About Azzuro Solar
A new era in Solar Water heating has been introduced to New Zealand by Azzuro Solar NZ Limited. Azzuro Solar NZ Ltd was started in 2003 to distribute premium evacuated tube solar water heating systems developed in a joint venture between the German Paradigma Company known as the Linuo Paradigma New Energy Co. Ltd and the Linuo Group of China.
This German technology can heat your household hot water as well as assisting with under floor heating and extending the swimming season on your pool it has commercial applications such as Rest Homes, Motels/Hotels, Camping Grounds, Schools or Milking Sheds.
How does it work?
The Azzuro solar heating system has 3 key components a Compound Parabolic Concentrator (C.P.C) Solar Panel, a Hot Water Cylinder (H.W.C.) and a Digital Programmed Solar Station used to control and monitor the system.
The Solar evacuated tubes consist of an inner and outer tube with a vacuum in between, much the same as a thermos. On the outside of the inner tube is a selective nitrate coating which absorbs 93% of the available light including ultra violet and infra red rays from the atmosphere.
Heat from the tubes is transferred by an aluminum heat exchange to the copper pipes which are situated inside the tubes. When the panel gets 8°C hotter than the water in the HWC the pump is activated and the hot water flows from the panel to the HWC.
These evacuated tubes are fitted together and lie above the CPC. The CPC reflects the ultra violet and infra red rays back on to the tubes giving you the most advanced solar system available.
Because of the vacuum in the evacuated tubes both the conductive and the convective heat loss is greatly reduced. This results in wind and cold temperatures having very little effect on the efficiency of the system and the system can even heat on a cloudy day.
The tubes are made of extremely tough borosilicate glass and have been proven to withstand hail stones of up to 25mm diameter. However should one break they can be easily and cheaply replaced.
We use a hot water cylinder in the home so there is no obtrusive holding tank and the sleek glass panel lies discreetly on the roof. Government subsidies are available.
Frequenty Asked Questions
Q. Does Solar Water Heating work in New Zealand?
Yes. The sunshine hours in the South Island are similar to Germany where the system was designed, but the major difference is the ultra-violet radiation. New Zealand has 40% more ultra-violet rays than Europe and our skies are much cleaner so that all adds up to more available energy for Solar water heating and better performance.
Q. What are Solar Evacuated Tubes?
The solar evacuated tubes are made of toughened borosilicate glass and are used as the absorbing heat element in the solar water heating system. The vacuum between the cover tube and the inner tube eliminates heat loss during cold outdoor conditions. The absorbtion of the Azzuro Tube is up to 93% of the total light spectrum including New Zealands abundance of Ultra-violet rays. It is the most efficient solar absorber element and is widely used in solar water heating systems in Europe.
Q. What is the CPC collector?
The CPC collector is the framed assembly with Evacuated Tubes that is installed on the roof of your home (or other exterior location). A patented reflector mirror (Compound Parabolic Concentrator) is located behind each Evacuated Tube and directs light back into the tubes from every angle, greatly increasing the collecting/heating ability of each tube.
A loop of copper pipe runs the full length of each Evacuated Tube and back again, then loops to the next tube. This water filled copper pipe is the key to the system as the entire panel becomes a giant heat exchanger. With such a large surface area exposed to the heat collected inside the tubes, the water inside the copper pipes heats up very quickly.
Q. How does the Solar Hot Water System work?
A German solarcontrollerby Resol is at the heart of the Azzuro Solar system. This award winning electronic controller provides a fully automatic and trouble free solar hot water system.
When the water inside the CPC collector becomes 8 degrees celcius hotter than the water inside the hot water cylinder, a small 35w pump transfers the water into a heat exchange tube/coil inside the cylinder, which inturn, heats the cylinder water. When the differential drops back to 4 degrees, the pump turns off.
Q. Can I use my existing Hot Water Cylinder?
Yes.
Q. Will water be heated on a cloudy day?
Yes. The evacuated tubes absorb the full spectrum of light, including ultra-violet and infrared rays, so as long as it is daylight the system will be heating water. Although the available light/energy on a cloudy day is reduced the highly efficient Azzuro system will still provide most if not all of your hot water requirement.
Q. Can Azzuro Solar water heating be used in cold conditions?
Yes. The evacuated tubes can be used in the coldest climates and will still heat water with an outdoor temperature of -50 degrees Celsius. (as tested SPF Switzerland)
Q. What about frost/freeze protection?
Azzuro Solar has an inbuilt frost/freeze protection system. The Resol controller senses when the CPC collector temperature is too low and a small amount of water from the cylinder is circulated through the collector.
Q. Are the solar collectors an eyesore on the roof?
No. Often mistaken for a skylight, the CPC collector is very low profile and compact. Our most common installation comprises of a single collector panel 2.2 metres wide by 1.6 metres high. No bulky roof tank is required.
Q. Can the CPC collector be mounted on a flat roof?
Yes. At approximately 18kg for a CPC6 collector to 55kg for a CPC18 the collectors can be mounted on virtually any surface exposed to northerly aspect. Pitched roof, flat roof, vertical wall, or veranda mount, the design installations are limitless. Smaller CPC6 or 12 collectors can be connected together on different roof faces to provide the equivalent of a larger collector.
Q. What maintenance is required?
None. Under normal circumstances no maintenance to the system or CPC collector is required.
Q. What happens if one of the tubes is broken?
Actually, the tubes are very difficult to break and can resist 25mm hail stones. If a breakage occurs, no water leaks out! The CPC collector will still function and the efficiency of an 18 tube system is only reduced by approximately 1%. The tubes are easily replaced and are less than $60.00 each.
Q. Can Azzuro Solar systems provide large scale hot water?
Yes. Solar collectors can be connected in series to provide large scale hot water for any type or size of commercial application. Dairy sheds, accommodation, manufacturing and the food industry can all make huge savings in energy costs by installing Azzuro Solar.
Q. Are Evacuated Tube Collectors more efficient than flat plate collectors?
Yes. Evacuated tube collectors are superior to flat plate collectors in a number of ways.
1. Due to the cylindrical shape of the evacuated tube, combined with the CPC reflector, the sun’s rays enter close to perpendicular to the surface of the glass for most of the day. Flat plate collectors have the disadvantage that the sun is only perpendicular to the collector at noon and most of the day a proportion of the sunlight striking the surface of the collector is reflected away.
2. As the name suggests, air is evacuated from the evacuated tube to form a vacuum. This greatly reduces conductive and convective heat loss from the interior of the tube. As a result, wind and cold temperatures have minimal effect on the efficiency of the Azzuro evacuated tube collectors.
3. Azzuro Solar evacuated tube collectors can be used in sub-zero temperatures without the system sustaining damage. Flat plate systems often require expensive and complicated anti-freeze systemsto be installed.
4. Due to the high efficiency absorbtion of solar radiation even during overcast conditions and cold temperatures, Azzuro Solar evacuated tube systems will heat water all year round.
Q. How long do the Evacuated Tube Solar Collectors last?
Generally, the Evacuated tube collectors last for 15 to 20 years.