Solar water heating systems that use Flat Plate Collectors (FPC) as thermal collectors, convert the energy received from the sun to heat energy, transfers the Solar heat energy which is then transferred to heat the water. This heated water reaches your tap through your pipelines. Flat Plate Collectors act as heat exchangers making use of nature’s greenhouse effect. The large heat absorbing flat plate made of copper or aluminum which collects heat justifies the name – Flat Plate Collector (FPC).

An FPC consists of the heat absorbing plates which are painted black or chemically etched black to facilitate maximum heat absorption and copper pipes called risers that are soldered to the surface of the heat absorbing plates. The many risers (copper pipes because they are good conductors of heat) run length wise across the flat plates carrying water or heat transfer fluids in them. The plates and their risers are framed in a wooden box or an insulated metal box with a glazing sheet. While this box protects the flat plates and the risers, it does not absorb the heat. To minimize the loss of heat to its surroundings, the flat plates are cushioned with high temperature rigid foam or other insulating material and aluminum foil acts as a reflector.