A solar collector is an alternative source of thermal energy through the use of solar energy. Now this convenient device is no longer an innovation, but not everyone can afford its installation. If you do the math, the purchase and installation of a collector that will satisfy the household needs of the average family can cost five thousand US dollars. Of course, it will take quite a long time for such a source to pay off. But why not make a solar collector yourself and install it?
The standard device has the form of a metal plate, which is placed in a plastic or glass case. The surface of this plate accumulates solar energy, retains heat and transfers it for various household needs: heating, water heating, etc. Integrated collectors come in several types.
Cumulative
Storage collectors are also called thermosiphon collectors. This DIY solar collector without a pump is the most profitable. Its capabilities allow you not only to heat water, but also to maintain the temperature at the required level for some time.
This solar heating collector consists of several tanks filled with water, which are located in a thermal insulation box. The tanks are covered with a glass lid, through which the sun's rays shine through and heat the water. This option is the most economical, easy to operate and maintain, but its effectiveness in winter is practically zero.
Flat
It is a large metal plate - an absorber, which is located inside an aluminum case with a glass lid. A do-it-yourself flat-plate solar collector will be more efficient if you use a glass cover. Absorbs solar energy through hail-resistant glass, which transmits light well and practically does not reflect it.
There is thermal insulation inside the box, which can significantly reduce heat loss. The wafer itself has low efficiency, so it is coated with an amorphous semiconductor, which significantly increases the thermal energy accumulation rate.
When making a solar collector for a swimming pool with your own hands, preference is often given to a flat integrated device. However, it copes just as well with other tasks, such as heating water for household needs and heating a room. Flat is the most widely used option. It is preferable to make an absorber for a solar collector from copper with your own hands.
Liquid
From the name it is clear that the main coolant in them is liquid. A do-it-yourself water solar collector is made according to the following scheme. Through a metal plate that absorbs solar energy, heat is transferred through pipes attached to it into a tank with water or antifreeze liquid or directly to the consumer.
Two pipes approach the plate. Through one of them, cold water is supplied from the tank, and through the second, already heated liquid enters the tank. Pipes must have inlet and outlet openings. This heating circuit is called closed.
When heated water is directly supplied to meet the needs of the user, such a system is called open-loop.
Non-glazed ones are more often used to heat water in a swimming pool, so assembling such thermal solar collectors with your own hands does not require the purchase of expensive materials - rubber and plastic will do. Glazed ones have higher efficiency, so they are able to heat the house and provide the consumer with hot water.
Air
Air devices are more economical than the above-mentioned analogs that use water as a coolant. The air does not freeze, does not leak, and does not boil like water. If a leak occurs in such a system, it does not cause as many problems, but it is quite difficult to determine where it occurred.
Self-production does not cost the consumer much. The sun receiving panel, which is covered with glass, heats the air that is between it and the heat-insulating plate. Roughly speaking, this is a flat-plate collector with space for air inside. Cold air enters inside and, under the influence of solar energy, warm air is supplied to the consumer.
A fan, which is attached to the duct or directly to the plate, improves circulation and improves air exchange in the device. The fan requires the use of electricity to operate, which is not very economical.
Such options are durable and reliable and are easier to maintain than devices that use liquid as a coolant. To maintain the desired air temperature in the cellar or to heat a greenhouse with a solar collector, just this option is suitable.
How it works
The collector collects energy using a light accumulator or, in other words, a solar receiving panel, which transmits light to an accumulating metal plate, where solar energy is converted into thermal energy. The plate transfers heat to the coolant, which can be either liquid or air. Water is sent through pipes to the consumer. With the help of such a collector you can heat your home, heat water for various household purposes or a swimming pool.
Air collectors are used mainly for heating a room or preheating the air inside it. The savings when using such devices are obvious. Firstly, there is no need to use any fuel, and secondly, electricity consumption is reduced.
In order to get the maximum effect from using the collector and heat water for free for seven months of the year, it must have a large surface area and additional heat exchange devices.
Engineer Stanislav Stanilov presented the world with the most versatile solar collector design. The main idea of using the device he developed is to obtain thermal energy by creating a greenhouse effect inside the collector.
Collector design
The design of this collector is very simple. Essentially, this is a solar collector made of steel pipes welded into a radiator, which is placed in a wooden container protected by thermal insulation. Mineral wool, polystyrene foam, and polystyrene can be used as thermal insulation materials.
A galvanized metal sheet is placed at the bottom of the box, on which the radiator is mounted. Both the sheet and the radiator are painted black, and the box itself is covered with white paint. Of course, the container is covered with a glass lid, which is well sealed.
Materials and parts for manufacturing
To build such a homemade solar collector for heating a house you will need:
- glass that will serve as a lid. Its size will depend on the dimensions of the box. For good efficiency, it is better to select glass measuring 1700 mm by 700 mm;
- glass frame - you can weld it yourself from corners or put together from wooden planks;
- board for the box. Here you can use any boards, even from dismantling old furniture or plank floors;
- rental corner;
- coupling;
- pipes for radiator assembly;
- clamps for attaching the radiator;
- galvanized iron sheet;
- radiator inlet and outlet pipes;
- tank with a volume of 200−300 liters;
- aqua chamber;
- thermal insulation (sheets of polystyrene foam, expanded polystyrene, mineral wool, ecowool).
Stages of work
Stages of making a Stanilov collector with your own hands:
- A container is made from boards, the bottom of which is reinforced with beams.
- A heat insulator is placed at the bottom. The base must be especially carefully insulated to avoid heat leakage from the heat exchanger.
- Afterwards, a galvanized plate is placed at the bottom of the box and a radiator is installed, which is welded from pipes, and secured with steel clamps.
- The radiator and the sheet underneath are painted black, and the box is painted white or silver.
- The water tank should be installed under the collector in a warm room. Between the water tank and the collector you need to install thermal insulation to keep the pipes warm. The tank can be placed in a large barrel into which expanded clay, sand, sawdust, etc. can be poured. and thus insulate.
- An aqua chamber must be installed above the tank to create pressure in the network.
- Do-it-yourself solar collector installation should be done on the south side of the roof.
- After all the elements of the system are ready and installed, you need to connect them into a network with half-inch pipes, which must be well insulated in order to reduce heat loss.
- It would be a good idea to build a controller for the solar collector with your own hands, since factory devices do not last long.
Size calculation
Calculation of dimensions in order to make a solar collector for heating with your own hands is, first of all, aimed at determining the load of the heating system, the coverage of which is assumed by this device. It goes without saying that this implies the use of several energy sources in combination, and not just solar energy. In this matter, it is important to arrange the system in such a way that it interacts with others - then this will give the maximum effect.
To determine the collector area, you need to know for what purposes it will be used: heating, water heating, or both. By analyzing water meter data, heating needs and insolation data of the area in which installation is planned, the collector area can be calculated. In addition, it is necessary to take into account the hot water needs of all consumers that are planned to be connected to the network: washing machine, dishwasher, etc.
Selective coating performs perhaps the most basic function in the operation of a collector. A coated plate or radiator attracts many times more solar energy, converting it into heat. You can purchase a special chemical as a selective coating, or you can simply paint the heat storage tank black.
To make a selective coating for solar collectors with your own hands, you can use:
- special finished chemical;
- oxides of various metals;
- thin thermal insulation material;
- black chrome;
- selective paint for the collector;
- black paint or film.
Collectors from scrap materials
Assembling a solar collector for heating a house with your own hands is both cheaper and more interesting, because it can be made from various available materials.
From metal pipes
This assembly option is similar to the Stanilov manifold. When assembling a solar collector from copper pipes with your own hands, a radiator is welded from the pipes and placed in a wooden box lined with thermal insulation from the inside.
Copper pipes will be the most effective; aluminum pipes can also be used, but they are difficult to weld, but steel pipes are the most successful option.
Such a homemade collector should not be too large so that it is easy to assemble and install. The diameter of the pipes on solar collectors for radiator welding should be smaller than that of the pipes for coolant input and output.
From plastic and metal-plastic pipes
How to make a solar collector with your own hands, having plastic pipes in your home arsenal? They are less effective as a heat storage device, but are several times cheaper than copper and do not corrode like steel.
The pipes are laid out in a box in a spiral and secured with clamps. They can be coated with black or selective paint for greater effectiveness.
You can experiment with pipe laying. Since pipes bend poorly, they can be laid not only in a spiral, but also in a zigzag. Among the advantages, plastic pipes can be easily and quickly soldered.
From the hose
To make a solar collector for a shower with your own hands, you will need a rubber hose. The water in it heats up very quickly, so it can also be used as a heat exchanger. This is the most economical option when making a collector yourself. A hose or polyethylene pipe is placed in a box and secured with clamps.
Since the hose is twisted in a spiral, natural circulation of water will not occur in it. To use a water storage tank in this system, it must be equipped with a circulation pump. If this is a summer cottage and little hot water is consumed, then the amount that flows into the pipe may be sufficient.
From cans
The coolant of a solar collector made from aluminum cans is air. The cans are connected to each other to form a pipe. To make a solar collector from beer cans, you need to cut off the bottom and top of each can, dock them together and glue them with sealant. The finished pipes are placed in a wooden box and covered with glass.
Basically, an air solar collector made from beer cans is used to eliminate dampness in the basement or to heat a greenhouse. Not only beer cans, but also plastic bottles can be used as a heat storage device.
From the refrigerator
You can make your own solar water heating panels from an unusable refrigerator or the radiator of an old car. The condenser removed from the refrigerator must be rinsed thoroughly. Hot water obtained in this way is best used only for technical purposes.
Foil and a rubber mat are spread on the bottom of the box, then the capacitor is placed on them and secured. To do this, you can use belts, clamps, or the fastening with which it was attached in the refrigerator. To create pressure in the system, it would not hurt to install a pump or aqua chamber above the tank.
Video
You will learn how to make a solar collector with your own hands from the following video.
The solar collector for the pool is a free source of energy that allows you to heat the water. The equipment is available for free sale. Craftsmen, if they want to save money, make collectors themselves from a flexible hose or plastic pipe.
Operating principle of solar collectors for swimming pools
There are several types of collectors, differing in design.
However, they all work on the same principle:
- The storage element absorbs energy from the sun. It is designed on the principle of a heat exchanger. The circulating liquid warms up from the absorbed solar heat.
- Water heated by solar energy is discharged into the pool. A new portion of liquid enters the heat exchanger from the bowl.
- The closed cycle of water circulation occurs continuously. The circulation pump is responsible for this part of the work. The system operates as long as there is sunlight.
Solar collectors are not able to provide full heating of a swimming pool. Firstly, their effectiveness increases only in the summer, when the weather is hot outside. Secondly, collectors are capable of compensating for a maximum of 40% of the energy consumption used to generate heat.
Advice! The equipment will approximately halve the cost of heating water if the pool is covered with an awning or any other type of cover for the time when it is not in use.
Pros and cons of heating a pool with solar collectors
Before installing solar energy storage equipment, you need to weigh its advantages and disadvantages.
- The cost of pool storage equipment is affordable to the average buyer. Collectors can be purchased at a low cost.
- The simplicity of the device allows you to independently create collectors from plastic pipes.
- The volume of water heated by solar energy can be adjusted independently. The scheme is simple: the more collectors, the more liquid they can heat.
- Battery devices are easy to use. There is no need to invite specialists to connect to the system.
Of the shortcomings, only two indisputable facts stand out. It is impossible to organize full heating of a swimming pool with a solar collector. In addition, its effectiveness decreases in cloudy or cold weather.
Types of solar collectors for heating pool water
Conventionally, all storage devices are divided into two types:
Open and closed solar collectors differ in the design of the storage element. The performance of the equipment similarly depends on its design.
Tubular-type vacuum solar systems have special glass flasks as a storage element. Depending on the design, they come with one or two walls. The air has been completely pumped out of the flask. Artificially created vacuum is an excellent heat insulator. Inside the glass flask with a vacuum there is a copper heat exchanger tube through which water from the pool circulates.
In one solar collector, a set of glass flasks with copper tubes is connected to the main unit - the distributor. The module helps mix flows, directs heated water into the pool, and takes cold liquid from the bowl.
Solar vacuum solar collectors are capable of heating the water in the pool even with the onset of cold weather. However, their effectiveness is halved. In clear sunny weather in late autumn, the collector compensates for a maximum of 20% of the energy consumption used to generate heat.
Advice! An installed solar vacuum collector for an indoor pool can provide a swimming season from mid-spring to the end of October.
Panel collectors look like a window, only with dark glass. The device for heating water in the pool consists of an aluminum body. A heat exchanger made of a set of tubes is installed inside. They come in copper or aluminum. The heat exchanger is in contact with a selectively sprayed metal panel. The storage element is covered with dark glass on top.
The water in the heat exchanger heats up faster due to solar heat reflected by the metal plate. From copper or aluminum tubes, it flows into the pool through forced circulation. Panel-type collectors are effective in sunny, hot weather. To heat a pool, they are more often used in the south or in areas with a temperate climate. After the onset of cold weather, the efficiency of the solar collector is greatly reduced.
Pyramid-type collectors are designed for domestic use. The equipment is effective with small inflatable and frame pools. In hot sunny weather, pyramidal solar collectors are capable of maintaining water temperatures in the range from + 23 to + 25 o C.
In a pool system, the collector is connected to a pumping station. The water is heated inside the absorber, the role of which is played by a hose with a cross section of 25-40 mm wound around the base. A mirror reflector of sunlight is installed under the storage device. The hoses are usually covered with a transparent cap on top.
Of all the existing types, the pyramidal-type pool collector is the one most often assembled with your own hands. This is due to the simplicity of the device and compactness. In addition, by winding the hose in a pyramid, the productivity of the equipment increases.
A flexible solar collector is made of elastic materials, rubber is most often used. Outwardly, it resembles a rug. The solar collector is only of the open type. It is most often used with mobile inflatable pools. The mat rolls up easily. Together with the deflated pool bowl, the collector can be easily transported in the trunk of a car to the dacha.
The rate of water heating depends on the area of the solar collector. For each pool, a mat is individually selected according to size. The product is placed in a sunny place and connected with hoses to the font pumping system.
How to make a solar collector for heating a swimming pool with your own hands
Despite the simplicity of the device, a flexible or pyramidal household collector costs around 20 thousand rubles. If you separately calculate the costs of purchasing components, then making a solar collector for a pool will cost 6-7 thousand rubles.
The main expense will be to purchase a hose. First you need to calculate its length and thickness. Typically, water in a pool system circulates at a speed of 0.4 to 0.7 m/s. With these parameters, 1 m of hose with a cross-section of 25 mm can produce 3.5 liters of hot water per hour on a hot sunny day. Using this performance indicator as a basis, the total length of the hose is calculated taking into account the volume of water in the pool.
Important! The calculations will always be approximate, since water heating is affected by the outside air temperature, the intensity of use of the pool, the presence of a bowl cover and other nuances.
The easiest way to assemble a solar collector for a pool is from black HDPE pipes. It is optimal to give preference to an open pyramidal design. The pipe is bought in black color to better attract solar energy. Light shades reflect sunlight. For example, in a blue pipe the water will warm up more slowly.
Advice! When purchasing HDPE pipes, you need to make sure that there is a longitudinal blue stripe on the black walls. The marking indicates that the plastic is not technical, but is suitable for drinking water.
The frame of the collector is a pyramid made of timber. To make it, take a square piece of plywood with an area of 1 m2. The stand is fixed in the center. From the corners of the plywood to the top of the support, inclined elements made of timber are installed. The resulting pyramid resembles a stand for a Christmas tree. A HDPE pipe is wound in a spiral onto the finished structure. A gap of about 1.5 cm is left between each turn. The pipe is fixed to the inclined elements of the pyramid with clamps. The fasteners will prevent the coils from moving out. The ends of the pipe are connected to the pool pumping system.
Advice! To increase the efficiency of a homemade collector, any foil material is glued to the plywood base. The reflector will direct the sun's rays onto the hose.
The video shows an example of a solar collector:
To make a closed type solar collector for an outdoor pool, you need to perform the following steps:
- Choose a place for a panel solar collector as close as possible to the pool in a sunny area. The front of the storage device should face south. The selected area is cleared of grass and the turf layer is removed with a shovel. The bottom of the pit is covered with geotextiles and filled to ground level with sand and crushed stone. A platform of paving slabs is laid on top of the cushion and covered with any waterproofing material.
- A frame is assembled from a beam with a cross-section of 50x50 mm, which will act as the frame of the box. There will be a pipe inside here. The lower part of the frame is covered with plywood. With this plane the box will be directed to the north.
- The shield frame is reinforced with mounting corners. Similarly, protrusions are installed from these elements, for which the manifold hose will be fixed. A frame is assembled from timber for vertical installation of the shield. Place it on a prepared site. A shield is attached to the frame with the back side covered with plywood.
- Slats are attached along the perimeter of the frame on the front side. They must have grooves for glass. The entire shield is painted black. A black hose is placed inside the shield. The distance between each line is maintained at 4.5 cm. The hose is fixed to pre-prepared protrusions with clamps or plastic holders. It will not be possible to bend the pipe at a steep angle to fit it into a box. It is cut into pieces, and shaped elements are used for connection: corners, couplings.
- After installation, the manifold hose is connected to the pool pumping system and a hydraulic test is carried out. If everything is fine, proceed to glazing. For these purposes, it is optimal to use glass. If it is not available, polycarbonate will do, but its transparency is less, which will reduce the efficiency of the collector.
After glazing, you can heat the water in the pool using a self-assembled solar collector. The system starts by manually turning on the pump. If desired, you can install automation with temperature sensors.
On a hot sunny day, the water inside the hose of the storage device will warm up to a temperature of + 70 o C. In about 4-7 hours of circulation, the water in the pool will warm up to + 25 o C. However, these figures are approximate. The heating temperature depends on the volume of the pool and the size of the collector.
Operating rules
To obtain effective heating of a pool with a solar collector, it must be used correctly. There are a number of rules that it is advisable to follow:
- The optimal location for installing storage equipment is the roof of the building, but as close as possible to the pool.
- The solar collector works more efficiently when positioned horizontally. Vertical installation is allowed, but with a maximum inclination of 30 degrees.
- The supply pipes are located higher in relation to the return pipeline. This is due to the fact that, according to the law of physics, hot water is directed upward.
- The front side of the storage device is always located on the south side. Deviation up to a maximum of 45 o is allowed.
- If the area is illuminated by the sun for less than 5 hours during the day, then it is not suitable for installing a collector.
At the end of the swimming season in the pool, the remaining water is drained from the storage device. You cannot leave the liquid, as in winter it will freeze and rupture the tubes.
Conclusion
The solar collector for the pool will last from 10 to 20 years, provided that the operating rules are followed. It is optimal to store equipment in a shed in winter, and with the onset of summer take it outside again.
The basis of the system is a black flat solar collector (mat) (1) made of ethylene-propylene rubber (EPDM), connecting elements for heating mats, a safety check valve and fittings are also made of EPDM.
Water from the pool is supplied through a pipe to the mat channels by means of a pump (2) through a sand filter (3) and, heated by solar energy in the mat channels, is returned to the pool. The pump operation is controlled by the controller (4), by processing signals from thermometric sensors (5).
The controller (4) analyzes the temperature of the water in the pool and turns on/off the pump to maintain the set water temperature.
- The solar controller controls the solar system every 30 minutes between 8:00 - 18:00.
- Performs digital calibration of water temperature and solar activity in degrees Celsius.
- Displays errors after self-diagnosis. Self-diagnosis of problems.
- The controller has a built-in clock.
- Pump switching is carried out contactlessly, which ensures high reliability.
Specifications
Solar collector (mat):
- Collector material - EPDM (ethylene - propylene rubber UV - stabilized).
- Mat size 1.33 * 3 m.
- Total mat area ~ 4 m2
- Installation type - on the roof or ground.
- Black color.
- Operating mode: under pressure.
- Flow (recommended) - 10 l/min (per square meter).
- Test pressure 30 PSI = 206.84 kPa = 2.04 atm.
- Operating pressure 10 PSI (Pounds/square inch) = 68.95 kPa = 0.68 Atm.
- Heat resistance - from -20°С to 115°С.
- The recommended area of the mat set is > 70% of the pool area.
Sand filter pump:
- Water consumption - 50-280 l/min = 3-16.8 m 3 / hour.
- Maximum water flow - 300 l/min = 18 m 3 / hour.
- The diameter of the connecting pipes is 1.5”.
- Supply voltage - 220 V AC.
- Electrical power - 900 W.
Controller:
- Controls the solar system every 30 minutes between 8:00 - 18:00.
- Digital calibration of water temperature and solar activity in degrees Celsius.
- Error display after self-diagnosis. Self-diagnosis of problems.
- Has a built-in clock.
- The system only works when there is free heat.
- Switching of solar pumps is carried out without contact, which ensures high reliability.
Optionssupplied equipment:
Approximate pool volume |
|
Heating mat area |
4 m 2 (dimensions 3 × 1.33 m) |
Number of mats |
|
Pump and sand filter performance |
50-280 l/min = 3-16.8 m 3 /hour |
Working water pressure |
10 PSI (psi) = 68.95 kPa = 0.68 atm |
Test pressure of heating mat |
30 PSI (psi) = 206.84 kPa = 2.04 atm |
Heat resistance of heating mat |
from -20 °C to 115 °C |
≥ 70% of the pool surface area (at a depth of 1.5 m) |
Equipment
| 1. Flat, black, EPDM heating mats | 6 pcs |
| 2. Connecting elements for heating mats | 1 set |
| 3. Safety valve | 1 PC |
| 4. Pump with sand filter | 1 PC |
| 5. Controller with thermometric sensors | 1 PC |
| 6. Instructions for solar water heater | 1 PC |
| 7. Instructions for the controller | 1 PC |
Package:One package contains: | |
To create and maintain a comfortable pool water temperature, a lot of thermal energy is required. The solar collector is a modern energy-efficient solution to this problem. It can be used to heat water in indoor and outdoor swimming pools. This way you will use the alternative energy that nature provides.
By contacting us in Moscow, you can buy solar collectors for heating pool water of various capacities. They are highly effective in clear weather. Additionally, we recommend installing electric water heaters for the pool. They are mounted behind the collector and are used as a heat source in cloudy weather.
How is water heated in a pool?
To understand how the solar collector heats the water in the pool, you should know its structure. The system is quite simple to create and maintain. This knowledge will help you choose all the swimming pool equipment you need.
Structurally, solar collectors consist of:
- Circulation pumps that supply water and ensure its movement.
- Collector based on solar panels.
- Heat exchanger systems that transfer heat to fluids.
- Filters for the pump, providing water purification in the pool.
- Valves that regulate the flow of liquid.
Our website presents all systems that heat pool water. You can familiarize yourself with the range and choose suitable solutions for yourself.
Water is taken from the pool using circulation pumps and supplied to the heat exchanger. She passes through a sensor that measures her temperature. If it is below the specified parameters, then heat is taken from the collector for heating. The prepared liquid is supplied to the pool.
The nuances of choosing a collector
Before choosing a solar collector for a swimming pool, it is necessary to correctly calculate the power of the heating equipment. This will help determine the area of the battery. To do this you need to know:
- pool tank type: open or closed;
- installation location;
- volume, area, depth, color of the pool tank, presence and type of covering material;
- tilt angle, position of the solar collector;
- purpose and intensity of use of the pool: for sports, recreation, for children;
- water supply intensity.
These calculations are performed for each basin (and reservoir) individually. There are also general recommendations. For swimming pools located in a building, the solar collector area is 50-70% of the water surface. The data was obtained based on numerous calculations. In open pools, the collector area is 70-100% of the liquid surface.
Our specialists will help you make all the calculations. Affordable prices for high-quality solar collectors for heating pool water and professional service will leave a pleasant mark on cooperation.
If you have a swimming pool, the issue of heating the water in it is especially important. This function can be handled by a special non-pressure solar collector using modern vacuum tubes with double evacuation. For example, a manifold with 20 such tubes is designated SCH-20 dvt.
At the design stage, it is necessary to carefully consider the water heating scheme.
Heating water in both indoor and outdoor pools using a solar pool collector is profitable, efficient and environmentally friendly. The equipment does not require special care other than cleaning the vacuum tubes. The service life of such a collector is at least 20 years.
A set of equipment based on solar collectors for heating a swimming pool consists of:
Gravity solar collector (or collectors) with double vacuum tubes;
Circulation pump;
Circulation pump control controller and temperature sensors.
The mechanism of operation of such a system is simple: when the water in the pool cools below the set value and the temperature on the collector is greater than the temperature in the pool, the controller turns on the circulation pump and water from the pool enters the solar collector, where it is heated, then sent back to the pool. If the solar collector cools down (for example at night) and its temperature becomes lower than the inlet temperature in the pool, the controller turns off the circulation pump and water heating stops.
The solar collector is placed on the roof of the pool or on a free area next to the pool.
Choosing a solar collector for a swimming pool
When installing a water heating system, you must consider:
Geographical point of installation of the pool;
Type of pool (indoor, outdoor);
Pool parameters (length, width, depth, color, type of coating, volume, surface area, etc.);
How well is the pool insulated?
Required water heating temperature.
In pools 25-50m long it is enough to keep the temperature at +22°C, in smaller pools (8-16m long) - +23-26°C.
If therapeutic swimming is practiced in the pool, the temperature should exceed +26-28°C, bathing children - +28-30°C. In indoor pools it is necessary to maintain a special microclimate and water temperature at +24-28°C.
For an indoor pool, the collector surface should approximately be 50-70% of the water surface area, for an outdoor pool - 70-100% of the area. But these are purely theoretical and highly indicative recommendations.
The choice of solar collector for a swimming pool directly depends on the heat loss of the pool. The heat loss of an indoor pool is significantly less than that of an outdoor pool. In the latter, the greatest heat loss occurs at night, while installation of the shelter can reduce the level of losses by 80%, depending on the quality of the design.
