The photo to the right is a Viessmann Vitodens that is
heating a concrete slab with constant circulation.
Notice the Caleffi manifold below the boiler providing
distribution to the slab. A flowstar solar pump station
feeds a dual coil Oventrop tank just to the right of the
photo. This system preheats domestic hot water to a
Crown tank that is to the left of this photo. The
second coil in the Oventrop tank is for space
heating. This is the heating system in our own
SIP\(Structural Insulated Panel) house.
This is a good example of a low temperature heating
system. At -16F outside the boiler can keep the
house comfortable producing 105F water
temperature. The floor temperature in this scenario
averages 75F. This is a testament to the SIP
construction. Our system also shows what can fit into
a small mechanical space. The entire heating and
solar systems take up 7' along the wall by 5.5' from
the wall for the indirect hot water maker not shown to
the left of this photo.
heating a concrete slab with constant circulation.
Notice the Caleffi manifold below the boiler providing
distribution to the slab. A flowstar solar pump station
feeds a dual coil Oventrop tank just to the right of the
photo. This system preheats domestic hot water to a
Crown tank that is to the left of this photo. The
second coil in the Oventrop tank is for space
heating. This is the heating system in our own
SIP\(Structural Insulated Panel) house.
This is a good example of a low temperature heating
system. At -16F outside the boiler can keep the
house comfortable producing 105F water
temperature. The floor temperature in this scenario
averages 75F. This is a testament to the SIP
construction. Our system also shows what can fit into
a small mechanical space. The entire heating and
solar systems take up 7' along the wall by 5.5' from
the wall for the indirect hot water maker not shown to
the left of this photo.
| Systems |
The system to the right is a two tank solar hot water
system. The larger tank on the right is a dual coil
Crown tank. The bottom coil is fed hot water from the
solar collectors to heat the tank. The top coil preheats
return water (boiler not pictured). The solar control
operates a Caleffi Divertor valve (not pictured) that
bypasses the space heating coil when the tank isn't
warmer than the return water to the boiler. This way
propane heated water is not introduced into the solar
storage tank. Both tanks are filled with potable water.
The solar system is a closed glycol system.
The smaller Crown tank on the left is an auxiliary tank.
When the larger tank approaches its high set point
(around 170F) we can divert the solar water to the
second tank to keep the collectors from overheating
the entire system. This smaller tank takes the place of
a dump load for this system. The two tanks allow us to
fine tune this system. We may choose to run the larger
tank at a lower temperature (around 150F)and heat
the smaller tank more quickly to run the panels more
efficiently. Especially if more domestic hot water is
needed. Solar hot water panels are more efficient at
lower temperatures. The hotter the system
temperature gets the lower the efficiency of the panels.
This is one reason it is best to incorporate solar space
heating with a low temperature heating system, such
as a low temperature radiant floor.
system. The larger tank on the right is a dual coil
Crown tank. The bottom coil is fed hot water from the
solar collectors to heat the tank. The top coil preheats
return water (boiler not pictured). The solar control
operates a Caleffi Divertor valve (not pictured) that
bypasses the space heating coil when the tank isn't
warmer than the return water to the boiler. This way
propane heated water is not introduced into the solar
storage tank. Both tanks are filled with potable water.
The solar system is a closed glycol system.
The smaller Crown tank on the left is an auxiliary tank.
When the larger tank approaches its high set point
(around 170F) we can divert the solar water to the
second tank to keep the collectors from overheating
the entire system. This smaller tank takes the place of
a dump load for this system. The two tanks allow us to
fine tune this system. We may choose to run the larger
tank at a lower temperature (around 150F)and heat
the smaller tank more quickly to run the panels more
efficiently. Especially if more domestic hot water is
needed. Solar hot water panels are more efficient at
lower temperatures. The hotter the system
temperature gets the lower the efficiency of the panels.
This is one reason it is best to incorporate solar space
heating with a low temperature heating system, such
as a low temperature radiant floor.
| More sample systems to come! |