Farid's Heat Absorber
Putting solar heat energy to work has become virtually a mania and many an engineer have put forward many ideas, particularly in the field of solar heat energy storage. Oil is, however still available, albeit expensive with its many storms in a teacup.
Energy as such has become a burning issue and the average man is made to pay heavily. This has led to the proliferation of ideas on how to cut down costs on at least domestic electricity bills.
The brightest and the most workable solution, at least in part, is to install heat absorbers on house roofs. These heat absorbers provide instant hot water
(180 F) without going through electric water heaters. There is hot water in the kitchen and bathroom and elsewhere if you need it and the authorities are happy you are saving energy. Your pocket is that much richer because you are paying less on electricity.
And where do you get this heat absorber? In Singapore, made in Singapore, from R Farid who manufactures, installs and maintains it.
Mr. Farid is an engineer whose stock-in-trade is refrigeration, air-conditioning and allied services in ships. He is the Technical Director of Equatorial Engineering Pte Limited.
In his spare time, Mr. Farid developed various component parts of the heat absorber, tested it and had one installed in his home seven years ago — it worked and he saved is still saving. Presently, he is installing a unit in a lovely home in one of the more exclusive housing estates. The owner sounded very enthusiastic about it. Who would not with the prospect of saving money. The basic concept of the heat absorber is nothing new. What is new and good is that the Singapore version is manufactured and assembled in Singapore by a Singaporean. This would make it cheaper all round and maintenance only as far as a telephone.
The heat absorber, as the name implies, absorbs radiation heat of the sun to heat the water in its maze of copper piping and plates. An insulated storage tank connected to power supply as well, for sunless periods, maintains the temperature of the heated water. The tank can hold up to 40 gallons of heated water which is just about sufficient for four people to have a shower individually or other wise — remember the energy crisis cartoons of not so long ago? Theoretically the idea is simple — have sun will have hot water — but the actual application is nothing short of a jungle of mathematical formulae. Nonetheless, this is a piece of engineering worth-installing not only in homes but in industries requiring constant and cheap supply of hot water.
The equipment is assembled at Equatorial Engineering and installed on site.
Actual installation takes only a few days. Ask Farid about it. He is a pleasant man to talk to.
