The plastic solar geyser array, was developed by Jose Alano, a retired Brazilian mechanic. It uses 2L cold drink bottles and long life milk/fruit juice tetra pak cartons. He shows you how to build it with PVC pipe. Most of the units below, I used 15mm black LDPE irrigation pipe instead of the PVC pipe. Copper pipe is more efficient but it's also more expensive and prone to theft.
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Bottle solar geyser array that I built with 10+10 array at Ruth's home. |
Solar array at my home that I had for two years, with 10(PVC)+15(Cu) columns. .In summer I got temperatures of 45 deg cel and in winter 32 deg cel. I have since built another variation as detailed below. |
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At Natural Dynamix school, children helped with the array assembly and Pharough helped me install. |
Four column array built by Prince, apprentice electrician. |
A 20L solar bottle geyser that these inmates at Johannesburg prison Medium B training centre constructed. |
Albert built his plastic bottle solar geyser and uses the water for washing and cooking. He says "My paraffin bill is smaller now". |
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Nomsa at 633 Denver squatter camp with her 10 column array gesyer. Her paraffin bill has halved.
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Ruth's chaps with their plastic bottle geyser.
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Below is another variation that I built and is more efficient than the bottle solar array, primarily because of the use of more expensive copper piping and aluminium backing sheet. I use the electric backup element, when the water is not hot enough due to very cold weather, clouds or rain.
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A frame 1.2mx1.8m using 35mmx35mm wooden frame with masonite backing board. A coat of enamel paint to protect it from the elements. |
For insulation, a layer of carpet underfelt. |
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Over the carpet underfelt, add aluminium sheeting 0.3mm thick. In this case, waste sheets from the lithographers were used and then painted black. |
The copper array has 15 columns about 110mm apart and 105mm long. As a cover, 1mm polycarbonate sheeting is used. In winter, temperatures of 35 to 40 deg cel is achieved in the holding tank. |
CLICK HERE (size: 1MB) to download the plastic bottle solar array detailed instruction PDF file.
CLICK HERE (40kb) to download a spreadsheet on KWH required to heat water.
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