Best Solar Panels

The core of all heat and electricity producing water solar panels is a collector. For this reason water solar panels are correctly named “Thermal Solar Collectors” or “Solar Collectors”.

Heat producing water solar panels

A distinction is drawn here between 2 types of collectors: Flat Plate Collectors and Evacuated Tube Collectors.

Flat plate collectors in water solar panels

The flat plate consists of an coated absorber to absorb solar radiation and convert them into heat. The absorber is installed in a damped case to reduce heat loss. Its faceplate, mostly glass, is transparent to let pass the solar radiation. Inside the water solar panel absorber
are tubes that are filled with transfer liquid. This liquid passes a heat exchanger to heat up water for domestic use such as heating, shower and pool heating.

Advantages of flat plate water solar panels:
- many different options of mounting
- complaisant integration into rooftops
- reasonably priced

Evacuated tubes in water solar panels

Those types are also known as vacuum tube collectors. They consist of glass tubes which are strung together. These tubes are vacuum insulated, highly reflective and weather proof metalized. Inside the evacuated tubes run tube loops, again filled with transfer liquid to pass a heat exchanger and boil domestic water for pool heating, house heating and shower.

Advantages of evacuated tube water solar panels
- higher degree of efficiency, especially at times of lower insolation
- some makings allow the replacement of single modules
- visually interesting

Electricity producing water solar panels

Electricity generating “water solar panels” are not (yet) used in private households. They are used almost exclusively in solar power generating plants. These solar collectors produce hot steam to drive electric generators. Three major types of collectors are used:

1. Parabolic dishes. They concentrate the sunlight at a narrow focus and reach the highest temperatures.
2. Parabolic troughs. These are trough shaped parabolic mirrors. They focus on an air insulated Dewar tube, filled with transfer liquid.
3. Power tower. A power tower consists of self aligning mirrors. The concentrate insolation on a receiver at the top of the tower. Power towers can be considered as a colossal parabolic dish.