Portable Solar Heaters‏

Portable solar heaters are used to provide hot air inside rooms, homes or other dwellings to raise the room temperature. It is beneficial for people leaving in colder climates or sub-zero weather conditions. The device has fans that move the hot air generated inside to be moved around the room. Due to its portability, it can be carried from one room to another or from place to place.

Assembly of a Portable Solar Heater

A portable solar heater is made up of a an enclosure, the collector panel for collecting the solar energy, spaced rectangular angles, side walls, baffles between the angles, and an insulation lining. As most solar heaters are designed to retain heat inside the enclosure, many have insulated chambers. The solar collector panel is mounted on the opening of the enclosure. They have a highly reflective surface to allow the sun rays to be absorbed.

The blower assembly is necessary to blow the hot air in the rooms. This assembly is connected to the heat storage system. The heating storage uses either water to store the heat generated inside the enclosure or hard stones and rocks. This generated heat is insulated and maintained inside. Electrical motors power the blower assembly and the fan.

Solar Space Heaters

Window panels of 2x4 are used for solar space heaters. Most space heater’s retail for $239. They are attached to windows with suction cups. An air intake from one side and a heat blower or exhaust at another end makes the solar space heater unique. Some space heaters are mounted on roofs to let the heat into the room through the ceiling. Many are meant to supplement the inadequate heat provided by furnaces in the house. Many units are cumbersome and ugly in appearance. A Radiant heating panel is sometimes used instead of the entire unit and retails for $49 per piece. Using pellet heating stoves inside basements can be a suitable alternative to this heater. Houses should be preferably insulated in the living room and the basements. Some space heaters are powered by propane or kerosene and are available at Home Depot & Lowe’s. The Alternative Energy Store is a good source for space heaters. Models available are the Cansolair, Solarsheet, and Solarwall. Most solar heaters do not provide primary heat as they derive energy from solar rays. Their heat is more supplemental in nature. Solar heaters are best used in combination with conventional heaters. And also, when there is enough sunlight during the daytime. They are estimated to reduce the energy bills by 30 to 40 percent.

Portable Solar Water Heaters/Containers

Portable solar water heaters are ideal for showers when on the road or while travelling on express trains. It provides you the luxury of being at home, while on the road. It can be carried in your backpack, suitcase, or luggage to any destination in the world. Solar water heating systems such as tanks and containers are economically rewarding. They are easy to manage, install and build. Most people build their own solar heating system. The cheapest systems can be built for $1000. They are energy efficient and also qualify for the federal tax rebate. There are five types of solar water heating systems. They are batch systems, thermosyphon, open loop direct, pressurized glycol and closed-loop drainback. Batch heaters have the collector and storage tank in one unit. A tank of water enclosed in an insulated box and covered with glass is placed in the Sun. demand for water from the home, pushes the potable water into the pipes and the cold water into the tank to be heated again. Thermosyphon systems are simple passive systems. It is based on the principle of rising heat. Once the potable water is heated, it rises to the top. Cold water replaces the warm water at the bottom. The plus point of this system is that water can be used anytime of the day including night time, due to the water being placed in insulated tanks. Open loop direct systems heat the water directly from the solar collectors and pass them on into the storage tanks. Pressurized glycol systems use heating coils in their water storage tanks. A mixture of Propylene Glycol and water keeps the solar collectors from freezing in sub-zero temperatures. Closed loop drained back systems are based on distilled water. The distilled water is the heat transfer agent. It has never to be changed. They have a drainback reservoir between the collectors and the storage tanks, where the distilled water accumulates.