Types of metallic solar heaters

The most recommended domestic metal solar collector is the first one I am going to list, the flat plate, whether it is homemade or commercial, due to its sufficient efficiency and simplicity.

The types of metal collectors that I propose on this page must necessarily be made of metal components, due to their high performance.
If plastic collectors or absorbers are used, they may be inefficient and deteriorate prematurely due to high temperatures.

Conventional solar collector

As is the case with my own project.
Hermetic box with a hole at the bottom as a vent, and transparent screen (in my case polycarbonate)

Vacuum tube solar collector

It is a very advanced system, but it is difficult to emulate it at home.

There is no screen here, the tubes themselves act as a greenhouse.
But it also receives a large amount of light due to its spherical shape, also helped by the reflectors at the bottom.

When the sun shines from the side, the light enters a flat screen diffusely. In the tubes, a large part enters as direct light, through the part that the sun hits, and another fairly direct part through the part reflected by the reflectors that I mentioned before.

This type of metal solar collector is more appropriate for the use of radiant heating, due to its high thermal capacity.
In domestic use, many cases have problems with bursts and breakages, due to excess heat not consumed.
Problems that can be avoided with security systems, but that many installers do not apply.

Parabolic solar collector

We rarely do this at home, but it is on our list of metal solar collectors.
Would you be able to do it?
It has its little complexities, you need something to direct it towards the sun.

On the plus side, it is a machine that can heat the water at a beastly temperature.
So, starting from this, you already know the very negative point if the consumption is domestic.
But it could be perfectly sized to the consumption calculation.
The solar tracker will make this work perfectly, if it is not with a solar controller it will not work.

Concentric parabolic solar collector

The same as above, but we will need a 2-axis solar tracker.
It is very complex, and can be dangerous, because the point concentration reaches extremely high temperatures.

The exemplary case of a concentric solar thermal collector. Solucar by Abengoa

Abengoa has installed its SOLUCAR project in Seville, an interesting project with an array of mirrors projecting sunlight onto a tower.
This light concentrated on the tower converts the high temperature into electricity.

Do you see the point that remains suspended in the air?
It is the concentration of several mirrors, of parts of them, that are not pointing at the tower, I imagine it will be deliberate.