Heatwave Solar Collector
Introducing the world’s first thin membrane, multi heat pipe solar collector
The Heatwave solar collector is the result of extensive research and development to produce a British solar thermal collector which is designed to operate efficiently in temperate climates. Designed and manufactured in the UK it can be fitted easily by solar installers in multiple applications both in and on roof.
The Heatwave solar panel is a new concept in solar thermal collectors, having the handling and aesthetic characteristics of a flat solar panel collector but with the performance of a glass evacuated tube system, without the fragility. The Heatwave collector measures 1.07m x 1.07m x 63mm and weighs in at less than 25 kg.
Slim design makes the solar panel unobtrusive on any roof whilst its light weight makes it extremely easy to handle and install.
On a cloudless, windless day in summer any solar collector will heat your water but on a cloudy day, or a day with variable light levels, a collector based on heatpipe technology will outperform a flat plate panel even if the efficiency numbers would indicate otherwise.
Heatpipe technology integrated into a flat solar panel design maximises solar heat collection throughout the year!
Heatpipes are tubes filled with a gas liquid mixture which transfer heat extremely quickly from one place to another. With a heatpipe, the solar collector's heat is almost instantly transported to the working fluid. When the sunshine is obscured or light levels drop the heatpipe ceases to function and will not lose heat it has already collected. Heatpipes transfer heat 1000 times faster than copper and they can be made to transfer heat in only one direction.
The Heatwave solar panel has 98 metres of heatpipe in a single 1m² panel! This ensures that solar energy is very efficiently and rapidly transferred from the plate to the working fluid. (The furthest distance that heat has to travel through steel before it reaches a heat pipe is less than 3mm). Integrating 100 heatpipes into a single square metre panel is a triumph of British technology.
Evacuated Tube solar collectors commonly use a single heatpipe in each tube to transfer heat to the working fluid. With twenty tubes standard on a single panel, most tube collectors have 30 meters of heat pipe in 2.5m² collector area. Understanding the fundamentals of the heatwave solar panel and how it differs to other solar thermal technologies especially when comparing performance levels is essential when choosing a solar panel system
In comparison, in the vast majority of flat plate collectors, heat may have to travel several centimetres through steel or aluminium fins before reaching the working medium. The difference between the two heat transfer mechanisms is the key to the enhanced performance of heatpipe solar collectors in the cloudier skies of northern latitudes.
The density of heat pipes in the Heatwave solar collector is the key to its ability to extract greater amounts of solar energy from the smallest area in our changeable British weather.
Heatwave's low thermal capacity ensures that this solar collector heats rapidly in intermittent sunshine and on cloudy days. Heat is rapidly transferred to a heat exchanger at the top of the plate into the solar fluid. The one way heat transfer in heatpipes minimises the loss of heat already collected.
Robust, with a 10 year manufacturer’s warranty and no maintenance mean that this element of your renewables package installation will leave you with no ongoing headaches.
Heatwave Solar Panels can be installed on-roof, in-roof, on flat roofs (with ‘A’ frames) and can even be mounted vertically using our bespoke multi-application solar installation systems.
Heatwave Solar Collector Components
- Cover frame
- Pressed tray
- Back thermal insulation
- Fixing rail
- Peripheral thermal insulation
- Glazing
- Absorber
Heatwave for Commercial Projects.
Due to the high heat output of heatwave solar collectors they can provide massive energy savings in the commercial buildings sector including processing plant, large office buildings, leisure and sports centres, residential care homes and many more.
There are ecological and financial benefits to be gained by integrating Heatwave renewable technology products into your existing commercial buildings or eco-friendly new build designs.
Renewable Technologies can provide a full assessment by a Qualified Energy assessor who can provide you with a Non Domestic Energy Performance Certificate, and a complete survey of your current energy usage. We will also supply a detailed report of where reductions can be made in energy consumption and your Carbon emissions.
Renewable Technologies can offer a full design and installation package working hand in hand with your architect to produce innovative, cost effective solutions in even the most demanding designs to create low carbon building solutions. Our technical experts can combine conventional heating and cooling technologies with state of the art renewable products, such as solar thermal panels, air source and ground source heating systems.
