What is a solar air collector?
A solar air collector uses air instead of water as a heat transfer medium and can reduce heating costs by up to 30 percent!
In this article, we would like to give you all the details about this resource-saving addition, which we have been using profitably for customers for years.
Solar air collectors offer a good opportunity to use renewable energy to heat and ventilate commercial buildings or to dry products. They are a resource-saving addition to hot air generators and ventilation systems.
In contrast to water-bearing collectors, air is used as the heat transfer medium.
How does a solar air collector work?
Filtered fresh air is drawn in from outside via a fan and heated with the power of the sun.
The heated air enters the building directly via air ducts and simultaneously provides a supply of fresh air and a pleasant room temperature.
In this way, existing heating costs can be reduced by up to 30 percent and the energy balance significantly improved.
Solar air collectors are mainly used on large buildings and are therefore ideal as a supplement to hall heating systems.
Components in detail
- Fresh air intake
- Aluminum housing
- Weatherproof cover
- Coated absorber made of metal or plastic, which is heated by solar radiation and transfers the heat to the air flowing through it
- Fan that supplies the heated air to the hall heating system via air ducts
The different types of solar air collectors
Unglazed solar air collectors
Unglazed solar air collectors are made of UV and weather-resistant plastic and are attached to the roof in the form of tubes or mats.
They offer a cost-effective option, but their efficiency is lower than that of glazed solar air collectors.
Glazed solar air collectors
Glazed solar air collectors have a glass cover on the top that protects the collector from the weather (rain, hail).
Advantages of using a solar air collector
- Energy-efficient & environmentally friendly Heating buildings with air collectors can convert solar energy into heat in a highly efficient and climate-friendly way and does not produce any harmful emissions.
- Cost-efficient Solar air collectors are inexpensive to purchase and have low operating costs due to their low maintenance requirements.
- Better indoor air quality The system ensures active air exchange and dry air in the room. Excessive humidity can be reduced in this simple way, which can be beneficial when drying products or dehumidifying rooms, for example.
- Simple, flexible installation Solar air collectors are flexible and easy to install as pitched, flat roof or wall-mounted systems and are extremely reliable and durable.
Compared to water, the heat transfer medium is air:
- faster, as the air heats up much more quickly,
- No impairment due to extreme temperatures: air cannot boil or freeze. This ensures trouble-free operation even during long downtimes,
- more robust: air as a heat transfer medium ensures trouble-free system operation and a leak in the ventilation pipe system is less damaging.
- Another big plus: our collectors meet the requirements of the German Building Energy Act (GEG) and are also suitable for upgrading existing heating systems.
Depending on the solar radiation, they can cover a larger proportion of the energy requirement (with heating cost savings of up to 30 percent).
Solar air collector on a company roof
Disadvantages
The biggest disadvantage is certainly the dependence on the weather: heat is only generated when there is direct sunlight.
In addition, due to the low energy density of the heat transfer medium, the warm air obtained with solar collectors is very difficult to store, or can only be stored with very complex systems. Water, on the other hand, is a very good heat storage medium.
Another disadvantage is the high space requirement: due to the low heat capacity and density of air, sufficiently large areas are required for the installation of the collectors and wider pipes are also needed for the air ducts.
Applications of solar air collectors
Solar air collectors can be used to directly heat room air or generate process heat. Solar air collectors are suitable wherever fresh air and heat are required for ventilation, temperature control in buildings or for drying products.
Maintenance and servicing of solar air collectors
If the collectors are installed and operated correctly, the operating costs are generally quite low, as maintenance is less extensive and the collectors themselves are less susceptible to damage.
Costs and efficiency of solar air collectors
- This type of heating is not only particularly energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, but can also be implemented cost-effectively.
The air collectors are comparatively low-maintenance and extremely durable.
However, it is not suitable as the sole heating system due to its dependence on the weather and the complex storage options. - The drive power of the fan must be taken into account in the energy balance.
More information
Are you interested in further information or would you like to know how we use the solar air collectors from LK Metall profitably for customers?
