The hotter something is, the more Infrared light and convective air current off the top glass carry reasonably significant amount of heat energy reducing the collector efficency. To maximize the collector efficency, you want to try to have sufficiently large air flow keeping the outflow temperature maybe 15-20 degrees above inside air temperature so as to minimize the heat lost outside. Thus, you really dont want storage inside the collector. That way you move the most heat energy into the home where it wont be be lost as quickly to the cold outside air. If you want thermal storage you might try to implement it inside the house.
Thank you for your feedback! This is very interesting. I hope other people see your comment to improve this flat plate collector. My flat plate collector still working after years! Saving approximately 40% per month on the gas bill.
@@farfan1973 i have a bad habit of editing my comments after I post so as to make them more clear. thank you for your comment. I really ment my comment to be constructive at how to get the most energy. But I'm glad to hear your setup has still been a benefit to you. I rack my brain on how would I implement thermal storage inside my home. Easiest/easiest cheapest is to just heat the house and furniture to warmer then I like and then let it cool down till the thermostat kicks in. Or, build a well insulated box to store rocks water or maybe a phase change material to store thermal energy, and implement a thermal exchange to the air in the house.
Glasses must have a special coating that keeps infrared radiation inside, then this technology works ten times more efficiently. Large losses of infrared radiation if the glass is ordinary, uncoated. Even if the stones inside are hot, infrared radiation from them goes out through the glass, in the same way.
Use less thermal conducting material pipe for transferring the water from top to below, you have lost almost 100 degrees F because of high conduction. Use PVC for economical and and heat storage purpose.
Good question. I haven’t test that. All depends on the outside temperature. Remember cold water from the street line enters here before the water heater. Temperature inside the collectors could reach close to 200F if the temperature outside is around 95F.
Hello Jaakko, good question. I live in Los Angeles California where never snows in the city. On cloudy days or in periods of high demand, water in the tank can be heated by electricity or a gas burner.
Any such DIY in times such as these is a good idea.
Great work! Thank you for sharing. 😃
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Nicely done
Please test the phase change materials, like, paraffin wax. It stores a lot more energy when melting and gives back much more energy when solidifying
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The hotter something is, the more Infrared light and convective air current off the top glass carry reasonably significant amount of heat energy reducing the collector efficency. To maximize the collector efficency, you want to try to have sufficiently large air flow keeping the outflow temperature maybe 15-20 degrees above inside air temperature so as to minimize the heat lost outside. Thus, you really dont want storage inside the collector. That way you move the most heat energy into the home where it wont be be lost as quickly to the cold outside air. If you want thermal storage you might try to implement it inside the house.
Thank you for your feedback! This is very interesting. I hope other people see your comment to improve this flat plate collector.
My flat plate collector still working after years! Saving approximately 40% per month on the gas bill.
@@farfan1973 i have a bad habit of editing my comments after I post so as to make them more clear. thank you for your comment. I really ment my comment to be constructive at how to get the most energy. But I'm glad to hear your setup has still been a benefit to you.
I rack my brain on how would I implement thermal storage inside my home. Easiest/easiest cheapest is to just heat the house and furniture to warmer then I like and then let it cool down till the thermostat kicks in. Or, build a well insulated box to store rocks water or maybe a phase change material to store thermal energy, and implement a thermal exchange to the air in the house.
@@kreynolds1123 wow! That’s an interesting project. Have you seen the earthships construction methods for energy efficiency?
@@farfan1973 I've seen a few earth ship videos years ago but probably not the ones your referring to.
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Glasses must have a special coating that keeps infrared radiation inside, then this technology works ten times more efficiently. Large losses of infrared radiation if the glass is ordinary, uncoated. Even if the stones inside are hot, infrared radiation from them goes out through the glass, in the same way.
fantastic info well edited just one thing the music is out of a 1970's blue movie
Use less thermal conducting material pipe for transferring the water from top to below, you have lost almost 100 degrees F because of high conduction. Use PVC for economical and and heat storage purpose.
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If the rocks are also painted black in colour, will it be storing more heat energy and lose heat slower or more or less will it be the same?
The black coating does not increase the storage capacity of thermal energy. The special black coating increases the thermal radiation of the surfaces.
I would paint rocks in black for better result.
Best video about this topic
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how long water stays hot after sun goes down?
Good question. I haven’t test that. All depends on the outside temperature. Remember cold water from the street line enters here before the water heater. Temperature inside the collectors could reach close to 200F if the temperature outside is around 95F.
in australia we do this and we melt holes in our roof
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that makes sense but paint them black.
New update.
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well done (Y)
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What happens when the rocks go stone cold?
On cloudy days or in periods of high demand, water in the tank can be heated by electricity or a gas burner.
What happens in winter when water freezes in the copper pipes?
Hello Jaakko, good question. I live in Los Angeles California where never snows in the city.
On cloudy days or in periods of high demand, water in the tank can be heated by electricity or a gas burner.
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what type of rocks did you use for this video?
@@Raphaelnoye-b3v
I used river rocks but I think lava rocks could work better.
parabéns
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basalt stone is the stone to use.
Good to know! I’m going to try them! Thank you!
Actually, those are the stones I’m using in these collectors
@@farfan1973 They are building barns for heating ,filled with the basalt stones and a good isolation.
Basically all rocks are of vulcanic origin.
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Is it still working?
Yes! Still working after 6 years!
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Great work! Thank you for sharing. 😃
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