The ProgressivTube Passive Solar Water Heater is a self contained unit that acts as a solar collector and storage tank integrated into one piece of equipment. In most systems the unit is utilized as a pre-heater to a instantaneous or conventional water heater. It can also be used as a stand-alone heater when no backup is required.
The ProgressivTube is a passive system because it has no moving parts and operates in local water pressure and solar radiation. There are no pumps or controls to maintain and no electrical energy is required to make it function.
Once installed the system will operate automatically. When hot water is used in the household, solar pre-heated is drawn into the conventional water heater (reducing or eliminating electricity or gas usage for heating water) or directly to the tap. However, as with all solar water heaters, the total amount of solar contribution to the system is dependent upon the hot water consumption pattern, daily weather conditions, and variable amounts of available sunlight throughout the year.
The collector/storage tank of the ProgressivTube absorbs solar radiation through its selective surface coating which raises the temperature of the water stored in the collector. It is well insulated with closed cell foam and the unit is double glazed for increased heat retention. The eight copper tubes are welded into a series flow pattern so that the top of the lower tube feeds the bottom of the next tube. This allows the ProgressivTube to contain the colder replacement water in the lower tubes where it is heated by the sun as it flows from one tube to the next. Each time hot water is used, the ProgressivTube's innovative design eliminates the cooling down of the remaining heated water that normally occurs in other types of batch heaters. Not only does this design ensure the delivery of the hottest water, but is also provides more hot water at a higher temperature and with a faster recovery time than solar systems of similar capacity.
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