Heat transfer specialists HRS HEVAC recently presented SolarChoice, a solar powered hot water system which offers quality products at extremely competitive prices for domestic, commercial and industrial installations.

According to the company’s press release, the HRS SolarChoice package features the HRS SolarPlate flat plate solar thermal collector. This consists of a copper pipe structure fitted to a flat absorber plate which has been treated with a TiNOX titanium layer, making it very efficient and able to work even when the sky is cloudy. Traditionally, the absorber plate on flat plate solar thermal collectors is painted black. Although a black surface is highly effective at absorbing solar radiation and converting it to heat, it is unfortunately also very efficient at re-radiating long wave infrared heat back out. The resultant losses reduce collector efficiency. The HRS collector structure is manufactured from stainless steel with the collector base manufactured from weather resistant aluminium featuring 40mm wool rear insulation and a glass cover manufactured from ultra clear, low iron, toughened glass.

The SolarPlate flat plate collector captures solar energy through the 'green-house' effect with up to 90% of visible sunlight entering through the glass cover. When the light passes through the glass cover the frequency of the light reduces to a lower energy level. It is then absorbed as heat when it hits the absorber plate. The combination of the frequency change and the TiNOX surface ensures that the maximum amount of energy is captured. As the absorber plate heats up it begins to radiate energy as infrared or heat radiation. The glass cover is essentially opaque to infrared rays so the heat is trapped in the collector, thereby increasing the temperature and heating the water in the copper tube assembly. The heated water is then pumped to a heat exchanger within the storage vessel. When the solar heated water drops below a certain temperature the solar pump stops circulating the water and the control system switches to the gas or electric boiler for hot water production.

The HRS SolarChoice range is manufactured from the best materials and is extremely reliable. Fitted with the latest safety equipment and the highest quality of finishes, hot water is heated using a safe and economical process.

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