lined steel tank
• Sacrificial magnesium anode [20mm]
• High density polyethurane 60mm tank insulation maximize heat retention
• Highest efficiency through full jacket heat exchanger
• Inner wall thickness 2.5mm
• The element and thermostate are locally available
• Conditional 7 year warranty
• Durable colour bond, with eleven different possible colours

Collectors Features

• 4mm low iron tempered glass protects the system from potential hail damage
• Prism glass effect, maximum sunlight absorber
• Safety glass with anti-reflective coating
• Efficiency absorbs up to 90% of UV radiation it is exposed to
• Housed in insulated aluminium sealed casing to protect against physical damage
• Freeze resistant [with correct glycol mixture]
• Durable waterways tubes, copper absorbers
• 10 year conditional warranty

Product Features

• Engineered in Germany, highly efficient
• Superior design, technology, materials and workmanship
• Patented cold water inlet stratifier minimizes flow turbulence within the tank
• Achieving 6 C hotter water flow after 15 minutes of receiving cold water in the tank
• Specifically designed to withstand extreme weather conditions
• Suitable for any water conditions, namely hard or soft
• When there is not enough sunlight available, there is an electrical backup element
• Quality; ISO 9001 controlled production
• SABS Approved
• Environment friendly: Solartech geysers are made from nontoxic materials

Solartech - Local

Ideal for projects, developers and local residential installations. Easy to install with our professional approved installers. Available as a Direct or Indirect Thermosyphon solar geyser system. Very competitive price that makes this system great valve for money.

Flat Plate Collector

• Frame – Powder coated, profiled aluminium
• Hail resistant
• Anti Freeze [Indirect system]
• Low Maintenace
• Conditional 10-year warranty
• SABS approved
• Dry Weight 43,7 kg

Tank

• Indirect – Double Jacket specifically designed for solar applications
• Highly Efficient
• Magnesium Anode
• Back up 2kW Element
• 99% South African Content
• Manufacture in South Africa
• Conditional 5-year warranty
• SABS approved

Mounting System

• Evenly Distributes the Weight of the solar geyser
• Easy Installation
• Materials durable – aluminium and galvanised
• Rust Resistant
• Ideal for pitch and flat roofs
• Roof Type – Tile, IRB and clip lock
• Warranty 1 year

GeyserWise

GeyserWise Controller

This intelligent controller is designed to manage your Hot Water needs to your best advantage from both an energy and economical point of view. It uses professional techniques and the control system is managed by a computer microprocessor. It is a user-friendly system.

Characteristics

• Display controller indicating the water temperature, time, day, heating mode.
• Malfunction warning Error Code Alert [code E1 to E9].
• Physically able to see if the element is using electrical power.
• Auto or manual element heating setting.
• Override timer setting if power supply required outside setting times.
• Easy temperature setting to your requirements (30°C - 65°C)
• Daily programmable timer with four-time settings.
• Battery back up in event of power failure.
• Multiple protection functions: Dry heat, heat failure, earth leakage, probe failure overheat, water leak detection.

Technical Parameters

• Operating voltage 230VAC / 50HZ.
• Main Relay contact rating 30AMP (Max 4KW).
• Secondary relays pump and solenoid 5Amp.
• Operating voltage range 160V – 250V AC.
• Earth leakage protection at 25MA action time H 0,1 second.
• Temperature display range 0 - 99°C (“-5” when below -5°C “OE” when above 99°C).
• Temperature setting ranges 30 - 65°C.
• Maximum temperature 85°C.
• Heat failure – when increasing at a rate of less than 4°C per hour.
• Thermal Cutout 90° C
• Dry Heat detection – Empty Cylinder.
• Temperature tolerance ± 2%
• Temperature differential setting 1°C.
• Switching differential 6°C.
• 2nd temperature probe for solar
• Solar differential 7°C
• Temperature probe failure detection for both collector and tank
• Temperature probe range for geyser is -30 to + 130° C.
• Temperature probe range for collector is -30 to + 260° C
• Isolate both L + N when in off state.
• Collector antifreeze protection

Flat Plate

So How Do Flate Plate Solar Collectors Work?

The Solar Flat Plate Collectors are probably the most fundamental and most studied technology for solar-powered hot water systems. The overall idea behind this technology is pretty simple. The Sun heats a dark flat surface, which collects as much energy as possible, and then the energy is transferred to water, air, or other fluid for further use.

A Solar Flat Plate Collectors typically consists of a large flat heat absorbing plate, which is painted or chemically etched black to absorb as much solar radiation as possible for the maximum efficiency. This blackened heat absorbing surface has several parallel copper pipes running lengthways across the plate which contains the heat transfer fluid namely glycol[indirect system] or water[direct system].

These copper pipes are soldered or brazed directly to the absorber plate to ensure maximum surface contact and heat transfer. Sunlight heats the absorbing surface which increases in temperature. As the flat plate gets hotter this heat is conducted through the copper pipes and absorbed by the liquid flowing inside the copper pipes.

The pipes and absorber plate are enclosed in a lightweight insulated box made from aluminium with a sheet of glazed glass on the front to protect the enclosed absorber plate and create an insulating air space. This glazing material does not absorb the suns thermal energy to any significant extent and therefore most of the incoming radiation is received by the blackened absorber.

The air gap between the plate and glazing material traps this heat preventing it from escaping back into the atmosphere increasing the flat plate solar collectors efficiency. As the absorber plate warms up, it transfers its heat to the fluid flowing within the collector but it also loses heat to its surroundings.

There are several different ways to heat water for use in the home or commercially. Solar thermal water heating systems that use liquid flat plate collectors to capture the suns energy can be classed as either direct or indirect system by the way in which they transfer the heat around the system. In order to heat your water successfully and use it during both the day and the night, you will need to have both a solar collector to capture the heat and transfer it to the water and also a solar hot water tank to store this hot water for use as needed.

The solar thermal collector is usually connected to a water storage tank either on the roof directly above the panel or on the roof. With flat plate solar hot water collectors, the hot water can flow back and forth, in and out of the tank, which continuously heats the water.

Below are the datasheet specifications from local supplied flat plate collectors that we sell.

Protection

Summer is on its way where the African Sun will reach thirty degrees plus daily. The wind will blow in Cape Town and the surfers will enjoy the waves at our beaches. Solar geysers function at the optimum when used daily. With the days being so hot & sticky, how one uses hot water changes. Colder showers are a great way to freshen up after a hard day’s work.

The end result is that the mixture of hot & cold water starts to lean more to cold water usage. The sun’s heat is transferring its energy to the solar water collector where the water temperature is reaching extremely high temperatures.

With a decline in hot water usage and increase in energy from the sun, the water inside the tank starts every day at a higher temperature. Until eventually the temperature of the water in the tank becomes dangerously hot. There are safety valves that will be automatically activated to prevent the water from reaching boiling point. The extremely hot water will be dispersed and cold water flows into the tank, which automatically reduces the overall water temperature.

With this inevitably action there are water losses in the name of safety.

The valves life cycle is reduced from the extreme temperatures. How can this be avoided?

Cover the collector completely or partially from the sun’s rays, thus indirectly the sun will be turned off.

When I go on holiday what do I do with my solar geyser?

If you intend going away on holiday and leaving your solar geyser home alone, you will need some action to avoid overheating of water. Without the hot water being used the temperature will increase until the valves disperse of the high-temperature water.

However, what happens if valve malfunctions and fails to work? The excessive high temperatures will most likely damage the tank, thus shorting its life cycle.

The worst scenario could be a burst tank.

What is the alternative solution?

The solution is quite simple. The collector will need to be covered to block out the sun’s rays. Either completely or partially to prevent the sun from overheating the water in the tank.

Thus the sun’s energy will be turned down. 

Introducing the Solar Power Protector

We have the product that will be able to turn the sun’s power off.

Made from 550grams PVC which is the same strength as used on truck tarpaulins

Solar Power Protector covers, dimensions are 2050mm*1310mm with eyelets in each corner and reinforced hems. Thus easy to attach to a collector with elastic cord.

It is weatherproof and highly durable.