Solar Thermal - How Solar Water Heaters Work
The operation of the solar collector is as follows:
1. Solar Absorption: Solar thermal energy is absorbed within the evacuated tubes and is converted into usable concentrated heat.
2. Solar Thermal Transfer: Copper heat pipes transfer the thermal energy from within the solar tube into the copper header.
3. Solar Thermal Storage: A thermal transfer solution (water or glycol mixture) is pumped through the copper header. As the the solution circulates through the copper header the temperature is raised by 5-10 oC / 9-18 oF.