Solar water heating solutions

More about our solar collectors

Everything you need to know about our products

Flatplate Collector

1. FLATPLATE COLLECTOR

• Heat Africa’s aluminium powder coated flat plate collectors are weatherproofed boxes that is very well insulated in order to prevent heat from escaping.
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• Under the tempered heat glass covers the box contains a dark absorber/collector plate. The collector plate consists of a copper heat absorbent sheet and copper tubing for the water to circulate through. The surface of the collector plate is coated with a dark material, specifically to increase absorbency efficiency.
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• Cold water from the geyser, are pumped via a DC 12 volt hot water circulation pump into the bottom part of the collector. The collected solar energy is transferred to the water (circulating in the tubing in the collector).The water will gradually heat up, and rise to the top end of the collector.
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• Heat Africa supply and install the reliable SABS approved geyser wise max 12-volt smart management system. The system allows water to reach a high temperature in the collector, before it activates the pump. This allows the collector, which is the engine of the solar geyser system, to reach an optimum efficiency. The MAX system will then activate the pump, deposit hot water into the household geyser, whilst pumping cold water from the bottom of the geyser back to the bottom of the collector.

• This circulation of water directly through the collector, will continue threw out the day, utilising free sun energy to warm up the geyser water temperature up to 70 degrees and more.

• Flat plate technology has been used for over 50 years by manufacturers and has a well-established track record of reliability and performance. They are popular for a lot of reasons. They are simple in design, readily available in several different designs; is cost effective in terms of purchasing and installation; have a good track-record for heating water and it’s durable and virtually maintenance free.

• For a cheap solar geyser setup the flat panel is incredibly efficient. Even more so, if you can position it north, get the tilt as best as possible end ensure that shade does not hamper it’s operation.

• Currently the flat plate solar collector is one of the most popular choices due to their lower prices and their efficiency, which is why they are primarily used with cheap solar geyser systems.

• Flat plate collectors are generally less expensive, but can capture less sunlight and are less efficient in colder conditions.

• Flat plate collectors will freeze and burst if exposed to freeze conditions, Heat Africa’s solar geyser systems has an anti-freeze function, the system will automatically pump warm water from the geyser through the collector, if temperatures in the collector reaches 5 degrees or lower, preventing freezing of water in the collector

• Heat Africa supplies various sizes of collectors.
150 liter geyser - 1 collector - 1.2m x 2.0m
200 liter geyser – 1 collector - 1.4m x 2.0m
300 liter geyser – 2 collectors - 1.2m x 2.0m

Flatplate Collector Technical Specifications

Evacuated Tube Collector

2. EVACUATED TUBE COLLECTOR

Heat Africa’s evacuated tube collectors conforms to the latest technology and highest standards available in the solar industry.

Heat Africa only supply and install high pressure collectors (manifolds)

How does the tube convert sun energy into heat transfer…….

Each tube in an evacuated tube collector consists of two concentric glass tubes. Between the two glass tubes the air is evacuated, using a principle very similar to a thermos flask (heat or cold cannot travel through a vacuum). Consequently, there is very low heat loss out of the tube – making these collectors very efficient. In the vacuum between the two glass tubes there is a metal absorber sheet (or thermal absorbent coating) with a heat pipe (containing the heat transfer fluid) in the middle. The vacuum tube admits heat from the sun to heat the pipe. AT the same time it limits heat loss back to the environment due to convection heat not being able to pass through the vacuum. Several tubes are connected to one another or to a manifold that makes up the solar collector. In high other high pressure systems, the heat pipe riser is inserted into a heat exchanger, through which high pressure water from the tank is passed.

• The rounded edge of the tube enables far greater range of solar collection.

• It is much more efficient than flat plate collectors because of the vacuum. Though they are more expensive than flat panels, evacuated tubes generally create more hot water – especially when the sun is weak and the weather is cold.
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• The lifespan of the vacuum varies from collector to collector, anywhere from 5 years to 15 years.
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• Evacuated tubes account for around 88% of the world’s solar thermal collectors.
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• They perform best on the coldest of winter days – when you need it the most.
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• Guest houses or busy households that consume a lot of hot water during the day, benefits more from evacuated tube collectors.
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• Tubes that break,can easily be replaced one at a time,simply remove the plastic holding cap at the bottom,remove the broken tube with cloves,and slide in the new tube…secure cap.

EVACUATED TUBE COLLECTOR – TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Evacuated Tube Collector Technical Specifications

Always Hot. Always Affordable.

Cutting-edge solar water heating solutions for your satisfaction

1. Direct - Close coupled Thermosyphon
Flat plate collector
‍

2. Direct - Close coupled Thermosyphen
Evacuated tube collector

3. Retrofit - Direct active split
Flat plate collector

4. Retrofit - Direct active split
Evacuated tube collector

"Thank you Louis, for your professional service and a job well done. You are highly recommended"

"I would just like to thank Heat Africa again for the fast service and the friendly team. They did the full installation in one day!

"I wish to thank Louis at Heat Africa for changing our lives. No concerns or doubts that we would be able to take a hot shower, or that load shedding would interfere with our daily routines. Job Well done!"

"Heat Africa is a top notch solar installation company. We are pleasantly impress with their prompt service and professional manner. Aftercare service is brilliant and we refer them with the greatest of pleasure."

"My electricity bill was over R4000 a month. Now I am saving about R500 a month, and to me that is a huge benefit. I rarely have to switch on electricity and I am extremely happy and would refer you to everybody. Thank you Louis"

Get your solar water heating system today.

Switching to solar makes sense

Have a look at our Gallery

More about our solar collectors

Always Hot. Always Affordable.

Cutting-edge solar water heating solutions for your satisfaction

1. Direct - Close coupled ThermosyphonFlat plate collector‍

2. Direct - Close coupled Thermosyphen Evacuated tube collector

3. Retrofit - Direct active split Flat plate collector

4. Retrofit - Direct active split Evacuated tube collector

"Thank you Louis, for your professional service and a job well done. You are highly recommended"

"I would just like to thank Heat Africa again for the fast service and the friendly team. They did the full installation in one day!

"I wish to thank Louis at Heat Africa for changing our lives. No concerns or doubts that we would be able to take a hot shower, or that load shedding would interfere with our daily routines. Job Well done!"

"Heat Africa is a top notch solar installation company. We are pleasantly impress with their prompt service and professional manner. Aftercare service is brilliant and we refer them with the greatest of pleasure."

"My electricity bill was over R4000 a month. Now I am saving about R500 a month, and to me that is a huge benefit. I rarely have to switch on electricity and I am extremely happy and would refer you to everybody. Thank you Louis"

Get your solar water heating system today.

Switching to solar makes sense

Have a look at our Gallery

More about our solar collectors

1. Direct - Close coupled Thermosyphon
Flat plate collector
‍

2. Direct - Close coupled Thermosyphen
Evacuated tube collector

3. Retrofit - Direct active split
Flat plate collector

4. Retrofit - Direct active split
Evacuated tube collector