Solar thermal

And its integration with commercial and industrial hot water systems

Lochinvar Ltd
Steve Addis L.Z.C product manager

Our company
In the UK since 1976 Relocated to new headquarters in 1998 Lochinvar corporation started in 1919 2001 relocated to 360,0002ft facility Major player in high efficiency water heater & boiler industry in USA

Basic system design

Designing a solar thermal system System components Sizing solar systems Integration with DHW systems

System components
A solar thermal DHW system requires: A solar collector Storage vessel or heat exchanger Pipe work Control system Primary heat source

System components
There are 2 main types of solar collectors Flat plate

Evacuated tube

Solar collectors Pros

Flat panel Simple design Long warranties Better at handling stagnation Cheaper Can be roof integrated Better looking? Evacuated tube Higher efficiency on low irradiation days Smaller surface area? Lighter? Repairable

Solar collectors Cons

Flat panel Can be Heavier Larger surface area required? Less efficient on low Irradiation days Evacuated tube Seen as delicate Can need higher maintenance Will overheat readily if stagnation occurs

Lochinvar G1000-10 flat plate collector

Solar collectors

Lochinvar G1450-10 flat plate collector

Solar collectors

Lochinvar CPC Evacuated tube collector

Solar collectors

Solar collectors
Evacuated tube collector principles

Solar collectors
All solar collectors must be certified to BSEN 12975 Look for the solar key mark The Key to grants

Collector efficiency
Collector efficiency consists of: Absorber efficiency (average 75%) Minus absorber emissions 2%-14% (dependant upon insulation and selective coating) This will be shown as A1/A2 heat loss coefficient Collector efficiency will change according to t between collector fluid temperature and outside air

Collector efficiency

Collector efficiency
Care should be taken to ensure the collectors are sited correctly. South facing - 30-40 degrees inclination Avoid shading

Collector Efficiency
Chart showing the effects of varying the inclination and azimuth of collector field
Inclination Horizontal 30o 1042 997 Azimuth South SE/SW E/W 933 886 762 709 NE/NW N

45o 60o Vertical

1023 960 724

968 900 684

829 753 565

666 580 427

621 485 360

Solar collectors
Roof integration can be difficult on commercial buildings Architects/structural engineers need to be involved at design stage Need to think about maintenance and possible future replacements

Solar collectors
Collectors on A frame new building

Solar collectors
Collectors on A frame

Solar collectors
A frame with ballast prior to collector installation

Solar collectors
Collectors on a pitched roof

Solar collectors
Collectors on a pitched roof

Solar collectors
Collectors on facade

Solar collectors

System components
Storage vessel or heat exchanger Must be sized accurately for collectors CIBSE guidelines ask for a dedicated solar store of: 50-60ltr/m2 on evacuated tube systems 35-50ltr/m2 on flat plate systems Manufacturers often ask for more Usually installed next to the primary heat source Heat exchangers used for specialised applications

Solar store

Direction of natural buoyancy

Pre-heat store

Solar store Twin-Coil

Direction of natural buoyancy

Controls: legionella
Legionella colonisation could occur within the solar vessel, especially during spring/autumn when temperatures within the vessel are likely to be lower. Temperature control Mechanical control

Solar Thermal store

Pipe work (sealed system)

Must be sized to suit the individual project Should incorporate appropriate safety valves and expansion vessels/protection vessels Either specialist solar pipework systems or Copper with high temperature press-fit fittings

Solar Control functions

Sollar Array

S1 S2

R1

Solar Control functions solar display panel

Controls: safety heat-dump arrangement

S1 S2 S4 R3 R1

Primary heat source

The primary heat source will satisfy the majority of the hot water demand, therefore careful consideration should also be given to this part of the design. Efficiency of primary heat source is important Consider condensing technology

Sizing of solar systems

Project Criteria In order to provide an accurate sizing the following information is required:

Daily hot water demand SOLAR FRACTION required Post code of the building Type of building Number of occupants per day Roof space available and orientation/pitch of roof

Tsol sizing: calculation example

Tsol sizing: calculation example

Tsol sizing: calculation example

Tsol sizing: calculation example

Tsol sizing: calculation example

Tsol sizing: calculation example

System efficiency
To Recap System efficiency is dependant upon: Type of collectors used Temperature of the DHW system Installation of collectors Solar fraction Correct sizing of solar storage vessel System efficiency is typically around 50%-60%

System efficiency

System integration
The main methods of integration are: Hot water systems Twin-coil calorifier Pre-heat store Swimming pools Heat exchanger

Integration with pre-heat solar vessel

Integration with pre-heat solar vessel and heat dump

Solar system with HSK Thermal store and boiler support

EV

Boiler

EV

Boiler

TD NRV

TD NRV

LSV Expansion Vessel Pump EV IV IV D.S. A.S.

LSV

LSV

LSV

TD

P.P. 240V Expansion Vessel D.A. 2 PV EV

TD COLD IN PRV NRV

System integration: swimming pools

System maintenance

Collectors are generally self cleaning due to angle sited Pressure within the system checked annually Circulation pump checked annually Visual inspection of collector array every 1-2 years Check glycol mix condition annually

Thank you for listening

We would be pleased to answer any questions?

e-mail: sales@lochinvar.ltd.uk www.lochinvar.ltd.uk