Stokvis solar-thermal offering is based on highly efficient solar collector
A highly efficient evacuated-tube solar collector is used by Stokvis Energy Systems as part of a solar-energy package that also includes boilers and plate heat exchangers. The Ecotube developed and patented by Riomay is said to gather 61% more energy per square metre than the industry norm and radically reduce the amount of ‘parasitic’ energy lost by other types of evacuated-tube solar heating systems. As a result, the system requires smaller pumps to circulate the fluid in the evacuated-tube collector, so there are fewer drops in pressure through the system, giving a more sustained level of heat than most other systems. These Riomay collectors can deliver 750 kWh/m2 per year in direct-heat mode and 850 kWh/m2 in pre-heat mode. Among major projects in which they have been used is the residential development of Arsenal Football Club’s former home at Highbury, with 240 Ecotube solar collectors designed to deliver over 350 000 kWh of energy a year. A key component of Ecotube collectors is a strip of aluminium treated with a selective Tinox coating. This absorber strip is bonded to a copper pipe and can be angled to maximise the collection of solar energy (latitude plus 5°). Ecotubes can be installed flat on a roof, at an angle or horizontally on flank walls.
The key to the very high performance of the Ecotube solar collector used by Stokvis in its solar-thermal offering is this finned solar collector in an evacuated tube.
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