Collector Type   

Flat Plate Collectors:

• Design: Consist of horizontal and vertical pipes (headers and risers) with absorber fins.
• Operation: Heat-transfer fluid circulates through the pipes, collecting heat and transferring it to the storage tank.
• Variations: Serpentine collectors use a single pipe but are unsuitable for drain-back systems due to drainage issues.

        Main Components       

• Flat Plate Collectors: Enclosed in a glass-faced box, they absorb solar energy to heat water.
• Insulated Tank: Stores hot water, maintaining temperature.
• Plumbing: Connects the system components.
• Industrial systems range from 500 liters per day (LPD) to 20,000 LPD.

 Operations Principle 

• Thermosyphon Principle: Relies on natural convection to circulate water.
• Force Flow Principle: Uses pumps to circulate water.

Evacuated Tube Collectors (ETC):

• Design: Consist of concentric glass tubes with a vacuum in between, minimizing heat loss.
• Efficiency: The vacuum acts as an insulator, making ETCs highly efficient.
• Durability: Vacuum life ranges from 5 to 15 years. unsuitable for drain-back systems due to drainage issues.