Hardware consolidation will hasten adoption of active solar energy systems.
As is typical in many systems, solar energy collection is managed by a
differential temperature controller that constantly monitors the temperatures
at the collector array and near the bottom of the solar storage tank. Whenever
the collector temperature is a set amount warmer than the tank temperature
(typically 5 to 8 degrees F), the circulators on each side of the heat
exchanger are turned on. When collector temperature drops to within 2 degrees F
of the tank temperature, these circulators are turned off.