Solar One - Calculator

Solar Calculator

Energy Calculator

You may determine how much energy a SOLAR ONE Apollo DP Series or SP Series will produce each day/month/year by using this energy calculator. The energy is flexible for everyone to use. You can heat water for showering and washing clothes, or central heat a building. Furthermore, you can also use these values to help you calculate how much energy you can save by using a SOLAR ONE Water Heating System.

Calculation tips:

Insolation Level - You must identify your solar insolation level beforehand in order to calculate your energy output, (Related information is available from the insolation page.) Take notice of your maximum and minimum levels throughout the year as well as the annual average value. When estimating potential energy savings, input annual average insolation, and be aware of the "per year" energy output value.
Energy must be enter the unit kWh/m²/day >>>1 kWh/m²/day = 317.1 Btu/ft²/day
Absorber Area - a bsorber surface area of the 1.8m tube size is:
58/1800 = 0.08m²per tube. Therefore 20 tubes Collector = 1.6m²absorber area

Insolation Level =	kWh/m²/day
Absorber Area =	m²

Energy Output: kWh/day

Solar Tubes Calculator

When determining how many tubes you need, you must consider two key factors: insolation level and energy requirements. Energy requirement will usually take into consideration the volume of water and rise in temperature required. The bigger the collector you have, the more hot water, but you should make an economically sound decision. Generally it is wise to select a size which will provide you with 90% - 100% of your hot water needs in the hottest months of the summer.

Calculation tips:

Water Volume - This should be equal to the actual volume of hot water used at the tap.
When showering a temperature of about 44^oC, is normally used. Therefore 300L of hot water at the tap may only draw 220L of hot water (at 60^oC / 140^oF) from the cylinder.

Temperature Rise - Target tap hot water temp represents cylinder hot water temp minus average cold water temp.Target hot water temp should be around 44^oC.
Cold water usually fluctuates by about 10^oC between winter and summer.

Measurement on different temp units - Fahrenheit = (^oC x 1.8) + 32 ; Celsius = (^oF - 32)/1.8

Insolation:	kWh/m²/day
Water Volume:	Litres
Temp Rise:	^oC

You Require: Solar Tubes

Please realise:
- Only when the surrounding air temperature and water temperature is the same, will collector max efficiency can be achieved and this is true for all evacuated tube and flat plate collectors, not only SOLAR ONE collectors. This may only happen for a short period of time each day, especially in summer when ambient temperatures are high. In order to provide more realistic figures, the above calculations are based on "normal" operating conditions under which the difference between surrounding temperature and manifold water temperature is around 30-40 o C.

- Actual energy output and overall system efficiency will depend on installation location, climate, insulation, system configuration and many other factors. On heavily overcast days energy output will be greatly reduced.

- Energy is produced in the form of heat. In transporting and converting this energy, some heat will be lost, as no system or insulation is 100% efficient.

- You may also need to consider:
1. Annually/daily shade patterns
2. Angle/direction of installation (a less than ideal angle will reduce efficiency)

The estimations above are simply a guide and are based on an average summer performance level. Your local plumber may need to examine the location to accurately assess your requirements and design a solar water heating system which suits your needs.