The ICS is a simple system that requires no pumps or controls for operation. It combines a water storage tank and the solar collector in one unit.
Sunlight heats the water in the ICS throughout the day. When you draw hot water, your normal household water pressure pushes heated water from the ICS into your standard electric or gas heater. Because the water was already heated by the sun, the gas burner or electric heating element will not need to activate. It simply stores and delivers the solar heated water (and serves as a backup heating source).
Suntrek’s standard size system can store 40 gallons of solar hot water when combined with your conventional water heater. ICS units are excellent choices for mild climates that do not experience freeze conditions.
Thermosiphon Systems collect heat from the sun and transfer it to your water through a natural process. Independent of pumps, sensors, or any moving parts these systems rely on the simple principle that hot water rises and cold water sinks.
The collector absorbs the sun’s rays and heats the cold fluid inside. As the fluid heats, it rises to the top of the collector and into the insulated, stainless steel tank. Here, it displaces cooler fluid which flows in to the bottom of the collector where the process is repeated.
Active solar water heaters use pumps, often powered by a solar electric module, to circulate water or heat-transfer fluid through heat-absorbing solar thermal collectors.
Open Loop Active Systems
Open loop active systems heat the water supply directly. Circulation of water through the solar collector is accomplished via a small circulation pump (often powered by a solar electric module) mounted on a solar storage tank. The solar pump is activated by a differential thermostat controller (solar sensor) that senses when heat is available in the solar collectors. The solar-heated water is stored in a storage tank that connects to the existing gas or electric water heater. As hot water is used, the preheated water is pumped into the conventional heater.
