| 1.Are solar tube collectors more efficient than flat plate collectors? |
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Most solar water heaters use "flat plate" technology which has been around for many years. It works, but now there is a better alternative. Aeodexia Solar water heaters use state-of-the-art technology based on evacuated glass tubes and highly efficient heat transfer techniques.
Flat plate solar water heaters are only at their maximum efficiency in the middle of the day. A great deal of the sun's energy is simply reflected off the flat glass panels, especially in the morning and afternoon.
Because the evacuated tubes in an Aeodexia Solar water heater are cylindrical, they are always facing the sun and therefore they can absorb more of the sun's energy.
In fact, an Aeodexia Solar collector will absorb up to 40% more of the sun's energy than a comparably sized flat plate solar collector. |
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The tubes consist of 2 layers of borosilicate glass with a vacuum between these 2 layers. This evacuated layer in the tubes acts much like a thermos flask, retaining about 97% of the energy absorbed from the sun. This helps increase the efficiency of the collector and also protects it from the effects of cold air (the water in flat plate collectors can freeze in very cold areas).
As a result, an evacuated tube solar collector is the perfect system for very cold areas.
The sun's energy absorbed by the tubes is then transferred to your water via special heat pipes located inside each tube. A small amount of evaporative inside each heat pipe is turned to gas by the sun's energy. This gas then rises to the tips of the pipes which are inserted into a heat transfer manifold located on your roof. Cold water is then pumped through this manifold absorbing the heat and stored in a water storage tank located below.
The result is an incredibly efficient system to harness the heat of the sun even in extremely cold areas. Because the system is so efficient it does not require full sun and can work in cloudy or even rainy days.
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Stylish Split System Design
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An Aeodexia Solar system is a 'split system.' The sun's heat energy is captured by a stylish, low profile solar collector on your roof and stored in a well-insulated water tank at ground level.
The system can be boosted, when required, by gas or electricity, or even the waste heat from your combustion heater. For a large part of the year you will find that you will find that you will not need any boosting due to the superior performance of an Aeodexia Solar system. |
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| 2.Will the water in the collector and pipeline be polluted during circulating? |
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No.The water in the collector and pipeline flows in a sealed circuit. It is completed separately from the water in storage tank for household use. |
| 3.Are Evacuated Tubes affected by frost? |
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No. Traditional technologies are vulnerable to freezing in cold weather. Now you don't need to compromise the system's performance (for example by using chemicals like glycol) in order to prevent it freezing. Many traditional technologies require regular and costly maintenance programs for freeze protections.
Evacuated tube technology, as used by the Aeodexia Solar system, works extremely efficiently in cold climates.
Evacuated tube solar collectors are the technology of choice in countries that experience extremes in temperature. For example, they are widely used in Germany, China and Canada. |
| 4.What happens if the Evacuated Tubes are damaged in a storm or broken by accident? |
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| The Aeodexia Solar System is very strong and uses toughened glass which is highly resistant to damage under various weather conditions. However in the event that a tube or two is broken, the system does not stop working. Because the system is modular, if tubes do need to be replaced this can be done quickly and easily for only a small cost. By contrast, the replacement of a flat plate collector can cost hundreds of dollars and require costly installation procedures. |
| 5.Are Aeodexia Solar hot water systems expensive? |
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| No. In the long term, an Aeodexia Solar hot water system can save you up to 80% of your household's electricity or gas expenses. Over a 10 year period the capital cost, plus the running costs can be considerably cheaper than buying an ordinary electric or gas hot water heater - due to the amount of the sun's heat that an Aeodexia Solar system captures and uses. People are looking for products that operate effectively for a long time without ongoing, costly maintenance. Aeodexia Solar has developed a system expected to last 3 to 4 times as long as traditional water heating systems. We have created a product free of ' built-in' obsolescence that will not end up as landfill in five years. |
| 6.Is solar water heating a viable alternative to gas or electricity? |
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| Because weather conditions vary, solar hot water should not be viewed ast a total replacement for gas or electricity, but rather a major partner. Solar cannot totally replace the need for gas or electric heating in most cases - as there are sometimes days when there is little sunlight. But when averaged over a year, a correctly sized solar system can provide up to 80% or more of a household's hot water needs. The hot water system can easily be automated so that hot water is guaranteed, regardless of sunlight levels. If you want a complete alternative, in some cases an oversized system can provide 100% of your hot water needs. |
| 7.How long will it take to recoup my investment? |
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| Your annual electricity or gas saving will differ depending on the climate and sun angle in your location and current hot water usage. However, in a normal household spending 40% of its energy on heating hot water, the full cost of the purchase may be recouped in as little as 5 to 10 years by reducing energy bills. The quality and durability of the materials used in an Aeodexia Solar system means that your yearly savings is likely to continue long past the pay-back point. |
| 8.Can Aeodexia Solar Hot Water Heaters be used in cold conditions? |
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| This represents the major performance difference between Aeodexia Solar evacuated tubes and the old-fashioned flat plate solar collectors, which suffer from significant loss in efficiency in cold conditions, as well as requiring the purchase and maintenance of a glycol system to prevent them freezing. |
| 9.Will my water be heated on a cloudy day? |
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| Yes. Although the heat output of the solar collector is reduced on overcast days it will still be able to provide heating. If it is a heavily clouded day or raining, then gas or electric backup may be required to maintain water at the required temperature. The backup system is fully automated so you don't have to worry about running out of hot water on a rainy day. |
| 10.Can I use the Aeodexia Solar collector with my existing hot water system? |
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| Normally yes. Simple retrofit valves can often be used to allow solar to connect to your existing cold water inlet. If your tank cannot accept the solar input directly an additional storage tank can be installed to pre-heat the cold water prior to entering the existing tank. |
| 11.Are the Aeodexia Solar collectors noticeable on the roof? |
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| The sleek design of our collector and the lack of tank on the roof mean that it is very unobtrusive. From a distance they actually look somewhat like a skylight. However, please check with your local council regarding any possible building restrictions in your area. |
| 12.Can the Aeodexia Solar collector be mounted on a flat surface? |
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| Yes. Aeodexia Solar collectors can be mounted on a flat roof or even on the ground by using one of our fully adjustable stainless steel frames. |
| 13.Will the Aeodexia Solar collector be a fire hazard during hot, dry weather? |
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| No. The solar collector's components are all high temperature rated and non-flammable so even during strong sunlight with the circulation pump turned off (stagnation), the system will not catch alight or give off any sparks. The majority of the solar collector's components are stainless steel, copper, aluminium and glass. |
| 14.Can the Aeodexia Solar collector heat water to a high enough temperature? |
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| Certainly - in good weather the Aeodexia Solar collectors are capable of bringing water to boiling point. Generally, this is not necessary and so when it is installed the system should be tuned to provide a peak temperature of around 70ºC to 80ºC in the summer. Since scalding can occur at 54ºC (130ºF), Australian plumbing regulations limit the maximum temperature of hot water to sanitary outlets to 50ºC (122º F). This is achieved by the use of a solar tempering valve that must fitted when the system is installed. Licensed plumbers are required to fit a solar tempering valve to all installations. |
| 15.What maintenance of the Aeodexia Solar collector is required? |
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| Under normal circumstances no maintenance of the system is required other than simple checks specified in the Owners Manual. The round shape of the tubes and the gaps in between them mean that regular rainfall and wind help keep the tubes clean. |
| 16.Can the Aeodexia Solar Collectors be used for a large scale hot water production? |
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| Yes. Aeodexia Solar collectors can be connected in series to provide large scale hot water production for commercial settings such as a school, hotel, office building or swimming pool. Please call us for further advice. |
| 17.Can I heat my swimming pool or spa using a Aeodexia Solar hot water system? |
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| Yes. Each pool/spa installation requires specialised design and certain additional components such as a heat exchange system due to the corrosive nature of salt or chlorine pool water. For spas, the Aeodexia Solar hot water collectors are also ideal, as the volume of water is small and temperature requirements high. Please call us for further advice. |
| 18.Can I use the LPG gas booster and then convert to normal gas if available at a later stage? |
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| Yes. The Aeodexia Solar design is both modular and versatile. In the case of changing from LPG to natural gas, all that needs to happen is that the burner manifold needs to be changed and the PC board reprogrammed. The cost is currently around $80. Please call us for further information. |
| 19.Which type of collector is the best value for money? |
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| When pay-back time is being considered, the overall price per unit of energy produced is the most important consideration, not peak efficiency levels. The high-efficiency and longevity of Aeodexia Solar systems makes a compelling case for purchasing our product. |
| 20.What is the Solar Radiation (Insolation) level where I live? |
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| Click here to learn more about Insolation, and to find out values for your region. |
| 21.How do I calculate what size collector I require? |
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| Please click here to visit the collector sizing page. |
| 22.Where can I purchase an Aodexia solar collector? |
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| Aodexia solar collector are available through an official distribution network. Click here to find your closest Aeodexia agent. |
| 23.Can Aodexia solar collectors be used in a drainback configuration? |
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| Yes. The end port version of the Aodexia solar collector is well suited to drainback use. The question is often asked if the solar collector will be damanged when the pump turns off and the system stagnates in good sun - no it won??t, as the collectors is designed to withstand stagnation. What must be considered though is the insulation used on the piping close to the collectors, as this must be able to withstand stagnation tempertures |
