Which type of solar water heater is better, FPC or ETC?
The choice of an FPC or ETC type of solar water heater depends upon the location, seasons and other external factors.
In general, FPC type solar water heaters have better performance in hot climatic conditions whereas ETC type solar water heaters perform better in cold climatic conditions. A detailed comparison between the two technologies in the context of providing domestic water heating is as below:
Criteria |
Comparison between FPC & ETC type Solar Water Heaters |
Heat generation |
ETC has better heat generation in colder climates and under cloudy/low sunlight conditions |
Heat insulation |
ETC has lower heat loss at night as the vacuum inside the tubes offers better insulation |
Pressure endurance |
In case of non-pressurized systems, FPC can withstand higher pressure compared to ETC |
Water hardness |
In case of non-heat exchanger type systems, scaling due to hard water leads to a higher loss in efficiency in case of FPC compared to ETC |
Durability |
FPC systems can last for 15 years or more without major maintenance whereas ETC systems can last for 5 years or more without major maintenance. |
Operations & Maintenance |
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Other Questions
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Does the solar water heating system work on cloudy days?
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