How to make a homemade solar collector. We use solar energy for its intended purpose: how to make a collector with your own hands

A solar collector is a device designed to absorb solar energy and convert it into heat for the purpose of its further transfer to a coolant. The classic device is a black metal plate placed in a glass or plastic case, the surface of which absorbs radiation. There are several types of them and their purpose may be different. Let's take a closer look at the operating principle of this device, as well as the step-by-step production of this object with our own hands.

Which ones exist?

Depending on the temperature that the plates can reach, collectors are:

  • low temperatures - they do not provide high-power energy, they heat water no more than 50 degrees Celsius;
  • medium temperatures - they heat water up to 80 degrees, so they can be used for heating rooms;
  • high temperatures - they are used mainly in industrial enterprises, and it is impossible to make them at home.

Integrated collectors are divided into:

  • cumulative integrated;
  • flat;
  • liquid;
  • air.

Cumulative integrated or otherwise thermosiphon collector. It can not only heat water, but also maintain the desired temperature for some time. It does not have pumps, so it is much more economical than other options. The storage device is a structure of one or more tanks filled with water and placed in a heat-insulated box. On top of the tanks there is a glass lid that passes through the glass and heats the water. This is an inexpensive, easy to maintain and easy to operate option. However, in winter its use is very difficult.

A flat-plate collector looks like an ordinary flat metal box, inside of which there is a black plate that absorbs sunlight. The glass lid of the box enhances it, the glass has a low iron content, thus helping to absorb all the rays. The box itself is thermally insulated, and the black plate is heat-receiving, which is why heat is released. However, the efficiency of the wafer is only 10%, so it is additionally coated with a layer of an amorphous semiconductor. Flat-plate collectors are used for space heating and other domestic needs.

In liquid storage devices, the main coolant is liquid. They are glazed and unglazed, with a closed and open heat exchange system.

Air collectors are much cheaper than their water counterparts. They do not freeze in winter and do not leak. They are used for drying agricultural products.

There is another type - hubs , they differ in the concentration of sunlight. This happens thanks to the mirror surface, which directs the light onto the absorbers. Their main drawback is the inability to work on cloudy days, so they are used in countries with hot climates.

Solar ovens and distillers. Distillers work on the principle of water evaporation, thereby not only providing heat energy, but also purifying the water. Stoves are also used for both heating and sterilizing water.

Photo gallery: different types of collectors

The design of the storage collector may contain several tanks. Flat-plate collectors are often used for heating premises and heating water in swimming pools. In a liquid collector, the heat carrier is water. Air collectors can also be used for drying fruits.

Scheme of work

The collector consists of two main parts: a light catcher and a heat exchange accumulator, which converts radiation energy into thermal energy and transfers it to the coolant. Accumulators can be vacuum, tube or flat. In the first, the design is similar to a thermos: one pipe is inserted into another, and there is a vacuum between them, creating ideal thermal insulation. Due to the cylindrical shape of the pipes, the sun's rays hit them perpendicularly and transmit maximum energy.

The solar collector consists of two main parts: a light collector and a heat exchange battery

The coolant in such structures is ordinary water. It can not only heat the room, but also serve for domestic needs. At the same time, there is no release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which is very important these days. In addition, no fuel costs are required, and the collector efficiency is 80%. In most of Russia, from March to October, on average, the sun produces 4-5 kWh/m2 per day, which allows a small device measuring 2m2 to heat up to 100 liters of water daily.

For all-season use, the collector must have a large surface area, two antifreeze circuits and additional heat exchangers. Thus, thanks to wisely used energy, you can receive free heat 7 months a year, regardless of whether it is clear outside or not.

Thermal energy for your home: how to make a collector with your own hands?

To manufacture the device, polycarbonate sheets, copper or polypropylene pipes can be used.

The most universal design is the development of the Bulgarian engineer Stanislav Stanilov. The main operating principle of this collector is the use of the greenhouse effect. The storage device is a tubular radiator placed in a heat-insulated wooden box, welded from steel pipes. Water pipes with a diameter of 1 or ¾ inches are used for supplying and discharging water.

The box is thermally insulated on all sides using polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam, mineral or ecowool. The bottom is especially carefully insulated, where a sheet of galvanized roofing iron is placed on top of the insulation, on which the radiator itself is placed. It is secured in the box with steel clamps. The metal sheet and radiator are painted with matte black paint, and the box is covered with white paint on all sides except the glass lid. The cover glass, through which sunlight will pass to the radiator, is well sealed. The heat accumulator can be a metal barrel placed in a plank or plywood box, the cavity of which is filled with ecowool, dry sawdust, expanded clay, and sand.

Required tools and materials

The main principle of operation of such a collector is the use of the greenhouse effect

  • glass (for example, 1700/750 mm);
  • glass frame;
  • hardboard for the bottom;
  • board with a section of 120/25 mm;
  • steel strip with a section of 20/2.5 mm, length 3 m;
  • corner pad;
  • wooden block with a cross section of 50/30 mm;
  • coupling;
  • radiator pipe;
  • radiator exhaust pipe;
  • clamps for fastening;
  • galvanized iron as a reflector;
  • heat insulator;
  • tank 200-300 liters.

Manufacturing: step by step steps

The design of the solar collector is simple

  1. A box is made from boards, the bottom of which is reinforced with timber.
  2. Thermal insulation (foam plastic, expanded polystyrene, mineral wool) is placed on the bottom, on top of which a sheet of iron or tin is placed.
  3. The radiator is placed on top and secured with steel strip clamps.
  4. All connections are sealed, joints and cracks are sealed.
  5. Radiator pipes and metal sheets are painted black.
  6. The box and water tank are painted silver. The water tank is placed in a heat-insulated box or barrel (thermal insulating material is poured between the tank and the walls of the box).
  7. To create a constant low pressure, purchase an aqua chamber with a float valve, like in a toilet barrel. It can be purchased at a plumbing store.
  8. In the attic of the house, under the roof, there is an aqua chamber and a water storage tank (tank). The aqua chamber is placed at least 0.8 m above the tank.
  9. The collector is placed on the roof of the south side of the house at an angle of 45 0 to the horizon.
  10. Next comes the connection of the entire system to each other with pipes: half-inch pipes are used to install the high-pressure part of the system from the aqua chamber to the water supply inlet. Low-pressure parts are installed with inch pipes. The minimum number of pipes is 12 pieces, but, depending on the distances between the parts of the collector, 18-15 pipes will be needed, but not less than 12.
  11. To avoid air locks, the system is filled with water from the bottom of the radiator. As soon as the entire system is filled with water, water will flow from the drainage tube of the aqua chamber.
  12. Open the valve in the pipe to fill the tank.
  13. The water begins to heat up immediately. Warm water rises, displacing cold water, and it automatically enters the radiator.
  14. As soon as some of the water has been used, the float valve in the aqua chamber will operate and cold water will again flow into the lower part of the system. There is no mixing of water.

The concept of an energy efficient home involves the creation, implementation and operation of renewable energy sources. Do-it-yourself solar collectors, which were extremely rare not so long ago, have become increasingly common.

The constant improvement of solar systems and a significant drop in prices for them have led to their even greater appearance in everyday life. The cost of factory models today is comparable to the costs required to install a classic heating system. However, anyone can do this technology on their own.

The principle of operation of the solar collector

To briefly describe the principle of operation of the collector, it is necessary to capture solar thermal energy. Subsequently, it is concentrated and used by humans.

The collector system consists of the following components:

  • Thermal accumulator (regular container for liquid)
  • Heat exchange circuit
  • Directly collector

Liquid or gaseous coolant circulates through the collector. The resulting energy heats it and, through a mounted storage tank, transfers heat to the water.

The heated liquid is stored in the tank until it is used. The scope of its application is very wide - from ordinary household needs to home heating. To prevent the water from cooling quickly, it is necessary to properly insulate the container.

Water circulation in the collector is done in one of two ways: or forced. An additional element that heats the liquid can be mounted in the storage tank, which will turn on when low ambient temperatures are reached and maintain the water temperature, for example, in winter, when the solstice is short.

Introductory video about the design of a water heater

Types of solar collectors

When planning to install a solar collector with your own hands in the house, you need to decide on the type of design:


Models in which air is the coolant are used extremely rarely. This is due to the properties of the liquid - it conducts heat much better than gas. Air collectors are often made flat in shape so that the air, in contact with the absorption device, naturally heats up.

air solar collector diagram

Vacuum solar collectors

Vacuum models are the most complex. Instead of a box that is covered with glass, it uses large glass tubes. Inside them there are tubes with a smaller diameter, which contain an absorber that collects thermal energy. There is a vacuum between the tubes, it acts as a heat insulator.

Flat-plate solar collectors

The most common is a flat solar collector, inside of which there is a special absorbent layer placed in a glass box. It is connected to tubes through which the coolant liquid (usually propylene glycol) moves.

flat solar collector diagram

But when deciding to make a solar collector with your own hands, you need to understand that it is impossible to make such complex devices, similar to industrial ones. In addition, their efficiency will be significantly lower, their service life will be shorter, but so will their material investments.

Structural drawings

Let's get started

Before building a solar collector, it is necessary to make the appropriate calculations and determine how much energy it should produce. But you shouldn’t expect high efficiency from a homemade installation. Having determined that there will be enough of it, you can begin.

The work can be divided into several main stages:

  1. Make a box
  2. Make a radiator or heat exchanger
  3. Make a front camera and storage device
  4. Assemble the collector

To make a box for a solar collector with your own hands, you should prepare an edged board of thickness 25-35 mm and width 100-130 mm. Its bottom should be made of textolite, equipped with ribs. It should also be well insulated using polystyrene foam (but preference is given to mineral wool), covered with a galvanized sheet.

Having prepared the box, it’s time to make the heat exchanger. You should follow the instructions:

  1. It is necessary to prepare 15 thin-walled metal tubes 160 cm long and two inch pipes 70 cm long
  2. In both thickened tubes, holes are drilled with the diameter of the smaller tubes into which they will be installed. In this case, you need to ensure that they are coaxial on one side, the maximum step between them is 4.5 cm
  3. The next stage is that all the tubes need to be assembled into a single structure and welded securely
  4. The heat exchanger is mounted on a galvanized sheet (previously attached to the box) and fixed with steel clamps (metal clamps can be made)
  5. It is recommended to paint the bottom of the box in a dark color (for example, black) - it will better absorb solar heat, but to reduce heat loss, the external elements are painted white
  6. To complete the installation of the collector, it is necessary to install a cover glass near the walls, while not forgetting about reliable sealing of the joints
  7. A distance of 10-12 mm is left between the tubes and the glass

All that remains is to build a storage tank under the solar collector. Its role can be played by a sealed container, the volume of which varies about 150-400 l. If you cannot find one such barrel, you can weld several small ones together.

Like the collector, the storage tank is thoroughly insulated from heat loss. All that remains is to make a fore-chamber - a small vessel with a volume of 35-40 liters. It must be equipped with a water-falling device (a swivel valve).

The most responsible and important stage remains - to assemble the collector together. You can do it this way:

  1. First you need to install the front camera and storage. It is necessary to ensure that the liquid level in the latter is 0.8 m lower than in the front chamber. Since a lot of water can accumulate in such devices, it is necessary to think about how they will be reliably shut off
  2. The collector is placed on the roof of the house. Based on practice, it is recommended to do this on the south side, tilting the installation at an angle of 35-40 degrees to the horizontal
  3. But you need to take into account that the distance between the storage tank and the heat exchanger should not exceed 0.5-0.7 m, otherwise the losses will be too significant
  4. At the end, the following sequence should be obtained: the front camera must be located above the drive, the latter - above the collector

The most important stage is coming - it is necessary to connect all the components together and connect the water supply network to the finished system. To do this, you will need to visit a plumbing store and purchase the necessary fittings, adapters, sockets and other shut-off valves. It is recommended to connect high-pressure sections with a pipe with a diameter of 0.5 inches, low-pressure sections with a diameter of 1 inch.

Commissioning is carried out as follows:

  1. The unit is filled with water through the bottom drainage hole
  2. The anterior chamber is connected and the fluid levels are adjusted
  3. It is necessary to walk along the system and check that there are no leaks
  4. Everything is ready for everyday use

Solar collector from a refrigerator coil

You can make a solar collector with your own hands from an ordinary coil taken from an old refrigerator. To work you will need to prepare:

  1. Directly coil
  2. Slats and foil for the frame
  3. Barrel or water tank
  4. Rubber mat
  5. Shut-off valves (valves, pipes, etc.)
  6. Glass

After washing the coil of freon, you need to knock down the rack frame around it. Its exact dimensions will depend on the size of the working unit that was removed from the refrigerator. The rug must be adjusted to the slats, among which the coil must be positioned freely.

A foil layer is placed on the rubber mat (bottom of the frame). Then the coil is fixed using screw clamps. Holes are made in the walls through which pipes will pass. Productivity can be increased by sealing joints with sealants.

The bottom is also reinforced with slats. Glass is mounted on top and secured with tape. To avoid worry, you can cut out several aluminum plates and make clamps from them.

Video about the technical design and testing of the solar collector:

In custody

A structure such as a do-it-yourself solar collector can significantly increase the level of comfort in a country house or country house. Although insignificant, it reduces the cost of consumed energy generated by classical energy sources.

All kinds of solar collectors are developed using the latest technologies and modern materials. Thanks to such devices, it happens solar energy conversion. The resulting energy can heat water, heat rooms, greenhouses and greenhouses.

Devices can be mounted on walls, roofs of a private house, greenhouse. For large rooms, it is recommended to purchase factory-made devices. Now solar systems are constantly being improved. Therefore, solar panels increase in price, attracting the attention of consumers. The cost of factory-made devices is almost equal to the financial costs spent on their manufacture. The price increase occurs only due to the financial markup of resellers. The cost of the collector is commensurate with the cash costs that will be required to install a classic heating system.

You can build the devices yourself.

Today, the production of such devices is gaining increasing popularity. It's worth noting that uh The effectiveness of a homemade device is much inferior in quality to factory devices. But a do-it-yourself unit can heat a small room, private house or outbuildings easily and quickly.

Introductory video about the design of a water heater

Principle of operation

To date, various types of solar collectors have been developed.

But the principle of water heating is identical - all devices operate according to the same designed scheme. In good weather, the sun's rays begin to heat the coolant. It passes through thin elegant tubes, falling into a tank of liquid. The coolant and tubes are placed along the entire inner surface of the tank. Thanks to this principle, the liquid in the apparatus is heated. Later, the heated water is allowed to be used for domestic needs. Thus, you can heat the room and use the heated liquid for shower cabins as hot water supply.

The water temperature can be controlled by developed sensors. If the liquid cools too much, below a predetermined level, a special backup heating will automatically turn on. The solar collector can be connected to an electric or gas boiler.

An operating diagram suitable for all solar water heaters is presented. This device is perfect for heating a small private house. To date, several devices have been developed: flat, vacuum and air devices. The operating principle of such devices is very similar. The coolant is heated from the sun's rays with further energy release. But there are a lot of differences in work.

Video about different types of alternative heating sources

Flat-plate collector

Heating of the coolant in such a device occurs thanks to a plate absorber. It is a flat plate of heat-intensive metal. The upper surface of the plate is painted in a dark shade with a specially developed paint. A serpentine tube is welded to the bottom of the device.

Heating a private home can be organized in various ways. Most often this is a connection to a central heating system or the installation of individual heating devices that heat the coolant by burning gas, liquid or solid fuel. Less often, owners of small cottages use electric boilers and various types of fan heaters for heating, directing the air flow into the living space.

Today, there are alternative heating methods, such as devices that convert solar radiation into thermal energy. Solar collectors for heating a home are quite efficient, completely environmentally friendly and do not require special maintenance.

Why is solar heating beneficial?

The heating system from solar collectors has several very significant advantages:

  • solar heat is free and can be used in all corners of the planet, regardless of climatic conditions;
  • the use of solar energy involves costs solely for the purchase of the installation; the rest of the time the solar collector operates completely autonomously;
  • The design of an autonomous heating system with a solar collector is quite simple, so you can even do it yourself.

It is important to understand that a homemade collector and thermal energy accumulator will have a fairly low efficiency compared to industrial designs, but will still allow significant savings on hot water supply at home.

The simplest calculation shows that a collector with an area of ​​3 m2 is sufficient not only to create a source of hot water in a small private house, but also to heat it during the off-season. This significantly reduces the cost of using energy resources, and therefore your family budget.

Solar installation device

Solar collectors for heating and creating hot water supply to a home consist of the following components:

  • device for heating water or other coolant;
  • thermal energy accumulator;
  • circuit for moving thermal energy by coolant.


A solar collector for heating is a system of tubes with a coolant, which is air, water, propylene glycol or any other non-freezing liquid. The thermal energy accumulator is a container with a coil through which the coolant supplied from the collector circulates. The thermal circuit is used to combine a water, air or antifreeze heating device with a heat accumulator.

Solar energy enters the collector, where it heats the coolant, which circulates in the solar installation. After heating, it enters the heat accumulator, where heat exchange occurs between the coil and water. The heated water from the battery enters the heating or hot water supply system of the house.


Water circulation in the solar system occurs by gravity or using a circulation pump (depending on the purpose of the system and the method of installing the storage tank in relation to the collector).

The natural movement of water or air along the circuit is due to the principle of convection, when, after heating, the liquid tends upward from the collector to the heat accumulator.

If we take into account that the solar system will be used only for hot water supply, then nothing else is needed except a solar collector and a heat accumulator. If the system is planned to be used for heating the house, then a pump may be required to pump coolant through the radiators.

Types of heat sinks

Modern industry has mastered the production of several types of heating heat exchangers for solar heating systems:


  • air;
  • flat;
  • vacuum.

They all work on the same principle, but have some design features and differences in efficiency. To correctly select one or another type of solar installation, you need to know their features and competent calculations. Let's look at each type of solar collector in more detail.

Flat heating heat exchanger

This type of solar collector for heating consists of a flat box, thermally insulated on three sides, filled with a heat-absorbing substance. Inside this substance there is a heat exchanger made of thin-walled metal pipes, through which water or propylene glycol circulates.


The design of a flat solar energy absorber and the calculation of its required parameters are quite simple, so this particular type of “heater” is used to make a solar heating system with your own hands.

A vacuum heat absorber consists of glass tubes, inside of which there are tubes of smaller diameter with an adsorbent that accumulates solar heat. Inside the tubes with the adsorbent there are metal tubes through which the coolant moves.


A vacuum is created between the large-diameter glass tube and the tube containing the heat-accumulating substance, which prevents heat from escaping from the adsorbent into the atmosphere.

The efficiency of such an installation is the highest among all types of solar collectors. Based on the power of the device, the required area for heating the coolant is calculated.

Air collector for heating a house

In such a device, air is used as a coolant, circulation of which is carried out both naturally and using a fan. As a rule, the air collector is used exclusively for heating small country houses during the off-season, since this design has a fairly low efficiency. In addition, this installation is not suitable for heating water and creating hot water supply at home, therefore it is used extremely rarely by our compatriots.


Despite the low efficiency, the air absorber has two advantages: a simple design and the absence of coolant (water), and with it corrosion, leaks, freezing problems, etc.

Making a solar collector with your own hands

To create a flat solar heat absorber, a rather complex calculation of the required heat exchanger area, container volume and circuit length will be required. Independent calculation requires appropriate knowledge, experience and initial data. To simplify the task, you will be presented with three main sizes of solar systems:


  • the volume of the battery tank is 100-150 l, the length of the heat exchanger pipe is 7 m, the collector area is 2 m2;
  • the volume of the battery tank is 150-300 l, the length of the heat exchanger pipe is 9 m, the collector area is 3 m2;
  • the volume of the battery tank is 200-400 l, the length of the heat exchanger pipe is 12 m, the collector area is 4 m2.

Self-assembly instructions.

Box

It can be made from a plywood or plastic sheet and wooden slats attached along its perimeter as sides.

To make it, you need to weld a grate or bend it from metal pipes, which will be used to heat the coolant. Secure the finished product with staples to a second sheet of plastic or plywood and paint it with matte black paint.


Glue the insulation over the entire area of ​​the box.

Assembly

Install the heat exchanger in the prepared box. Place the glass on top of the absorber, having previously coated the places where it comes into contact with the box with silicone-based sealant. Homemade solar heat absorber is ready.

Manufacturing a heat accumulator

A coil should be made from a copper pipe, and then placed in a prepared container, having previously made holes for the inlet and outlet of the coolant. Pull the ends of the heat exchanger out of the battery through the seals.

Insulation

It is necessary to carefully insulate the storage tank with mineral wool.

To preserve the insulation layer, cover it with a sheet of galvanized metal, creating a kind of “cover”.

Installation

A supporting structure should be made for the heat accumulator and a ready-made solar collector should be installed next to it. After that, connect all devices with a thermal circuit.

Starting the system

To heat water and supply it to the building, the system must be filled with antifreeze and the heat accumulator with water. After 20-30 minutes, the water in the tank will begin to heat up, after which it can be used for heating the room or other needs.

A solar collector is an alternative source of thermal energy through the use of solar energy. Now this convenient device is no longer an innovation, but not everyone can afford its installation. If you do the math, the purchase and installation of a collector that will satisfy the household needs of the average family can cost five thousand US dollars. Of course, it will take quite a long time for such a source to pay off. But why not make a solar collector yourself and install it?

The standard device has the form of a metal plate, which is placed in a plastic or glass case. The surface of this plate accumulates solar energy, retains heat and transfers it for various household needs: heating, water heating, etc. Integrated collectors come in several types.

Cumulative

Storage collectors are also called thermosiphon collectors. This DIY solar collector without a pump is the most profitable. Its capabilities allow you not only to heat water, but also to maintain the temperature at the required level for some time.

This solar heating collector consists of several tanks filled with water, which are located in a thermal insulation box. The tanks are covered with a glass lid, through which the sun's rays shine through and heat the water. This option is the most economical, easy to operate and maintain, but its effectiveness in winter is practically zero.

Flat

It is a large metal plate - an absorber, which is located inside an aluminum case with a glass lid. A do-it-yourself flat-plate solar collector will be more efficient if you use a glass cover. Absorbs solar energy through hail-resistant glass, which transmits light well and practically does not reflect it.

There is thermal insulation inside the box, which can significantly reduce heat loss. The wafer itself has low efficiency, so it is coated with an amorphous semiconductor, which significantly increases the thermal energy accumulation rate.

When making a solar collector for a swimming pool with your own hands, preference is often given to a flat integrated device. However, it copes just as well with other tasks, such as heating water for household needs and heating a room. Flat is the most widely used option. It is preferable to make an absorber for a solar collector from copper with your own hands.

Liquid

From the name it is clear that the main coolant in them is liquid. A do-it-yourself water solar collector is made according to the following scheme. Through a metal plate that absorbs solar energy, heat is transferred through pipes attached to it into a tank with water or antifreeze liquid or directly to the consumer.

Two pipes approach the plate. Through one of them, cold water is supplied from the tank, and through the second, already heated liquid enters the tank. Pipes must have inlet and outlet openings. This heating circuit is called closed.

When heated water is directly supplied to meet the needs of the user, such a system is called open-loop.

Non-glazed ones are more often used to heat water in a swimming pool, so assembling such thermal solar collectors with your own hands does not require the purchase of expensive materials - rubber and plastic will do. Glazed ones have higher efficiency, so they are able to heat the house and provide the consumer with hot water.

Air

Air devices are more economical than the above-mentioned analogs that use water as a coolant. The air does not freeze, does not leak, and does not boil like water. If a leak occurs in such a system, it does not cause as many problems, but it is quite difficult to determine where it occurred.

Self-production does not cost the consumer much. The sun receiving panel, which is covered with glass, heats the air that is between it and the heat-insulating plate. Roughly speaking, this is a flat-plate collector with space for air inside. Cold air enters inside and, under the influence of solar energy, warm air is supplied to the consumer.

A fan, which is attached to the duct or directly to the plate, improves circulation and improves air exchange in the device. The fan requires the use of electricity to operate, which is not very economical.

Such options are durable and reliable and are easier to maintain than devices that use liquid as a coolant. To maintain the desired air temperature in the cellar or to heat a greenhouse with a solar collector, just this option is suitable.

How it works

The collector collects energy using a light accumulator or, in other words, a solar receiving panel, which transmits light to an accumulating metal plate, where solar energy is converted into thermal energy. The plate transfers heat to the coolant, which can be either liquid or air. Water is sent through pipes to the consumer. With the help of such a collector you can heat your home, heat water for various household purposes or a swimming pool.

Air collectors are used mainly for heating a room or preheating the air inside it. The savings when using such devices are obvious. Firstly, there is no need to use any fuel, and secondly, electricity consumption is reduced.

In order to get the maximum effect from using the collector and heat water for free for seven months of the year, it must have a large surface area and additional heat exchange devices.

Engineer Stanislav Stanilov presented the world with the most versatile solar collector design. The main idea of ​​using the device he developed is to obtain thermal energy by creating a greenhouse effect inside the collector.

Collector design

The design of this collector is very simple. Essentially, this is a solar collector made of steel pipes welded into a radiator, which is placed in a wooden container protected by thermal insulation. Mineral wool, polystyrene foam, and polystyrene can be used as thermal insulation materials.

A galvanized metal sheet is placed at the bottom of the box, on which the radiator is mounted. Both the sheet and the radiator are painted black, and the box itself is covered with white paint. Of course, the container is covered with a glass lid, which is well sealed.

Materials and parts for manufacturing

To build such a homemade solar collector for heating a house you will need:

  • glass that will serve as a lid. Its size will depend on the dimensions of the box. For good efficiency, it is better to select glass measuring 1700 mm by 700 mm;
  • glass frame - you can weld it yourself from corners or put together from wooden planks;
  • board for the box. Here you can use any boards, even from dismantling old furniture or plank floors;
  • rental corner;
  • coupling;
  • pipes for radiator assembly;
  • clamps for attaching the radiator;
  • galvanized iron sheet;
  • radiator inlet and outlet pipes;
  • tank with a volume of 200−300 liters;
  • aqua chamber;
  • thermal insulation (sheets of polystyrene foam, expanded polystyrene, mineral wool, ecowool).

Stages of work

Stages of making a Stanilov collector with your own hands:

  1. A container is made from boards, the bottom of which is reinforced with beams.
  2. A heat insulator is placed at the bottom. The base must be especially carefully insulated to avoid heat leakage from the heat exchanger.
  3. Afterwards, a galvanized plate is placed at the bottom of the box and a radiator is installed, which is welded from pipes, and secured with steel clamps.
  4. The radiator and the sheet underneath are painted black, and the box is painted white or silver.
  5. The water tank should be installed under the collector in a warm room. Between the water tank and the collector you need to install thermal insulation to keep the pipes warm. The tank can be placed in a large barrel into which expanded clay, sand, sawdust, etc. can be poured. and thus insulate.
  6. An aqua chamber must be installed above the tank to create pressure in the network.
  7. Do-it-yourself solar collector installation should be done on the south side of the roof.
  8. After all the elements of the system are ready and installed, you need to connect them into a network with half-inch pipes, which must be well insulated in order to reduce heat loss.
  9. It would be a good idea to build a controller for the solar collector with your own hands, since factory devices do not last long.

Size calculation

Calculation of dimensions in order to make a solar collector for heating with your own hands is, first of all, aimed at determining the load of the heating system, the coverage of which is assumed by this device. It goes without saying that this implies the use of several energy sources in combination, and not just solar energy. In this matter, it is important to arrange the system in such a way that it interacts with others - then this will give the maximum effect.

To determine the collector area, you need to know for what purposes it will be used: heating, water heating, or both. By analyzing water meter data, heating needs and insolation data of the area in which installation is planned, the collector area can be calculated. In addition, it is necessary to take into account the hot water needs of all consumers that are planned to be connected to the network: washing machine, dishwasher, etc.

Selective coating performs perhaps the most basic function in the operation of a collector. A coated plate or radiator attracts many times more solar energy, converting it into heat. You can purchase a special chemical as a selective coating, or you can simply paint the heat storage tank black.

To make a selective coating for solar collectors with your own hands, you can use:

  • special finished chemical;
  • oxides of various metals;
  • thin thermal insulation material;
  • black chrome;
  • selective paint for the collector;
  • black paint or film.

Collectors from scrap materials

Assembling a solar collector for heating a house with your own hands is both cheaper and more interesting, because it can be made from various available materials.

From metal pipes

This assembly option is similar to the Stanilov manifold. When assembling a solar collector from copper pipes with your own hands, a radiator is welded from the pipes and placed in a wooden box lined with thermal insulation from the inside.

Copper pipes will be the most effective; aluminum pipes can also be used, but they are difficult to weld, but steel pipes are the most successful option.

Such a homemade collector should not be too large so that it is easy to assemble and install. The diameter of the pipes on the solar collectors for welding the radiator should be smaller than that of the pipes for the input and output of the coolant.

From plastic and metal-plastic pipes

How to make a solar collector with your own hands, having plastic pipes in your home arsenal? They are less effective as a heat storage device, but are several times cheaper than copper and do not corrode like steel.

The pipes are laid out in a box in a spiral and secured with clamps. They can be coated with black or selective paint for greater effectiveness.

You can experiment with pipe laying. Since pipes bend poorly, they can be laid not only in a spiral, but also in a zigzag. Among the advantages, plastic pipes can be easily and quickly soldered.

From the hose

To make a solar collector for a shower with your own hands, you will need a rubber hose. The water in it heats up very quickly, so it can also be used as a heat exchanger. This is the most economical option when making a collector yourself. A hose or polyethylene pipe is placed in a box and secured with clamps.

Since the hose is twisted in a spiral, natural circulation of water will not occur in it. To use a water storage tank in this system, it must be equipped with a circulation pump. If this is a summer cottage and little hot water is consumed, then the amount that flows into the pipe may be sufficient.

From cans

The coolant of a solar collector made from aluminum cans is air. The cans are connected to each other to form a pipe. To make a solar collector from beer cans, you need to cut off the bottom and top of each can, dock them together and glue them with sealant. The finished pipes are placed in a wooden box and covered with glass.

Basically, an air solar collector made from beer cans is used to eliminate dampness in the basement or to heat a greenhouse. Not only beer cans, but also plastic bottles can be used as a heat storage device.

From the refrigerator

You can make your own solar water heating panels from an unusable refrigerator or the radiator of an old car. The condenser removed from the refrigerator must be rinsed thoroughly. Hot water obtained in this way is best used only for technical purposes.

Foil and a rubber mat are spread on the bottom of the box, then the capacitor is placed on them and secured. To do this, you can use belts, clamps, or the fastening with which it was attached in the refrigerator. To create pressure in the system, it would not hurt to install a pump or aqua chamber above the tank.

Video

You will learn how to make a solar collector with your own hands from the following video.

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