solar assist tankless system:no storage
| Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on
Any gurus in this area? Looking for off-the-shelf system or at least off-the-shelf components. Trying to keep it simple and not use a storage tank or energy converter. Plan to have cold water going into a large capacity insulated solar cell collector and then to a Aqua Star 125BS[solar assist tankless water heater]. Functional? Suggestion on solar cell collectors? Pleas reply to:
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Well you might look at THERMOMAX evacuated tubes. These are a Canadian product that use an evacuated tube, with a reflector and small tube inside that is filled with some type of refrigerant, these then attach to a common header and could be connected into the system. Rockin good effiicency, I have seen them generate 140F return water/glycol down here in Antarctica, with an ambient air temp of around (0 to -5F). Bear in mind though, that in the summer here we have pretty substantial solar gain here. Are you talking about not having a storage tank? Better off with one I think, a big electric with extra insulation and can be a back up as well, if needed of course. The more thermal mass the better.
I too, would highly recommend storage (I've installed about 80 solar domestic hot water systems). As a matter of fact, I wouldn't bother doing solar without some storage. Otherwise, the only solar input you capture is that DURING the shower (or laundry, etc). A few minutes. Plus a gallon or two that was in the panel, stagnant, before each use. And water use early morning or late evening (most showers) will see no benefit.
An electric HWH is a very cheap, insulated, pressure-rated, code-approved storage tank. And only costs about $129 at Home Depot. It will work fine, capture a day's solar input and allow you to shift that solar input to the times of usage. Heck, use two or three. Biggest big for buck in terms of upgrading a solar system.
David Thomas Overlooking Cook Inlet in Kenai, Alaska