Solar Water Heater
Solar Water heaters use energy from the sun’s rays to heat water for domestic and commercial purposes. This appliance consists of a collector that collects solar energy and an insulated water tank to store hot water. The collector on receiving solar energy transfers heat to the underlying pipes containing water which in turn goes to the insulated storage tank. This water is recirculated to increase the temperature of the water. There are two categories of solar water heaters, namely the closed-loop and open-loop.
The closed-loop system has installed heat exchangers for protection against hard water obtained from borewells. In the open-loop system, the water is open to the atmosphere at some point in the cycle. The open-loop systems are suitable for domestic as well as small industrial purposes.
The lifespan of a solar water heater designed as per BIS specification is between 15-20 years but a lot depends on the maintenance of the heater.