Solav Water Heating System

Product Description

The Solav heating system, designed and manufactured by Solar Energy in Israel is a thermosyphon solar water heater designed to be implemented in developing countries within the sunbelt region. The system is 100% polymer-based, maintenance-free, and provides a solution that avoids corrosion, calcium deposits, and breakage of glass-made parts. The modular design allows connecting multiple units in parallel with two different volumes of 85 L and 100 L. The fully integrated design allows a plug-and-play installation which can be done in 25 minutes, avoiding the use of special tools.

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

The product is distributed by the manufacturer.

Manufacturing/Building Method

The Solav water heaters are designed in an ISO9001 certified company-owned facility in Israel. The system is mass-manufactured through an injection molding process, in which the base material is melted within the injection molding machine and then injected into a mold, where it is cooled until solidifying.

Intellectural Property Type

Open Source

User Provision Model

Customers can obtain this product directly from the company's website. Solav's headquarters are located in Jerusalem, and two branch offices are located in South Africa and India. The system was designed so that it can be installed by two people with basic standard tools in approximately 25 minutes.

Distributions to Date Status

Unknown

Design Specifications

The Solav heater is an integrated hybrid system with thermosiphon technology, in which the collector and the storage tank are combined in a single unit. The tank is made of polypropylene tank material, is glazed with polycarbonate, and provides 88% absorption. With good radiation, water in the system can reach 40°C within 3 hours. By noon, water can reach 75 °C. Specifications for the 85 L capacity:

Weighs 30 kg when empty
Has a dimension of 1150 x 1120 x 160 mm, 1.3 m²

Specifications for the 100 L capacity

Weighs 33 kg when empty
Has a dimension of 1150 x 1120 x 160 mm, 1.3 m²

Technical Support

Technical support is provided by the manufacturer through their website.

Replacement Components

Replaceable components include water pipes and accessories.

Lifecycle

The product includes a 5-year warranty. Some systems have been operating for more than 7 years without signs of deterioration.

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

The designers aim to reduce corrosion, calcium deposits, and breakage of glass made parts by using a polymer-based material.

Vetted Performance Status

Unknown

Safety

During installation, users must cover the system's glazing completely, to avoid the accumulation of hot air within the body and the risk of injury. To avoid loss of warranty, the use of parts provided by the manufacturer is required. Exposure of the system to temperatures higher than 95°C is not recommended, because the plastic can be irreversibly damaged.

Complementary Technical Systems

A low-cost electricity back-up can be installed for when solar radiation is not enough. With this back-up, water can be heated in less than 20 minutes.

Academic Research and References

None

Compliance with regulations

The product is produced in an ISO9001 certified company-owned facility.

Other Information

A video explaining the main features of this product can be found here. The complete installation instructions and operations and maintenance guide can be found here.