NuPower offers excellent quality high pressure systems to ensure that our customers have sufficient hot water to service their immediate needs. The purpose of a solar water collector is too harvest the suns energy and convert that into hot water. NuPower offers two technologies: Evacuated Tubes and Flat Plate Collectors.
The principle behind solar vacuum tubes is simple. The absorbed solar radiation is then transferred to a heat transfer fluid with in the tube (liquid inside the heating rod), This liquid quickly heats up and rises to the top. This will heat up the water that runs through the manifold.
Vacuum tube technology dates to 1984 when the first units were manufactured and tested successfully and offer superior performance. Each tube has a vacuum around it, which is an excellent insulator. This means vacuum tubes have excellent heat retention properties and are not influenced by cold weather outside.
An evacuated tube system uses the latest state of the art solar collector technology, for superior performance even in adverse weather conditions)
This is the NuPower Flagship product. As a direct pumped system, it is aesthetically pleasing and can be installed with the geyser inside the roof making it flexible to install and offers excellent performance. Collector carry a 10-year warranty. Circulation is controlled by an advanced solar differential controller which also manages the back-up element and various other safeties and temperature limit set points. Available in:
These systems come either in 230V or 12V configurations for the pump and controller. For areas where power failures are a concern the 12V systems offer battery back-up, so circulation still takes place when there are power failures. There are two 12V types, the one charges its battery from a trickle charger powered by mains (much like an alarm or gate motor) and the other from a solar panel that generates electricity to charge the battery.
Direct systems mean that the water in the geyser is the same water that is circulated to the collector and back. Direct systems tend to be more efficient than indirect because the heat is transferred directly into the water.
A pumped system has a circulation pump to circulate the water between the collector and geyser. This means that by switching the pump on and off via an automatic electronic controller there is complete control over the system and the amount of heat transferred into the geyser. Another advantage is that the geyser could be installed inside the ceiling, making it a very aesthetically pleasing system.
A thermo-siphon system has no pumps, the geyser must be installed higher than the collector and this will enable the heated water from the collector to rise, into the geyser creating a natural flow of water. The advantage is that there are no moving parts. The geyser unfortunately must be installed close to the geyser and typically, outside with the collector, increasing heat loss and sacrificing aesthetic value.
Sunlight passes through the glazing and strikes the absorber plate, which heats up, changing solar energy into heat energy. The flat plate has copper rods which have selective coated aluminium fins. These fins collect the sunlight and transfers the heat into the copper rods which is filled with the water.
Flat Plate technology: Flat plate technology has been around for ages and is a proven technology. The more
rugged amongst the NuPower range, the Flat Plate is a tried and tested solution and is maintenance free if connected in a direct configuration. Freeze resistant system configuration must be applied in Frost areas.
A Flat plate system utilizes tried and tested heat collection technology, and offers excellent performance at affordable prices.
Retro-fit Flat Plate (direct split pumped)
This is one of the most popular products from NuPower, using a high efficiency flat plate collector onto an existing electrical geyser or a new geyser. The NuPower collector carries a 10-year warranty. Circulation is controlled by an advanced solar differential controller which also manages the backup element and various other safety features and temperature limit set points. Another advantage is that the geyser could be installed
inside the ceiling making it an aesthetically pleasing system.
Available in:
A Direct system means that the water in the geyser is the same water that is circulated to the collector and back. Direct systems tend to be more efficient than indirect because the heat is transferred directly into the water.
Pumped systems come standard with a 12V configurations for the pump and controller. For areas where power failures are a concern the 12V systems offer battery back-up, so circulation still takes place when there are power failures
A thermo-siphon system (FROST FREE AREAS) has no pumps, the geyser must be installed higher than the collector and this will enable the heated water from the collector to rise, into the geyser creating a natural flow of water. The advantage is that there are no moving parts. The geyser should be installed close to the collector and typically outside, increasing heat loss and sacrificing aesthetic value.
An indirect thermo-siphon system shall be installed the same as a direct thermo-siphon system (geyser higher than collector) with the only difference being that this system can withstand freezing. This system being indirect again is suited for flat plates only.
The flat plate come in two (2) variants: 2.0 m2 and 2.4 m2. The 2.0 m2 is typically used for a 150L geyser and the 2.4 m2 is used on a 200L geyser.
• Evacuated Tube systems come in three (3) variants: 12 Tube, 18 Tube and 24 Tube.
• The 12 Tube is typically used for a 150L Thermo Siphon System.
• The NuPower Lite System is a 12 Tube Thermo Siphon.
• The 18 Tube Systems are used for a 150L Pumped System.
• The 24 Tube System is used on 200L Pumped System.
Ideally the collector should be facing True North. Small variations in performance will result if it is oriented up to 40° East or West off True North. Maximum performance will be achieved by tilting the collector at an angle that equals the latitude where the installation is done.
Bulk hot water systems for hotels, hospitals or large residential buildings usually require vast amounts of power. By heating this with solar the need for electricity can be greatly reduced, and substantial savings are made
A heat meter is like an electrical meter, but it measures the amount of energy that went into heating the water that flows through it. It offers the owners of bulk hot water system a method to accurately bill each user for his or her usage, in kwh.
