Heat Pipe Evacuated Tube Collector

Product Introduction

The heat pipe evacuated tube collector hot water system (Heat Pipe Evacuated Tube Collector) uses an efficient heat pipe vacuum tube as its core heat collection element, specially designed for cold regions and residential or commercial projects that require stable hot water throughout the year. The system consists of a heat pipe vacuum tube collector array, a pressure-bearing hot water storage tank, an intelligent controller, and a circulation pipeline. It has high heat collection efficiency, extremely strong anti-freezing ability (-30℃ without freezing), and is flexible to install. The capacity can be customized. A single system can meet the hot water needs of households to small to medium-sized commercial facilities (hotels, schools, factory dormitories). The product has passed international certifications such as Solar Keymark and CE, and is popular in cold markets such as Europe, North America, and Central Asia. 

Working Principle

The heat pipe vacuum tube collector operates based on the dual principles of phase change heat transfer and vacuum insulation: Each heat pipe consists of an evaporation section (immersed in the vacuum tube) and a condensation section (inserted into the flow channel of the header). The interior is filled with a low-boiling-point working medium. Sunlight passes through the highly transparent glass tube and is absorbed by the selective heat absorption coating, which converts light energy into thermal energy, heating the evaporation section of the heat pipe. The heated working medium vaporizes and rapidly rises to the condensation section, releasing the heat to the circulating anti-freezing medium (or water) in the header. The working medium condenses and flows back to the evaporation section, completing the cycle. The vacuum layer isolates conductive and convective heat losses, and the unidirectional heat transfer characteristic of the heat pipe ensures no reverse heat loss. After the medium in the header is heated, it is transported by the circulation pump to the hot water storage tank, where it is heated by the heat exchange coil to supply hot water for domestic use. No anti-freezing fluid is required; the system can still operate normally at -30℃. 

Product Parameters:

Product advantages

Superior frost resistance: The working fluid inside the heat pipe has an extremely low freezing point. The vacuum tubes and header tanks will never freeze and crack. No need to add antifreeze. Especially suitable for high-altitude areas such as Northern Europe, Canada, and Central Asia. 

Quick start-up, efficient in low light conditions: The heat pipe has an extremely fast heat transfer speed, and hot water can be produced in the morning even on cloudy days; The vacuum tube has excellent insulation performance, with minimal heat loss, and its performance in winter far exceeds that of flat plate collectors. 

Modular array, flexible expansion: A single group of collectors consists of 10 to 30 heat pipes, which can be connected in series or parallel at will. It is easy to build a solar collection array of tens to thousands of square meters, meeting the requirements of large-scale projects. 

Single component damage does not affect the entire machine: The heat pipe and vacuum tube operate independently. Even if one of them is damaged, it will not cause the system to crash. The replacement cost is extremely low and maintenance is convenient. 

Under pressure operation, compatible with multiple auxiliary heat sources: The system can be equipped with a pressure-bearing water tank, maintaining a constant water pressure; it can be seamlessly linked with gas boilers, heat pumps, and electric heaters to provide hot water throughout the year and all day long. 

International certification, a powerful tool for project bidding: With certifications such as Solar Keymark, CE, and SRCC, it meets the bidding requirements of regions like the EU, North America, and Australia, helping engineering companies secure large-scale projects. 

Factory Advantages

Our company has been dedicated to the research and manufacturing of heat pipe vacuum tube collectors for 15 years. We possess fully automated production lines for heat pipes and vacuum tube coating and encapsulation. Our annual production capacity reaches 300,000 heat pipes and 50,000 sets of collectors. The factory has obtained ISO9001 and ISO14001 certifications and can provide CE test reports. We assist customers in obtaining local certifications. A 40-foot container can carry 300-500 sets of collectors, ensuring stable supply. We offer OEM/ODM services and support customization of header materials (aluminum/stainless steel), the number of heat pipes, and connection diameters, etc. 

Complementary services

For channel partners, we offer one-stop engineering support:

1. System design software: Free provision of a solar collector array design tool. By inputting latitude and water consumption, the optimal array layout and pipeline direction diagram can be generated.

2. Technical training: Regularly hold online + offline installation training sessions (in English, Russian, Polish, etc.), and upon successful completion of the assessment, the "Certified Installer" qualification can be awarded.

3. Remote operation platform: Optional 4G intelligent controller can be selected. It can monitor the temperature, water level and fault alarms of the solar collector array in real time. The engineering partner can conduct remote diagnosis.

4. Multi-language material package: Provide product manuals, installation videos, and certification documents in English, German, French, Polish, and Russian, which can be directly used for local bidding. 

Installation Precautions

1. Orientation and Angle: Facing south (north in the Southern Hemisphere), with an angle of ±10° relative to the local latitude. The minimum installation angle for the heat pipe collector should be ≥ 25° to ensure normal fluid return.

2. Array Spacing: The spacing between the front and rear rows should be no less than 2.5 times the height of the collector to avoid winter shading.

3. Header Pipe System: For multiple sets of collectors connected in parallel, a co-flow design should be adopted to ensure balanced flow; it is recommended to install exhaust valves and drain valves at the inlet and outlet of the header tank.

4. Anti-freezing Measures: Although heat pipes are resistant to freezing, if water is used as the medium in the header tank and the circulation pipeline, in cold regions, anti-freezing fluid should still be added or an emptying scheme should be adopted; propylene glycol solution is recommended.

5. Fixed Installation: Use aluminum alloy or stainless steel brackets, firmly connect them to the roof, and ensure the wind resistance grade is ≥ 12.

6. Electrical and Commissioning: The controller and circulation pump should be equipped with leakage protection; before commissioning, clean the pipeline, drain air after filling with fluid, and conduct a 1.2 MPa pressure test for 30 minutes. 

Application Case

Development Trends

1. Growth in demand for high-altitude markets: The European energy crisis and carbon tax have driven a significant increase in the demand for heat pipe collectors in countries such as Germany, Poland, Ukraine, and Russia, with an annual growth rate of over 20%.

2. Increase in the proportion of large-scale projects: More and more hotels, schools, hospitals, and regional heating projects are adopting heat pipe vacuum tube arrays due to their advantages of anti-freezing and low maintenance costs.

3. Standardization of multi-energy complementation: The combination of heat pipe collectors, heat pumps, and heat storage tanks has become the standard configuration for commercial systems in severely cold regions, with intelligent controllers optimizing the energy structure.

4. Standardization of products and pre-assembly: Factory pre-installation of manifolds and supports has shortened the installation time by more than 50%, and the proportion of complete boxes exported has increased. 

Summary: The Heat Pipe Evacuated Tube Collector solar hot water system boasts core advantages such as -30℃ super strong anti-freezing performance, rapid startup, modular design, and low maintenance costs. It has become the ideal choice for commercial and residential solar hot water projects in cold regions. We sincerely invite foreign distributors and engineers to join hands and explore the cold market! 

Contact us immediately to obtain the heat pipe collector system solution, project quotation and channel cooperation policies!