 
When it comes to solar heated water systems, copper's combination
of heat conductivity, resistance to atmospheric and aqueous
corrosion, workability (fabricate), sealability (join by soldering),
and longevity can't be beaten. Copper conducts heat and resists
corrosion better than any other engineering metal. And copper
solar collectors can heat water to as high as 71°C (160°F).
In thousands of buildings and swimming pools around the world,
copper has proven that the sun's energy can be harnessed effectively
and economically. Copper solar collectors are the heart of commercial
systems for space heating and water heating.
Solar radiation is converted to heat when absorbed by a surface,
such as a blackened copper absorber plate in a solar collector.
To store the energy for future use, most solar energy collection
systems utilize a heat transfer fluid which moves hot fluids
in copper tubes to a heat storage material.
The thermal conductivity of copper is the key to cost-effective
solar collectors and heat exchangers. Copper is the preferred
material for absorber plates, which require high thermal conductivity,
resistance to corrosion, ease of fabrication, mechanical strength,
and high availability.
In a clean atmosphere, copper absorber plates are properly cleaned
and painted with a thin layer of coatings, resulting in a fine
high-tech product. The process ensures that the plates will
absorb as much of the solar radiation as possible for maximum
efficiency and performance.
And copper is readily available in various types of tube, fittings,
and sheet materials that are easily fabricated into absorber
plates and heat transfer tubes by brazing, soldering, and mechanical
fastening. The handling and fabrication of copper are familiar
to the building trades, which use copper extensively in heating,
ventilating, and air conditioning. |
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