Construction Of The Zigzag Solar Water Heater

At a glance..

This manual is based on experiences gained during many years of building solar powered hot water systems in developing countries. It may be helpful in constructing solar collectors and building hot water systems especially for communities using large quantities of hot water.

The details..

"Zig Zag Collector" is a comprehensive guide to building sustainable hot water systems that utilize solar energy. The book was written by BACIBO, a non-profit consultancy for solar energy in developing countries, and WOT, a knowledge center for small-scale applications of sustainable energy. The manual offers clear explanations and detailed illustrations to help readers construct zigzag collectors from scratch using locally available materials.

The first section of the book introduces readers to the concept of using solar radiation as an alternative source of energy for heating large quantities of water in areas where wood fuel supply is limited or inaccessible. It explains how existing technical facilities can be used along with skilled technicians to produce zigzag collectors that are both effective and affordable.

The second section details each step involved in constructing the collector-boxes, absorbers, insulation layers, glass covers, storage tanks and accessory pipe-connections necessary for creating functional thermo-syphon natural circulation-based hot water systems. This includes preparing wooden frames; cutting galvanized sheets; connecting pipes with wire loops or riveting/soldering methods; painting absorbers; soldering procedures etc.

Finally, the last sections cover topics such as determining location/positioning requirements based on daily hours of sunshine availability; foundation construction techniques/testing procedures/placement recommendations/maintenance tips/costs associated with labor/materials/time-span required per project/summary table listing all needed materials.