Quantum Solar Water Heater

I saw this solar water heater in one of many newspaper advertisements with a twist. Instead of using special plumbing collectors installed in your roof, this one uses the princinple of "reverser refrigeration".

"The system works on the principle of a refrigeration circuit, drawing heat out of one space and discharging it into another.

"The Compact Solar Heat Pump consists basically of three major components. A compressor plus two heat exchangers (evaporator & condenser).

"In operation, the evaporator absorbs whatever heat energy is available to it from the atmosphere (air) to vaporise the refrigerant. The vapour is then compressed raising its pressure and temperature. This high temperature vapour is passed through special pipes permanently bonded around the outside of the water storage tank, forming the condenser. As the refrigerant vapour condenses back to its liquid form, it gives off its heat to the stored water.

"As this happens, the condensed refrigerant liquid passes back to the evaporator panels through an expansion device (TX Valve), is vaporised, and the cycle is then repeated.

"The refrigerant material (R134a) is unusual in that it has a very low boiling (or vaporising) point well below 0°C at atmospheric pressure and a freezing point more than 100°C below zero. It is liquid when cold but easily becomes a vapour when heated and vice versa.
The subject of hot and cold is really a question of relativity.

"People think of hot and cold relative to themselves - their comfort levels.
As our normal body temperature is 36°C an ambient temperature of 40°C is called hot, while an ambient temperature of only 5°C is said to be very cold. It is all relative.

"In operation within the heat pump the refrigerant can be vaporising at a temperature of around minus 20°C. An ambient temperature of 5°C is HOT compared with such a low figure.

Thus the Quantum Compact Solar Heat Pump can operate in all seasons of the year, making hot water both day and night very efficiently. So if you are "Thinking About Solar" invest in a Quantum."

It looks good based on their website. When my electric water needs replacement, I will seriously think of this water heater. It is environmentally friendly to boot.