Aurinkolämpökeräimillä

Aurinkolämpökeräimillä, known in English as solar thermal collectors, are devices designed to capture solar radiation and convert it into heat. This heat can then be used for various purposes, most commonly for domestic hot water heating and space heating.

The basic principle behind an aurinkolämpökeräin involves a dark absorber surface that efficiently absorbs sunlight. This absorber is typically housed within an insulated box with a transparent cover, usually made of glass. The transparent cover reduces heat loss to the surroundings by trapping heat through the greenhouse effect. Underneath the absorber, a network of pipes or channels carries a heat transfer fluid, often water or a water-glycol mixture. As sunlight strikes the absorber, it heats up, and this heat is transferred to the fluid circulating through the pipes.

The heated fluid is then pumped from the collector to a storage tank, where its thermal energy can be stored for later use. In a domestic hot water system, this stored heat is used to warm the water consumed by the household. For space heating, the heated fluid can circulate through radiators or underfloor heating systems.

There are several types of aurinkolämpökeräimiä, with the most common being flat-plate collectors and evacuated tube collectors. Flat-plate collectors are generally more cost-effective and suitable for moderate climates, while evacuated tube collectors offer higher efficiency, especially in colder or cloudier conditions, due to their vacuum insulation. Aurinkolämpökeräimiä are an increasingly popular renewable energy technology, contributing to reduced reliance on fossil fuels and lower energy bills.