Heating Help

Thermal storage

@ March 18, 2007 11:58 PM in Your solar voice is needed (GrandPAH)

I just heard about a project in Colorado. I don't have any specifics, but I can give you the theory and say that they've had some promising results. The idea is to store a massive amount of heat gathered in the summer, and actually have it for use in the winter. Think of a storage bank in the ground . . . say the size of a geothermal ground-source loop. If the soil type is right and the water table isn't too high, it seems a lot of btu's could be stashed for later use. The earth makes a great insulator. I don't think too much heat would get away if you dug down deep enough.

pics of system in Bellingham, WA

@ March 6, 2007 10:04 PM in solar panels

First of all, it is true that seeing a payback for the system won't come for a long time. For these folks it's the principal that matters. Sorry I don't have pics of the collectors themselves, but I attached two pictures of the mechanical setup. In the first pic, you see the PAW solar pump pack that pumps from the collectors through the bottom exchanger of a 120 gal dual exchanger tank. In the second picture you'll see the tank. Also if you look closely in the second picture you'll see the SMT400 solar control (top center) which also has excellent data logging abilities. A Buderus GB condensing boiler heats the top exchanger so they'll have DHW during the rainy season. When the solar panel heats the bottom half of the tank enough, the tank will also supply the radiant floors . . . through a plate exchanger and controlled by a Wirsbo Promix with outdoor reset.

Thermomax

@ March 6, 2007 1:45 AM in solar panels

Thermomax makes evacuated tube collectors. I just installed a panel of sixty tubes. It was heating the storage tank during overcast weather conditions. Their web page is http://www.thermomax.com

It's installed on a solar collection loop

@ March 1, 2007 9:16 PM in Di-electric unions . . . culpable???

The offending di-electric union was installed on a brass tee which in turn was installed on a steel nipple coming from a heat exchanger in a dual exchanger storage tank. The solar loop it is part of is pressurized to 33psi.

Di-electric unions . . . culpable???

@ March 1, 2007 8:31 PM in Di-electric unions . . . culpable???

This morning, I was informed that the night before, a co-worker had to perform an emergency service call on one of my jobs. A di-electric union had leaked all over the mechanical room floor. I am very meticulous about my jobs, so this was a disturbing event (besides the ridicule given to me by my superior). It is remotely possible though not at all probable that I forgot to tighten down the union, but the system has been running for months with no leak whatsoever. Has anyone ever seen a di-electric union that had 'loosened itself'? I have a friend that says he NEVER uses di-electric unions. If di-electric unions DO occasionally 'loosen themselves', then I must find an alternative. What are the alternatives?