Now you can heat the pool water with solar panels and thus enjoy a heated pool throughout the year And not just in the summer months. This is achieved thanks to the installation of a system of solar collectors that allow us to obtain a double benefit: the water will always have a pleasant temperature for bathing, and the use of the outdoor pool can be extended throughout the year.
To heat a pool using solar energy, we must have it installed collectors or thermal solar panelswhich capture the sun\’s heat and transmit it to our pool water.
Solar panels are classified according to the main uses we offer: generate electricity, hot water or both. Depending on their purpose, the main types of solar panels that we find on the market are:
- Photovoltaic solar panels.
- Thermal solar panels.
- Hybrid solar panels: Photovoltaic + thermal.
The main difference between them is that solar photovoltaic converts solar energy into electricity directly, while solar thermal uses solar energy in the form of heat to heat water or its circuits.
What is a solar thermal panel and how does it work?
A solar thermal collector or solar thermal collector or solar thermal panel, is a device that makes it possible to harness solar thermal energy, that is, it serves to capture solar thermal energy through solar radiation and thus heat the water. Hot water can be used, for example, to heat swimming pools, for bath or shower water or as a water heating system led through pipes capable of heating the rooms through which they pass.
It should be noted that Solar thermal energy can also be used to generate electricity. This is done in solar thermal plants that heat water and generate steam capable of moving a turbine that is used to produce electricity.
By using solar thermal collectors we can have hot water and heating from a clean and environmentally friendly way.
A solar thermal collector panel consists of different elements:
- Covers or thermal plates. They are usually made of glass or special plastic materials. When the sun shines on them, they capture all the energy possible, minimizing losses due to convection.
- Air channel It may or may not be empty and is responsible for separating the cap from the absorbent. The thickness of this channel varies depending on the losses due to convection and the excessively high temperatures that can occur if it is too narrow.
- The absorbent. Responsible for absorbing solar energy and transmitting it to the fluid in which that heat is stored. It is essential that it has a high absorption capacity and reduced thermal emission, for which a mixture of various materials such as copper or aluminum, with titanium oxide treatments, is used.
- The accumulator. It consists of a tank in which hot water is stored, that is, the collected thermal energy, so that it can be used whenever it is needed, even when there is no sun.
- Pipes, circuits, insulating layers and other elements. The tube system can transport the installation fluid and insulating elements to avoid energy losses. Main and secondary circuits allow it to function properly.
How many solar thermal panels do I need to heat a pool?
The number of solar thermal panels required to heat a swimming pool and the space required to install them they depend on the surface exposed to the air of the pool, its volume and the geographical area where it is located. In addition to this, other factors must be considered, such as:
- Solar radiation of the geographical area.
- Average temperatures of the region.
- If it is a windy or windy area.
- The temperature we want to have in the pool water as well as the time of year we want to use it.
- The dimensions and depth of the pool.
- Whether the pool is covered with a thermal blanket at night or not.
In general, the surface of the thermal solar collectors usually occupies between 50% and 100% of the surface of the poolbeing larger the colder or cloudier the area.
In the northern half of Spain, the area occupied by solar panels should be 75% of the pool\’s water loss area (7.5 m² of panels for every 10 m² of pool area) and in the southern half of 50 % (5 m² of panels for every 10 m² of pool surface).
The benefits of heating the pool with solar panels
Let\’s see below what are the most significant advantages that the use of solar energy offers heat the water in our pool:
- the sun is a source inexhaustible energy.
- Solar thermal energy is a energy cleanwhich takes care of the environment, does not pollute and allows the complete heating of the water in a swimming pool durable and efficient.
- Help we can save a significant amount of money at my end.
- It is ideal for home pools located in isolated areas.
- There are installations of easy maintenance.
- You just need to make an initial investment, if possible cushion approximately 5 years after installation.
- Reduce energy consumption as the cost of hot water will be considerably reduced.
- Reduce our carbon footprint. Using solar energy instead of fossil coal reduces the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere.
- Grants and subsidies. Depending on where the house is located, we can get different help and subsidies from public administrations.
The sun is an inexhaustible and non-polluting source of energy, an ideal efficient, economical and sustainable system to heat the water in a swimming pool. Solar energy is presented as an attractive alternative and is increasingly in demand by consumers, who will see their monthly expenses decrease while taking care of the environment.
