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Air conditioning
92 18 0.0567823 0.4063 0.4983
Radiant floor
GobiWA
As oneSolarenergytothesystem
can clearly see, energyQsol kBtu
production
94 (measured14111.6
20 0.0630915 in0.4971
0.4050 415.8
##### ##### 766.4
thousands 1245.7 1365.8 1608.6 1683.7 1711.7 1734.8 1423.1 1197.5 609.3
Forced air
ThermWA Solarenergytothesystem
of BTUs) is greater with the Qsol
flat platekBtu
96collector 12344.6
compared
22 0.0694006 303
with
0.4037 0.4959 ##### ##### 3593.7 1045.3 1195.5 1465.5 1509.6 1626.2 1620.6 1302.9 983.5 450.2
35%
competing brands of evacuated tube collectors
98 of comparable
24 0.0757098 size.
0.4024 0.4947 ##### #####
Pool
eb Mar
1800 Apr May Aug
32 0.1009464
Sep 0.3972
Oct
0.4898 #####
1600Nov
#####
Dec
1415.9 1627.3
1750 1560.4 1601.3 1538.3 108
1714.5
34 0.1072555
1715.7 1607.6
0.3959 0.4886 ##### #####
1567
1400 1491 1489.9
1448.7 1643.6
1700
1572.5 1627.4 1534.7 110
1719.3
36 0.1135647
1727.8 1604.9
0.3946 0.4874 ##### #####
COST
1600.3
1200
& VALUE
1501.5 1507.8
1503.2 1721.8 1622.2 1707.7 1636.9 112
1784.5
38 0.1198738
1785.7 1671.6
0.3933 0.4862 ##### #####
1687.7 1588.1
The manufacturing 1599.5
process, mechanical complexity and material
1650
1416.6 1621.6 1545.9 1544.1 1466 114
1677.4
40 0.126183
1707.3 1611.3
0.3920 0.4849 ##### ##### 1000
1567.3 1476.8 1429.5 tube collectors make them more expensive
1600 selection of evacuated
680.1 1122.9 1241.3 1508.6 1557.6 1161648.7
42 0.13249211632.5
0.3907 0.4837 1298.5
##### ##### 1061.4
800 flat531.6
than 327.7
plate collectors. This plays an important role when
1550
706.7 1175.5 1282.3 1524.3 1581.1 1181642.5
44 0.13880131654.6
0.3894 0.4825 1328.1
##### ##### 1083.5
determining
600
542.2 329.2
the cost efficiency of the collector. The table below
766.4 1500
1245.7 1365.8 1608.6 1683.7 1201711.7
46 0.14511041734.8
0.3881 0.4813 1423.1
##### ##### 1197.5 609.3 349.3
shows
400 how much average daily energy (measured in BTUs) per
593.7 1450
1045.3 1195.5 1465.5 1509.6 1221626.2
48 0.15141961620.6
0.3868 0.4801 1302.9
##### ##### 983.5 450.2on the
248.7
dollar spent collector is produced. To calculate this, we
1400 124 50 0.1577287 0.3855 0.4789 ##### ##### 200
simply divided energy output (data provided by SRCC) of the 4
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul126 Aug Sep
52 0.1640379 Oct 0.4776Nov
0.3842 Dec
##### ##### Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
collectors by their list prices*. Comparison of the collectors shows
2000 128 54 0.170347 0.3829 0.4764 ##### #####
MONTHLY PRODUCTION COOL CLIMATE2 the GOBI as the best value.
130 56 0.1766562 0.3816 0.4752 ##### #####
1800
Collector Production, Q (kBTU)
EXCELLENCE
13400
172 98 0.3091483 0.3543 0.4496 ##### #####
BY DESIGN
174 100 0.3154574 0.3530 0.4484 ##### #####
TM
13000 176 102 0.3217666 0.3517 0.4472 ##### #####
pictured above: evacuated tube collectors with snow and frost accumulated
photos courtesy of Center of Excellence For Solar Engineering at Ingolstadt University
SUMMARY
• Performance: Flat plate gives better year round performance
• Efficiency: Flat plate is best at delivering temperatures needed
for the most common hot water applications
• Cost & Value: Flat plate is generally less expensive and gives
more energy per dollar spent than vacuum tube
• Cold Weather Performance: Vacuum tube does not carry an
advantage over flat plate because snow build up hampers its
performance
• Installation: Vacuum tube collectors take more time to
assemble while flat plate collectors take more effort to hoist
onto the roof
pictured above: snow that has slid down the surface of a solar flat plate collector • Durability: Vacuum tube collectors are fragile and prone to
photos courtesy of Center of Excellence For Solar Engineering at Ingolstadt University
more maintenance
INSTALLATION REFERENCES
Solar Ratings & Certification Corporation (March 18, 2009). Directory of SRCC
The argument over which type of collector is easier to install is Certified Collector Ratings. pages 69, 102, 241, 248. web url: http://www.solar-rating.
subjective. Both collectors have their advantages and drawbacks org/ratings/OG100DIRECTORIES/OG100DIRFULL.pdf
in terms of installation. Heliodyne (2008). Trade Price List. p. 14. web url: http://www.heliodyne.com
Viessmann (2007). Viessmann Price List 2007-2008 USA. p.90. web url: http://www.
Proponents of evacuated tube argue that because they come viessmann.com/com/en/international/america.html
unassembled, one person can easily carry the evacuated tube Solar Water Works LLC (July 12, 2008). 2008 Apricus Product Price Sheet. web url:
components onto the roof without needing any special equipment. http://www.solarwaterworks.com/downloads/sww%20retail%20prices%207-08.pdf
Proponents of flat plate argue that because they are fully Houseneeds.com (Copyright 2000-2008) web url: http://www.houseneeds.com/shop/
assembled, once hoisted onto the roof, no assembly is required solar/thermomaxsolarwaterbuy.asp Retrieved on November 11, 2008
thus greatly reducing installation time. Which type of collector Christoph Trinkl, Wilfried Zörner, Claus Alt, Christian Stadler (June 21, 2005)
Performance of Vacuum Tube and Flat Plate Collectors Concerning Domestic Hot
is easier to install is therefore based on the installer’s personal Water Preparation and Room Heating. Centre of Excellence For Solar Engineering at
preference. Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences p. 4.