STEP 1: DETERMINE CONSUMPTION

The ideal solution for busy kitchens and catering facilities, the Zip

The average daily water consumption per individual is within 30-50 litre range and 120-200 litre solar geyser for a family of 4

As a rule of thumb, one can replace an existing electrical geyser with a solar geyser of equal volume: for instance, replacing 150l with 150l.However, it is always recommended to select a slightly larger size so as to fully harness the benefits of storing solar-heated water over longer periods of time.

STEP 2: DETERMINE SYSTEM TYPE

There are 2 options to choose from; open-loop system and closed-loop system, sometimes also referred to as direct and indirect systems, respectively.

If one lives in a warm area or by the coast, then frost and night-time freezing is not a problem, so an open-loop/direct system is recommended. These are both simple and economical and yield high performance and minimal maintenance.If one, however, lives inland or in a cold region where there is likelihood of frost and the possibility of ambient night-time temperatures dropping below zero degrees, then water in the collector would freeze and damage the system. Therefore, in such cases, a closed-loop/indirect system is recommended. These circulate heated anti-freeze or glycol in the collectors which “indirectly” heat the potable water in the geyser such that there is no mixing of the water and anti-freeze/glycol solution.

Finally, in extreme hard-water areas, scale deposits may hinder the performance of the collector. In such cases a closed-loop system is recommended as it prevents the build-up of scale without requiring the installation of water filters.

STEP 3: DETERMINE INSTALLATION TYPE

The Last step is to decide on how the system will be installed, which can be in a thermosyphon or pumped configuration.

The simplest, most economical and by far the most energy-efficient option is that of the thermosyphon installation. In this case, the geyser is installed above the collector and uses the natural forces of convection and gravity to circulate water in the system. Where possible, the geyser may even be hidden on a south-facing roof or inside the roof (while still being higher than the collector).However, if the geyser cannot be mounted above the collector, or if the presence of the geyser alters the aesthetic appearance of the property, then one can install a pumped system, which is sometimes referred to as a “forced circulation” system. In this case, the geyser may be installed below the collector or even in the basement. A small circulating pump, as well as a control unit, are attached to the system so as to move water upward against gravity.

A pumped system may also be used in larger properties, where multiple collectors and/or multiple geysers are used.