Solar Clean Green Energy
1 (800) 859-7494
License # 875772
Solar Pool Heating
Quality First Home Improvement Newsletter
Sept 2009 - Issue 101
Collector Plates
Just like solar water heating, solar pool heating is done using collector plates to heat the water. Collector plates for your pool are much different than the solar panels used on a home. Unlike solar panels for the home, pool collector plates do not have solar cells. They are made of unglazed plastic, such as polypropylene, with a UV protective coating, and have tubes inside. Thus, unglazed pool collector plates are simpler and much less expensive. Unglazed collectors are the most widely used collector in North America. Below is a photo of a flat plate collector.
Glazed collectors, are made of glazed glass, and have insulation inside. These collectors are used mostly in cold climates, and for heating indoor pools. They are much more expensive, and not often used for outdoor pool heating in warmer climates.
How the system works
In the majority of cases, the water that is heated by the collector panels is circulated by the existing pool filter pump. The pool's filtration system is set to run during the period of most intense sunshine. During this period, when the solar control senses that adequate heat is present in the solar collectors, it causes a motorized diverting valve to turn, forcing the flow of pool water through the solar collectors, where water is heated. The heated water then returns to the pool. When heat is no longer present, the water bypasses the solar collector.
Diagram of a common setup
Sizing
Their are many factors that affect the amount of collector plates needed to heat your pool. Factors to be considered include: the pool size, climate conditions, adequate space for the collectors and proper tilt. Also, the the desired temperature of the pool is a factor. There are formulas to figure this all out, and a good solar company will have them.
Basically, collector plates will equal 50 - 100 percent of the pools surface area. But depending on your needs, and physical condition, the number could exceed 100 percent.
More News Articles
Author - Roland G. Ludlow