Sunward Solar Hot Water System - Features
The Sunward Heat Exchanger
The Sunward Heat Exchanger is a separate component that sits beside the storage tank. Most solar hot water heat exchangers are contained within the water storage tank. This means when the tank wears out you have to replace the whole unit, including the heat exchanger — which is the most expensive part of the system.
A. EXTERNAL HEAT EXCHANGER
What it is: The Heat Exchanger transfers heat from the solar heated Glycol to your water supply.
Why it’s better: External Heat Exchangers don’t need to be replaced when the tank does. Built-in units sit at the bottom of the tank—so when the water is heated, it naturally rises and mixes with colder water. The Sunward Heat Exchanger delivers hot water right to the top of the Storage Tank (with minimal heat loss) where it is drawn from, on demand.
B. 20-WATT PUMP MAGNETIC-DRIVE PUMP
What it is: The pump that circulates the glycol mixture through the Sunward System.
Why it’s better: Since it gets its power from the sun via the photovoltaic panel mounted on your Collectors, the pump only runs when there is enough sun to produce hot water. As the intensity of the sun increases, the pump picks up speed, and transfers heat to your water supply that much faster.
C. OVER 130' OF 1/4" COPPER TUBING
What it is: The tubing through which the heated Glycol is pumped in order to transfer the heat to your cold water.
Why it’s better: Four concentric coils of copper tubing are nested within one another inside the Heat Exchanger. There is so much surface area of copper in such a small space that the water surrounding the tubing is quickly heated to as much as 180º F.
HEAT TRANSFER FLUID (running throughout the Micro-Tubing)
Sunward uses a mixture of food-grade glycol and distilled water (totally non-toxic) as its heat transfer fluid. But thanks to its smart design, the Sunward System uses less of it, and makes it last longer. In fact, a Sunward System can go more than 5 years without glycol replacement. Many other systems require annual replacement of the Glycol. That requires flushing the system and the Glycol can cost as much as $80 per gallon.