Glossary of Solar Water Heating System Parts
- Automatic air vent valve - Automatically and continuously eliminates air from the system.
- Circulating pump - A quiet, self-lubricating pump circulates fluid through pipes.
- Closed-loop - indirect water heating
- Collector - collects sunlight and converts to heat.
- Differential temperature controller - a thermostatic switch that automatically starts and stops circulating pumps according to temperature differences between two locations.
- Drainback systems - a hybrid of solar water heating systems that takes the best from each system type.
- Draindown valve - diverts water flow, draining an open-loop system during freeze conditions.
- Expansion tank - allows fluid in pipes to change volume according to changing temperatures to reduce pressure loads in system.
- Heat exchanger - a fluid heat exchanger transfers heat from hot transfer-fluid to cooler water, thereby warming the water.
- Heat transfer fluid - a fluid that carries heat from one part of a system to another.
- Open-loop - direct water heating.
- Solenoid valve - an electrically operated valve that diverts water flow.
- Storage tank - stores water or fluid, and the heat it holds, much like a very large thermos bottle.
- Temperature and pressure relief valve - relieves pressure that builds up in a system when fluid temperature exceeds the boiling point.
- Tempering valve - mixes cold water with hot, preventing scalding hot water from reaching faucets.
- Vacuum relief valve - Allows air into the pipes, but does not let water out.
- Water heater - tank that stores and heats water.