Understanding Solar Vacuum Tube Technology Used for Solar Water Heaters

Solar vacuum tubes have been used since the early 1900s. But they’re used for solar heating purposes. Nowadays, most solar water heaters utilize solar vacuum tubes for their operation. You must be careful as the vacuum tube temperature can be two times higher than flat panel collectors.

Solar vacuum tube technology works like a thermos bottle that traps heat inside and provides insulation barrier against heat loss. Vacuum tubes work effectively in cold climates especially the places that experience freezing temperatures. Generally, Northern Lights use SunRain solar evacuated tubes for solar water heating purposes. They utilize a copper heat pipe in the center of the tube.

With the special aluminum fins, the system transfers solar energy to the heat pipe containing a small amount of liquid i.e. under a vacuum. According to physics, it’s stated that liquid under vacuum conditions boils at 30 degree Celsius (86F) and turns into vapor.

The vapor goes to the condenser bulb where it gets cold by releasing heat through the bulb into the copper manifold and changes its state back to liquid that sinks back down the heat pipe. Solar vacuum tubes are arranged in series and every tube plugs into a copper header. Heat exchange takes place in the header and moves from the hot condenser bulb to the colder heating fluid circulated throughout the solar heating system.

The copper header is perfectly insulated with mineral rock wool; so there’s a very little heat loss to the surrounding air. Hence, the performance of solar vacuum tube water heating system is much better than other solar collectors.

While investing in solar water heating systems, it’s necessary to make sure that the engine you choose is the most powerful and the long lasting. That’s why Northern Lights Solar Solutions use SunRain patented “3-Hi” solar vacuum tubes. They have absorbing coating on the inner layer that will determine how vacuum tubes operate efficiently. The process and material of the coating determines the expectancy of solar vacuum tubes.

Most vacuum tubes utilize high-tech reactive sputtering process for coating inner tube. More importantly, they have aluminum and aluminum-nitrogen (AI-N/Al) coating. It’s the primary absorbing coating.

SunRain solar vacuum tube technology utilizes internationally patented film coating i.e. “3 Hi”. Generally, three systems are used in every solar evacuated tube for ensuring heat absorption most effectively.

Every solar vacuum tube includes a primary Al-N/Al layer, a second aluminum layer and a third copper layer. The added layers in solar evacuated tubes help in heat conduction in a better way and stabilize the coating while allowing for a much longer lifespan of 20 years or more. 

If you’re thinking to invest in vacuum tubes solar water heating technology, feel free to contact Northern Lights Solar Tubs at +1 (800) 317-9054. We are the leading name in the solar industry providing complete DIY solar heating packages from residential solar water heaters to complete solar home heating systems.

With our modern SunRain solar evacuated tubes, you can provide solar heating systems that supply ample heat for hot water, home heating, pool and hot tub. For more information, don’t hesitate to visit our website at https://www.solartubs.com/.