Photovoltaic systems rely on semi-conductors (e.g., silicium) to use solar energy to generate a voltage pulse which a generator transforms into electricity.
Solar systems that use solar heat rely on the sun's radiation to heat the water in solar collectors. Here solar systems that heat service water are distinguished from those that use the heated water for heating purposes. An individual tank is needed for each area of use. The heated water is collected in a storage tank. The heating water is stored in a backup tank (e.g., Pro-Heat solar stratified tank with spherical exchanger). The service water is stored in a fresh water tank (TiSUN FS fresh water tank) or a hot water tank. However, there are combined tanks, e.g., the Pro-Clean® solar stratified tank with spherical exchanger, that always deliver the water to the stratification at the correct temperature.
Some solar heat manufacturers such as TiSUN have produced and sold solar collectors for decades already and due to continuous innovation, they can supply products that function flawlessly. To compare product quality there are certificates that apply throughout Europe, such as the Solar Keymark, as well as national commendations that test and confirm the efficiency and quality of solar systems.
A three-person household would use a solar tank with a volume of 300 litres and a collector surface area of 6 m². In 25 years, this solar system will have provided 60,000 kWh of energy for hot water production. This will save one ton of CO2 emissions each year - in a single household.
The subsidies offered are different in every country. But it is true that after a one-time investment supported by the country, state and the local community, the solar heat delivered by a solar system for at least twenty years costs almost nothing. An Austrian study from 2008 by Gerhard Faninger for the Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology shows that a solar system for water heating located in a sunny location is amortised within 10 years, and with state subsidisation, after just 8 years.
Over 200,000 household are already using solar energy for hot water and space heating, saving about 90 million euros in energy costs per year. More than one out of three new solar systems is used for backup heating and about two-thirds of the systems are installed in new buildings. 1,800 solar systems have been incorporated into multi-family residences and another 2,000 in tourism-related operations. Up to now, 15 percent of all single-family homes have been equipped with a solar system; however, in multi-storey residences only two out of one hundred units are supplied with solar energy. About 10 percent of tourism-related operations use solar energy.
On cloudy days in the summer, the solar system still uses up to 80% of the solar radiation, and in the winter it uses 25% of the radiation of a solar day. In these cases the solar system uses the diffuse radiation reflected by the clouds.
When the solar system is designed, the calculations include a solar backup tank that collects the hot water that is not needed in a solar tank until it is needed again at night or on cloudy days. In addition, any heating system (e.g., oil, pellets or natural gas) can be used to supply additional heat.
TiSUN solar collectors are regularly subject to the thorough quality testing for Solar Keymark certification (increasingly accepted by the market). This testing requires that they withstand a certain pressure and demonstrate a specified glass strength. TiSUN has selected a glass strength of 4 mm for its solar collectors. With this strength, the collectors are sturdy, but also thin enough to allow a great deal of radiation through. In the tests, TiSUN collectors are subjected to a pressure of at least 1000 Pa or approx. 10 to 25 cm of wet, new snow on a collector.
TiSUN tests its collectors internally as well: even if six men are standing at the centre of a collector, the glass still does not break. Clearly the collectors can withstand more weight than that associated with a normal snow load. Only a snow covering at least a meter thick may cause the glass to break. For this reason it is important to register the solar system with your household insurance (normally the premiums are not increased).
All high quality solar collectors are equipped with certified heavy duty solar glass and can withstand hail. To protect the system from lightning strikes, it is recommended that a lighting rod be affixed to the house.
The solar system can be used for a combination of hot water production and backup heating. Particularly in new buildings with high insulation values, the trend is toward combining both uses. In the summer, the solar system can provide the entire amount of hot water required, and in spring and fall the surplus of hot water can be used to support the heating system.
For cost-effective operation, certain pre-conditions must be observed, such as a low energy building with low temperature heating and regional factors. The design (size) of the collector surface area and the tank volume as well as consumption behaviour are crucial.
TiSUN has accumulated a great deal of experience with installing solar collectors in countries from Ireland and Finland to Italy and Greece (in Europe alone) and everywhere there is enough solar radiation available for efficient system operation.
As already stated above: a solar system can be put to good used anywhere; just the dimensions (size) of the solar system must be changed to achieve enough solar yield. For example, in Turkey you need smaller solar collectors and hot water tanks than in Finland.
This differs from country to country and should be clarified ahead of time with the appropriate local administration or authorities. Most often, based on experience the installer can tell you if disclosure is required or if installation is subject to authorization
Every roof surface angled such that it does not face more than 45° away from south is suitable as long as it is not shadowed all year long. However, there are also facade collectors or installations for balconies or freestanding installations for meadows.
No, the mounting and installation systems are safe and the materials used for assembly are selected to coordinate with the roof type. There are also solar collectors that are mounted instead of roof cladding or panels, replacing the roof covering. If the installer is not sure about a certain type of roof, he or she will ask for help from the roofer or the installation team from the collector supplier.
Depending on the size of the system, the installation can be done in one day. For large systems, 300 m² of large area collectors can be installed using crane installation methods in one day. TiSUN is already offering solar systems which contain solar collectors, solar tanks and solar control units that coordinate with each other. This makes assembly much quicker and easier and most often these sets are also less expensive.
In addition, TiSUN has its own assembly team which can take over assembly, particularly for large projects, in selected countries (e.g., Austria or Germany) and save time when installing large area collectors.
Yes, in order to lay the pipes from the solar collector to the storage tank and back, freestanding flues, ventilation shafts or, if necessary, even installations on the external wall can be added.
Yes, you can integrate the hot water tank and combine it with a backup tank. New solar stratified tanks, such as the Pro-Clean® solar stratified tank with spherical exchanger are most often a combination of both.
No, with the solar control unit everything runs automatically. The installer starts up the system for you and explains how to call up the data for energy balancing. Nothing else is necessary; the control unit runs the system automatically. In 2009, TiSUN developed solar control units where data for pressure, flow, etc. are saved on an SD memory card and a USB stick is used to transfer it to a computer. A program automatically opens where parameters can be changed or where TiSUN technical customer service can call up the parameters online, optimize them and correct sources of error. When the SD memory card is reinserted, it automatically transfers the parameters to modify the control unit, flow, etc.
A solar system is almost maintenance-free. However, just like with your car, you should have regular service performed. Every three years the solar system should be tested to make sure it is frost-proof. The pH value of the solar fluid is checked at the same time in order to guarantee the longest possible service life for the system. The best method is to have this done together with the periodic check-up for the heating system.
Most often, solar systems installed for private use are used for hot water production. However, it is now cost-effective for low energy buildings with high insulation values to use solar systems for backup heating.
In the hotel business, the swimming pool heater is often supported with a solar system. In spa wellness areas, for example, underfloor heating can be supplied with solar heat.
Sports arenas can use solar systems quite efficiently, particularly for supplying hot water. Soccer stadiums heat the grass with solar systems.
Because campgrounds also have excellent consumption behaviour, solar yields can be especially high there.
Industrial operations use solar heating systems mainly for hot water production and backup heating, but more and more they are integrating solar heat into the heat required for processing and into cleaning processes.
