Flat Plate Split Solar System: A Smart Hot Water Solution For Modern High-Rise Buildings

Flat Plate Split Solar System With the acceleration of urbanization and the popularization of high-rise buildings, traditional solar water heating systems are facing installation restrictions and aesthetic challenges. The Split Flat-Plate Solar Thermal System, through the innovative design of "separation of collector and water tank", perfectly solves these pain points and becomes an ideal hot water supply solution for modern residences, commercial buildings and industrial fields. This article will conduct an in-depth analysis of the technical principles, core advantages and practical application value of this system.

System Composition and Working Principle

1. System components

The flat-panel split system is composed of three core components: 

1. Flat-plate collectors: Installed on the exterior walls of buildings, balcony railings or roofs, they absorb solar energy and convert it into thermal energy. 

2. Pressure-bearing insulated water tank: Placed indoors (such as balconies, equipment rooms, etc.), it stores hot water and maintains temperature. 

3. Intelligent control system: Connects the circulating pump, temperature sensor and auxiliary energy to achieve fully automatic operation.

2. Work process

The system operates through a forced loop mode: 

• The antifreeze (such as propylene glycol) in the collector rises in temperature after absorbing solar energy. 

• The temperature difference controller starts the circulating pump to pump the high-temperature medium into the heat exchanger in the water tank. 

• Heat is transferred to the cold water in the water tank through the heat exchanger. 

• The cooled medium returns to the collector for reheating, forming a closed-loop circulation.

Five core advantages

1. Break through installation restrictions 

The design of separating the collector from the water tank enables installation in high-rise apartments and buildings with irregular roofs, expanding the application range by more than 80%.

2. Fully pressure-bearing operation 

The water tank is directly connected to the tap water pipeline, ensuring stable water pressure and providing the same shower experience as a gas water heater.

3. Ultimate frost resistance performance 

The closed-loop antifreeze circulation system can operate stably in an environment of -30℃, completely solving the problem of frozen pipes in cold regions.

4. Integrated architectural aesthetics 

The thickness of the flat-plate collector is only 8-10cm, and it can be embedded in the exterior wall or railing to achieve invisible installation, which conforms to modern architectural aesthetics.

5. Intelligent control and multi-energy linkage 

Supports remote monitoring via mobile APP, automatically switches between electric and gas auxiliary heating, and ensures 24-hour hot water supply.

Typical Application Scenarios

1. Balcony wall-mounted system for high-rise residential buildings 

Case configuration: 2-3㎡ collector +150-200L water tank 

Applicable families: 3-5 members of a family, with an annual energy-saving rate of 60% to 70%

2. Centralized heating system for schools/hospitals 

Case configuration: 200-500㎡ collector array +10-50 ton hot water storage tank 

Energy-saving benefits: Daily hot water supply of 20 to 100 tons, reducing energy costs by over 40%

3. Application of industrial low-temperature heat sources 

Application scenarios: Preheating for food processing, heating of electroplating tanks, and process water for textile factories 

Temperature range: It can provide a stable heat source of 40-80℃

Technical Parameters and Selection Guide

1. Main key performance indicators: Heat collection efficiency, heat loss coefficient, working pressure, service life. 

2. Selection calculation formula 

The heat collection area = daily average water consumption ×(water temperature rise value ÷ solar irradiance)÷ system efficiency 

Water tank capacity = 50L per person × family size × safety factor 1.2

Installation and Implementation Specifications

1. Installation location selection 

The collector should be installed facing south (east/west ≤15°), without any obstruction throughout the year 

The water tank should be placed close to the water usage point to reduce heat loss from the pipeline

2. Professional installation requirements 

It adopts 304 stainless steel brackets and copper pipes for connection to ensure structural safety 

The pipelines need to be insulated to reduce heat loss during operation

3. Anti-freezing and anti-corrosion measures 

Electric heating tapes should be added in high-altitude and cold areas to prevent freezing 

Aluminum-magnesium alloy anti-corrosion frames should be chosen for coastal areas

Investment Return Analysis

Take a family of four in East China as an example: 

Initial investment: Approximately 15,000 to 20,000 yuan (including installation) 

Annual energy conservation: Reduce electricity/gas consumption by 2000-3000 KWH 

Payback period: 4 to 6 years (depending on local energy prices) 

Lifetime return: Cost savings can reach 3 to 5 times the initial investment

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can it be used normally on rainy days? 

The system is equipped with dual-mode heating function. When there is insufficient sunlight, it automatically starts electric assistance to ensure a continuous supply of hot water throughout the day.

Q2: Is maintenance complicated? 

The surface of the flat-plate collector is self-cleaning, and only the antifreeze concentration needs to be checked once every 2 to 3 years, with extremely low maintenance costs.

Q3: Does it have any impact on the building structure? 

The load of the collector is less than 30kg/㎡, which is lower than the design load standard of the roof. With professional installation, it does not affect the structural safety.

Conclusion

The flat-plate split solar system has achieved a perfect integration of solar thermal utilization and modern buildings through technological innovation. It not only solves the application bottleneck of high-rise buildings but also redefines the standard of green hot water supply with its outstanding performance and intelligent control. With the advancement of the carbon neutrality goal and the rise in energy prices, this system will become one of the core infrastructures for civil and commercial buildings to reduce carbon emissions and achieve energy transition. 

Choosing a flat-panel split system is not only about selecting an economical and reliable hot water solution, but also about investing in a sustainable lifestyle oriented towards the future.

Company Profile

Dezhou BTE Solar Co., Ltd. is founded in 2009, located in Shandong Province,China, which is an innovative company focused on the field of solar thermal applications and has a number of independently intellectual property rights in core technology. Relying on high advanced technical strength, we have independently developed the full automatic production lines, and production efficiency has reached the international level. Based on the idea of industrial 4.0, it has built a global professional solar thermal system in High , med Ium and low temperature like flat plate collector, U pipe collector, heat pipe collector and solar water heaters. Now BTE is not only a manufacture, also supply different energy saving solutions to global partners.

Now BTE products have pass Solar Key Mark and CE certificate. We have developed various solar collectors for different working temperature and circumstance. The solar thermal products include flat plate collectors, U pipe collectors, Heat pipe collectors, manifold collectors, compact pressurized and non-pressure solar water heater. We have cooperated with many home and abroad enterprises for long-term in solar system. We have been devoting ourselves to research, development and innovation of solar energy core technology. With the aim of creating professional flat plate collector producing base in the world, we will work to make the world more energy saving and beautiful with the cleaning circumstance.