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solar flat panels vs solar tubes

  • 10-11-2009 02:10PM
    #1
    homer1982
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 270 ✭✭


    Which system would be better performance wise. I have been told that three flat panels would equal two panels of tubes, is this true?


    Also I was thinking of getting a triple colied tank with separate coils on the solar panels, oil burner and back boiler of solid fuel. Does this sound like a good plan to anyone out there or could someone recommend a better system?


Comments

  • #2
    gman2k
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,075 ✭✭✭gman2k


    Truple coil is the way to go with the system you are proposing.
    For your original query, have a search through previous threads and you find lot's of info.


  • #3
    bertie1
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 509 ✭✭✭bertie1


    homer1982 wrote: »
    Which system would be better performance wise. I have been told that three flat panels would equal two panels of tubes, is this true?


    Also I was thinking of getting a triple colied tank with separate coils on the solar panels, oil burner and back boiler of solid fuel. Does this sound like a good plan to anyone out there or could someone recommend a better system?

    What size panel of tubes are you comparing it to they come in lots of sizes


  • #4
    quentingargan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,627 ✭✭✭quentingargan


    The essential difference between tubes and flatplates is insulation. Vacuum systems have no air molecules to convect the heat from the absorber back out to the exposed glass. Thus they are more efficient at higher water temperatures, lower air temperatures, and when the level of sunshine is lower. At all other times, flatplates are slightly more efficient, but if you think about it, either system will work well on hot sunny days, whereas vacuum systems work better in spring and autumn and have the effect of stretching the season.

    So why doesn't everyone have 'em? Because after about 20 years the vacuum will be lost and the tube will need to be replaced, whereas flatplates last about twice that long. On the other hand, the tubes are very easy to replace. Here there is a distinction between flasks (usually Chinese) and tubes (where there is a single layer of glass with the heat pipe welded in). Flasks are very cheap - about €5 each, whereas tubes are extremely expensive.

    The last consideration is aesthetics. Flatplates are quite inconspicuous. Q


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