Solar Water Heater

A low-pressure heat exchanger for hot water systems, comprising:

• an essentially rectangular aluminum absorber plate;
• an essentially matching aluminum companion plate in spaced relationship to the absorber plate to which it is joined below by a means for binding;
• a means for spacing to create an internal space between the absorber and companion plates for a flow of water there through, the means for spacing providing a water-tight seal;
• a means for channeling to create a serpentine flow path for the water;
• and
• at least one port through one of the absorber and companion plates for water to enter the internal space and at least one other port through one of the absorber and companion plates for water to exit, the at least two ports located so as to maximize the serpentine flow path, wherein the water flowing in contact with the absorber plate receiving solar radiation is heated by it and forms a medium for transferring heat.

A low-pressure solar hot water system, comprising:

• a heat-exchange vessel containing a volume of water;
• at least one low-pressure absorber panel irradiated by the sun comprising an essentially rectangular aluminum absorber plate, an essentially matching aluminum companion plate in spaced relationship to the absorber plate to which it is joined below by a means for binding, a means for spacing to create an internal space between the absorber and companion plates for a flow of water there through, the means for spacing providing a water-tight seal, a means for channeling to create a serpentine flow path for the water;
• and at least one port through one of the absorber and companion plates for water to enter the internal space and at least one other port through one of the absorber and companion plates for water to exit, the at least two ports located so as to maximize the serpentine flow path, wherein the water flowing in contact with the absorber plate is heated by conduction and forms a medium for transferring heat;
• at least one low-pressure heat exchanger submerged in the heat-exchange vessel comprising a duplicate structure to that of the absorber panel, wherein heated water flowing in contact with the absorber and companion plates of the heat exchanger transfer heat by conduction there through to the volume of water;
• a means for providing a fluid communication loop between the at least one low-pressure absorber panel and the at least one low-pressure heat exchanger by connecting respective entrance and exit ports;
• and
• a means for creating a circulation current in the fluid communication loop to thereby transfer heat between the at least one low-pressure absorber panel and the at least one low-pressure heat exchanger.