Solar heating solutions

STARSIGHT POWERTECH
solar water heating systems

Wednesday, 27 January 2010

Solar water heating systems can be used effectively throughout Europe at residences and facilities
that have an appropriate near-south-facing roof or nearby unshaded grounds for installation of a
collector. They are most cost-effective for facilities with the following characteristics:

Water heating load that is constant throughout the year (not vacant in summer);
Water heating load is constant throughout the week (to utilize solar heat every
day), a sunny climate helps but is not required
Cost of fuel used to heat water is high (more than $10/Mmbtu or 40.034/kWh),
such as electricity, which represents 46% of the water heating market, or propane
which represents 2% of the market in remote locations;
Low running cost with excellent product control and quality material selection

y.gaillac@starsightproject.com mob: +44 7968 761 952 www/starsightproject.com , 21 a Penn Road, London N7 9RD United Kingdom


StarSight International Ltd and Powertech Solar Ltd combined experience in the solar energies
will guarantee for your optimum solar thermal project ‘s success.
To operate effectively we assist our clients with:

Customized technology and ﬂexible application
Production & planning quality control
Skills transfer for implementation & maintenance training
Local job creation with manufacturing some parts on site



Various solutions for solar water heating
The SolarthermixTM Kit Single Flat Plate, Closed-Loop Pressure Kit
with Electronic NRV using Stainless Steel
using Flexible Stainless Steel
Sensor 1
AA 22mm Copper Automatic
to ½” SS Fitting Air Vent AA ¾” x ½ S/S Corrugated
Sleeving

H corrugated
Sensor 1
sleeving to cover G Roof Flashing
insulated ½” SS pipe

I Insulation Re: Thermostatic
R S1 Sensor wire G Roof Flashing Temp Control Valve
Please note:
½” Flexible Although a
K Stainless Steel Thermostatic
Pipe with Control Valve is
Solar
insulation not part of the
P 5A Fused Spur Controller I Insulation
Switch 123 this Kit, it is
S K recommended that
you install one.

Corrugated
Re: Electronic Sleeving
NRV K ¾” End cap
Please note: The
Water
Electronic NRV and
Tank
the pump are to be
wired together on BB ½” SS to 15mm Fitting
the same Water Tank Q
connection at the G Roof Flashing W Filling Loop
Solar controller B Solarthermix
Valve
T Flow Setter DD 15mm ball a fix valve PRV
N L
AA 22mm Copper Electronic
to ½” SS Fitting NRV Bronze Pump
Expansion U
BB 15mm Copper Vessel X 15mm Equal
(with valves) to ½” SS Fitting Tee
E 5A Fused Spur R
C Drain Off A Switch
Air Vent D CC
Re: Thermostatic P
123
S 15mm Gate
Re: Hydroflow Re: Thermostatic Valve
F 22mm x
Re: Hydroflow Control Valve
Please note: Control Valve Solar
15mm Reducer Please note: Please note:
Sensor 3 A Hydroflow Please note: Controller
A Hydroflow Although a Sensor 3
must be installed – Although a
must be installed – Thermostatic T
failure to do so Thermostatic Q Flow Setter
failure to do so Control Valve is
could render any Control Valve is
could render any not part of the
guarantees/ not part of the
guarantees/ Solarthermix Kit, it
warrantees Solarthermix Kit, it V Pump
warrantees is recommended that Hot
null & void. is recommended that (with valves)
null & void. you install one. Water
you install one. Flow
Direction Services

Sensor 2
½” Non Return Valve
Hot Water Services M with 1 x 15mm MI
and 1 x 22mmx ½” MI
Sensor 2

This schematic shows the components that make up a Solarthermix Kit – cylinder excluded. It is not to be relied This schematic shows the components that make up a Pressure Kit (Closed Loop) – cylinder excluded. It is not
on as an installation manual – please refer to the Solarthermix Connection Procedures instead. e&oe to be relied on as an installation manual and is not drawn to scale. e&oe

Powertech Solar Ltd, 86 Cobham Road, Ferndown Industrial Estate, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 7PQ PSLKit_Solarthermix with  
T – 01202 890234 F – 01202 876252 E – sales@solar.org.uk W – www.powertech-solar.com electronic NRV 080908           
© Powertech Solar Ltd 2008 


Close loop & open loop comparison
!” Insulated SS Sensor 1
Pipe AA 22mm x ! S/S

G Roof Flashing

I Insulation
H Corrugat
ed
Sleeving
!” Insulated
SS Pipe
K K

K
K I
Water
Tank
BB
!” SS to 15mm
W Fitting
Filling Loop
DD
15mm ball a fix
PRV
U
Expansion X
Vessel 15mm
R Equal Tee
5A Fused Spur
Switch
CC
P S123 15mm
Gate
Solar Valve
Controller
Sensor 3
Q T Flow
V Setter

Pump (with valves)

!” Non Return Valve
M with 1 x 15mm m.i
Flow
and 1 x22mmx !” m.i Direction

Closed loop Sensor 2
Open loop
K● 20 pipe ties for insulated pipe runs
U" Pressure Vessel 18litre includes mounting bracket or K" 20 pipe ties for insulated pipe runs U" Pressure Vessel 18litre includes mounting bracket or M● Mechanical plate non return valve
U" Pressure Vessel 25litre includes mounting bracket M" Mechanical plate non return valve U" Pressure Vessel 25litre includes mounting bracket with 1x15mm x1/2”mi and 1-22mm x 1/2”m/I
V" Steel Pump & Valves with 1x15mm x1/2”mi and 1-22mm x 1/2”m/I V" Steel Pump & Valves
P● Switched Fuse Spur & Surface Box
W" Filling Loop + Pressure Release Valve with Gauge P" Switched Fuse Spur & Surface Box W" Filling Loop + Pressure Release Valve with Gauge
X" 3- 15mm equal Tee Q" 3m of 3 core round cable (for wiring pump to solar collector) X" 3- 15mm equal Tee
Q● 3m of 3 core round cable (for wiring pump to solar
AA" 2-22mm x !” SS R" 10m of 2 core wire in black colour (to extend sensor wire) AA" 2-22mm x !” SS collector)
H" 1x 1000mm corrugated sleeving black or silver S" TDC3 Solar Controller H" 1x 1000mm corrugated sleeving black or silver R● 10m of 2 core wire in black colour (to extend sensor
G" Pair of roof flashings T" 1-(wattflow)- Flow Setter G" Pair of roof flashings wire)
I" Powerflex insulation 19mm x 15mm (bag of 20m) CC" 1-15mmGate Valve I" Powerflex insulation 19mm x 15mm (bag of 20m) S● TDC3 Solar Controller
BB 2- 15mm x !”SS DD" 2-15mm ball a fix BB 2- 15mm x !”SS T● 1-(wattflow)- Flow Setter
CC● 1-15mmGate Valve
DD● 2-15mm ball a fix

Solar Water Heaters—also called solar domestic hot water systems—can
be a cost-effective way to generate hot water for your home. They can be
used in any climate, and the fuel, sunshine, is free!

Unlike the Passive systems which have no moving parts, the Active
systems use electric pumps, valves, and controllers to circulate water or
other heat-transfer fluids through the collectors. They can be more
expensive than passive systems but can also be more efficient in certain
situations. Active systems are usually easier to retrofit than passive
systems because their storage tanks do not need to be installed above or
close to the collectors. But because they use electricity, they will not
function in a power outage. There are two types of Active Systems:
Open-Loop and Closed-Loop.

Open-Loop Active Systems - Direct Circulation
Open Loop Systems are suitable for single application domestic hot
water (DHW) systems, in mild and moderate climates where there is no
risk of freezing.

Pumps circulate household water through the collectors and into the
home. They work well in climates where it rarely freezes.

Recirculation systems are a specific type of open-loop system that
provide freeze protection. They use the system pump to circulate warm
water from storage tanks through collectors and exposed piping when
temperatures approach freezing.

Advantages of Open Loop
It is the simplest and typically the least expensive active system to
install. There is no heat exchanger, which allows efficient heat transfer
directly to the water. The system operates at standard line pressure. It is
simple to add capacity to the system if demand changes. The system
integrates easily with existing systems.

Disadvantages Open Loop
Some stored heat can be lost when the system re-circulates. It does,
however recirculate from the colder bottom of the tank and supply pipes,
and there are minimal losses in the loop and none through the collector.
The primary freeze protection needs electricity or battery back-up.



Closed-Loop Active Systems - Indirect Circulation
Suitable for single and multiple solar heating application systems, e.g. domestic solar water heating (single), solar water heating hot tub, solar swimming pool heating or solar
space heating systems. Suitable for areas with questionable water quality and all climate conditions. Preferred option for extremely cold areas.

Pumps circulate a non-freezing, heat-transfer fluid through the collectors and a heat exchanger. They are popular in climates prone to freezing temperatures.

These systems pump heat-transfer fluids (usually a glycol-water antifreeze mixture) through collectors. Heat exchangers transfer the heat from the fluid to the household water
stored in the tanks. Closed-loop glycol systems offer good freeze protection. However, the glycol must be checked each year and changed every 3 to 10 years, depending on
glycol quality and system temperatures.

Drain back systems use water as the heat-transfer fluid in the collector loop. A pump circulates the water through the collectors. The water drains by gravity to the storage tank
and heat exchanger; there are no valves to fail. When the pumps are off, the collectors are empty, which assures freeze protection and also allows the system to turn off if the
water in the storage tank becomes too hot.

Advantages of a Closed Loop
Closed Loop system allows simple switching between heat exchangers for multiple applications, as well as excellent freeze protection. Special solar domestic hot water tanks
are available with internal heat exchangers (coils), with or without electric backup. Twin coil tanks are also available that allow surplus solar energy to be directed to spa, pool,
floor etc. The top coil can also be connected to the house boiler as a DHW backup. No freeze sensors or drain down valves are necessary.

Disadvantages of a Closed Loop
It is generally more complicated than an open loop system, because either a tank with a heat exchange coil or an external heat exchanger is required. As a heat exchanger is
required the collector loop will run at slightly higher temperatures than an open loop system. The collector loop needs to be pressurised. (8 -12 psi) The antifreeze may need to
be recharged on a 3 to 5 year basis.

Collector Types
Both Closed-Loop and Open-Loop systems may use Flat Plate Collectors or Evacuated Tube Collectors:

Flat-plate collector
Glazed flat-plate collectors are insulated, weatherproofed boxes that contain a dark absorber plate under one or more glass or plastic (polymer) covers. Unglazed flat-plate
collectors—typically used for solar pool heating—have a dark absorber plate, made of metal or polymer, without a cover or enclosure.

Sun Earth Collector
Gobi Collector

Evacuated-tube solar collectors
They feature parallel rows of transparent glass tubes. Each tube contains a glass outer tube and metal absorber tube attached to a fin. The fin's coating absorbs solar energy but
inhibits radiative heat loss. These collectors are used more frequently for commercial applications.


20 collector array for care home Sussex Nottingham Uni 058

Aluminum casing been prepared Order waiting to be packed in Tai'an

SYSTEM 1

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION PRICE
The 150 liters retroﬁt system package excluding the tank £470.00



All our direct retrofit system had been installed into insulated copper open vented hot water tanks using a two way valve.
This, the lowest system cost to gain from solar heat energy is only suited to homes that have hot water tanks not older than 10
years and insulated.

The above 3 system packages are for open vented tanks and are protected from freezing through the solar controllers built in
frost thermostat. This German programmer recognises through a sensor when the water inside the manifold drops below 5c, at
this point the point switches on and sends a much lower temperature from the bottom of the water tank through the collector
and back, until the manifold water temperature is back above 5c
If a country suffers from power cuts, we can provide a UPS backup system, using a battery, or proceed to the following system
package.


SYSTEM 2

The 150 liters retrofit system package including the tank £770.00

The 200 liters retrofit system package including the tank £975.80

The 300 liters retrofit system package including the tank £1,350.00

These are priced using hot water cylinders manufactured in the UK

Insulated open vented tanks made of copper

The above system packages include pressurised closed loop kit, with the pump changed from bronze to steel (lower cost) and
a litre of glycol as a protection against freezing.
A saving of £60.00 could be made by making the solar system open vented using a small header tank of 10 litres to maintain
the fluid in the system.

When any type of solar water heating system is installed as a closed loop, pressurised system, the water in such a system will
raise the water to a much higher temperature than open loop, vented to atmosphere.
A none pressure system means no concerns about over heating or if the power fails or pump stops working. Also reduces call
backs if a pressure gauge shows zero, meaning somewhere in the system the water pressure is lost.


SYSTEM 3




These are priced using hot water cylinders manufactured in the UK

Insulated unvented pressurized tanks made of stainless steel

The systems above including a new unvented top of the range indirect mains pressure tank, includes the closed loop system
package for the solar side of the installation.
Each tank also includes its own expansion kit and a heating element of 3kW.
As with the vented indirect copper cylinder, this system can also be installed on the solar side as open loop, using a 10 liters
header tank as feed and expansion and safety


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