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Energy Efficient Hot Water and Solar Engineering Technologies

Energy Efficient Hot Water and Solar Engineering Technologies

Solar Heat Exchangers engineers and install energy efficient hot water and renewable energy systems across South Africa.
We design and install solutions for residential, commercial and industrial sites.
Our technologies work as standalone systems or as integrated hybrid solutions, engineered for reliability, performance, and long term operating cost reduction.

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Solar Water Heating

Solar Water Heating

System Overview

Solar Heat provides quite a simple hot water system as it has proven to be the most reliable. The solar water heater circulates water due to natural convection. The water rises up from the highly efficient collectors (north-facing) as it begins to heat up. Once it reaches the well-insulated hot water storage tank, the water is kept warm. If the water is used within this timeframe it slowly cools and makes its way back to the bottom of the collectors for reheating. This process is known as “Thermosiphoning” and is one of the most reliable and cost-effective systems available on the market.

Features & Benefits

  • The highly efficient collectors promise all year round comfort and energy independence. During times of prolonged overcast weather, a backup electrical element can be activated to boost water temperatures where necessary.
  • The hot water heating system needs little maintenance for its operation. Due to the natural convection process, no pumps are required. However a pump can be installed if the tank needs to be positioned in the roof or not above the solar collector.
  • The system can also be connected in series to your existing electrical or gas hot water systems where applicable. This is known as a “pre-feed system”.
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Heat Pumps

Solar Water Heating

Domestic Heat Pumps

Domestic Heat Pumps can easily heat between 100 and 500 litres of water to a temperature of 60˚C. Domestic heat pumps range from 3kW to 10kW in size and can be installed on existing geysers. Heat pumps are beneficial as they can operate at any time of day in any weather condition to ensure there is always hot water available to the household. Heat pumps reduce water heating costs by two-thirds or more, making them the perfect answer to today’s increasing electricity costs.

Features & Benefits

  • Save up to two-thirds of your hot water generating costs.
  • Heat pumps use Eco-friendly gas which does not pollute the atmosphere.
  • Heat pumps can fit on to any standard electric geyser.
  • Heat pumps can operate any time of day, in any weather conditions.
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Solar Water Heating

Commercial Heat Pumps

Commercial Heat Pumps are able to heat thousands of litres of water to a temperature of 60˚C. Using special High-Temperature units can heat water to a temperature of 80˚C. Commercial heat pumps range from 10kW to 117kW in size and can be installed as a modular unit with multiple heat pumps per system. This allows flexibility when sizing large hot water systems. Heat pumps are beneficial as they can operate at any time of day in any weather condition to ensure there is always hot water available for the application. Heat pumps reduce water heating costs by two-thirds or more, making them the perfect answer to today’s increasing electricity costs.

Features & Benefits

  • Save up to two-thirds of your hot water generating costs.
  • Heat pumps use Eco-friendly gas which does not pollute the atmosphere.
  • Multiple heat pumps can be connected together to heat any size plant room.
  • Heat pumps can operate any time of day, in any weather conditions.
2026 Commercial High Temp Heat Pumps Brochure
2026 Commercial Cycle Heat Pumps Brochure
2026 Commercial Direct Heat Pumps Brochure

Pool Heating

Solar Pool Heating

Pool Heat Pump

Solar Heat provides a cost-effective solution when it comes to pool heating. Our Alliance Heat Pump pool heaters are arguably the most economical way to extend your swimming season. The Alliance Heat Pump does not use a high current electric element, instead it works by compressing gas within a closed-circuit. This in conjunction with its heat exchanger allows heat to be transferred to your pool water with ease. Due to the nature of its design, the leftover compressed gas gets passed through an evaporator which makes it extremely cold. Thereafter a fan moves warm external air over the gas pipes. The “free” heat is then also absorbed from the air and is again transferred back to your pool water when the cycle repeats.

Features & Benefits

  • The Alliance Heat Pump pool heater only uses as little as 1.5 – 3 kWh of electricity per hour to run its fan and compressor.
  • The gas produced by the unit is eco-friendly gas which ensures no pollution of the atmosphere.
  • With a normal operating range of -7°C to +35°C, the Alliance unit is unaffected by rain, snow or clouds. It also comes with automatic defrosting protection built-in and can operate day and night.

2026 Commercial Inverter Pool Heat Pumps Brochure
2026 Domestic Inverter Pool Heat Pumps Brochure
Solar Pool Heating

Solar Pool Heating

As an alternative to a pool heat pump system, Solar Heat provides the advanced Heliocol solar pool heating system. The system easily attaches onto your standard pool filtration system. As the filtration system pumps water from the pool to be filtered, it is then pushed up into the Heliocol solar panels on your roof, where it is substantially heated. The sun-warmed water then flows back directly into your pool, therefore heating your pool. The sun collectors consist of rounded tubes in a one-piece design and comes with mounting sleds to prevent any abrasion when expanding and contracting during general use.

Features & Benefits

  • The open design resists any lift and stays put even in the highest wind conditions.
  • The headers are over moulded over each individual collector tube, producing the strongest possible connection while still eliminating welds and cracks.
  • Heliocol systems are supplied with patented panel clamps which eliminate the use of rubber hoses and metal clamps that require regular rooftop maintenance and replacement.
  • Each and every tube opens into the header, eliminating backpressure which saves on wear & tear of your pool pump below.

Thermal Storage Tanks

Solar Pool Heating

Heat Accumulator Tanks

A heat Accumulator is an energy efficient thermal storage tank. It is an indirect water heating system that can be heated using multiple heat sources. The tank stores water at atmospheric pressure, which is then heated. This heated water never leaves the tank, it acts as a battery storing the energy. It is then transferred to potable water which is regulated mains pressure through a stainless-steel heat exchanger. This heat transfer then allows hot potable water to be distributed to the usage points.

Manufactured from Premium GRP (glass reinforced plastic), our heat accumulator tanks deliver unrivalled performance. Storing water up to 80 degrees Celsius thanks to high quality vinyl ester resins. This also creates a highly corrosive resistant surface for long life tanks.

Uses

  • Centralized Hot Water Systems
  • Domestic Hot Water Storage
  • Under-Floor Heating
  • Industrial Processing Plants
  • Cold Water Storage
  • Heat Recovery Plants
  • Multiple Pressure Zone Buildings.

Features

  • Optimal Heat Stratification: Cold water does not mix in tank due to indirect heating.
  • Corrosive free tank: GRP does not rust.
  • Prevents Legionnaires disease, indirect heating prevents bacteria growth in potable hot water.
  • No Rigging Required: Can be built on site and carried through most standard sized doors.
  • Heat Exchanger can be sized to meet any flow rate requirement.
  • Low standing losses: GRP has a low thermal conductivity.
  • Fully customizable, can be built in a number of volumes. Also comes in round and square tanks.
2026 Heat Accumulator Brochure
Solar Pool Heating

Commercial Steel Tanks

Manufactured generally in accordance with ASME VIII or PD5500 Code of Practice. With WQC / WPS / PQR to ASME 1X & PD5500, manufactured with certified material, mild steel, or stainless steel on request. Certification of vessels by an Independent Test Authority is also available on request.

All mild steel vessels are offered standard with a Hotline 75Hotline75, Phenoline 1205 or Polyglass internal protective lining as a protective lining, all with 5-year warranties available, for aggressive water areas. Galvanised vessels are also manufactured on request.

The bulk hot water vessels or industrial geysers, are heated using Incolloy immersion elements or copper finned internal heat exchangers. They can also be connected to

  • External Heat Exchangers
  • External Heat Pumps
  • Solar panels
  • External In-Line Heaters

Water heaters are insulated with 50mm thick IW24 fibre wool, and are clad with 0.6mm galvanised sheet metal. Both Stainless steel and Aluminium cladding are also available on request.

  • The water heaters are supplied standard with Incolloy immersion elements.
  • Dual thermostats with Control and Over temperature features are fitted where required.
  • Control Panels with IP54 protection enclosures as standard or to SANS 1042, are fitted and wired to the elements, or are available as a wall mounted option.
  • All units fitted with an over temperature/over pressure (TP) valve.

All vessels are manufactured as standard for 400kPa pressure, with higher or lower pressures available on request.

Iw24 x 50mm Glass wool, with a thermal conductivity of 0.039 & R value of 1.39 and Z275

PV Systems

Solar Pool Heating

System Overview

Photovoltaic (PV) power systems convert sunlight directly into electricity. A commercial PV power system enables a business to generate some or all of their daily electrical energy demand on their own roof, exchanging daytime excess power for future energy needs (i.e. night-time usage). The property remains connected to the electric utility at all times, so any power needed above what the solar system can produce is simply drawn from the utility. PV systems can also include battery backup or uninterruptible power supply (UPS) capability to operate selected circuits in the business for hours or days during utility outage.

Features & Benefits

  • You use less electricity and can become independent from the grid.
  • The average house roof can only accommodate a system size which produces 20 – 30kWh of electricity a day.
  • For the commercial sector, PV systems provide a favourable internal return rate as the electricity generated is free after the initial payback period.

Engineered Systems,
Not Off The Shelf Installs

We design systems based on:

This is where EPC engineering matters.

Where Each Technology Fits

  • Heat Pumps
    Best for hotels, student accommodation, estates, commercial buildings.
  • High Temperature Heat Pumps
    Best for hospitality, industrial process hot water, high demand facilities.
  • Solar Thermal

    Best for pre-heating and consistent daytime load reduction.

  • Hybrid Systems
    Best for sites needing consistent hot water with reduced electrical draw.
  • PV Solar
    Best for daytime energy offset and broader electrical demand reduction.
  • Heat Recovery
    Best for industrial facilities or sites with usable waste heat.
  • Heat Accumulators

    Best for large-scale hot water storage

Heat Pumps

Best for hotels, student accommodation, estates, commercial buildings.

High Temperature Heat Pumps

Best for hospitality, industrial process hot water, high demand facilities.

Solar Thermal

Best for pre heating and consistent daytime load reduction.

Underfloor Heating

Best for pre heating and consistent daytime load reduction.

Hybrid Systems

Best for pre heating and consistent daytime load reduction.

PV Solar

Best for daytime energy offset and broader electrical demand reduction.

Heat Recovery

Best for industrial facilities or sites with usable waste heat.

Heat Accumulators

Best for large-scale hot water storage