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there is a bewildering array of options out there when it comes to Solar Water and Space Heating technology. While this competition is a good thing, it often means the prospective buyer is recommended a product based on the consultant's personal preference , rather than perhaps the best choice of unit for the job.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
There are a few newer tyes of collector available now that there were ten years ago, and while some of them can produce dramatically better low light or winter performance than older, simpler types, there is often a more complex control mechanism involved. You might think of the difference between running a lawn-mower and a Ferrari.
Above is a photo of a recently installed
evacuated tube solar collector. This is definitely the Ferrari in this example. It requires careful sizing of components and a well installed pressure vessle to take up the expansion in the glycol mix which acts as the heat transfer mechanism.
 In this installation the tank manufacturer supplied the differential; themostat which energises the 20 watt circulation pump.
The expansion tak in seen in the right of the pic with the pressure guage below.
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