Introduction This was created to give a general overview of Solar Heating. This class is not intended to cover all aspects of Solar Heating. Additional educational opportunities should be pursued to expand on this base of knowledge. You are encouraged to attend these classes based upon your interest or involvement with Solar Heating. Proper design practices are imperative for optimum safety, power production requirements & financial liabilities. Client contact and involvement in the design process is crucial. Great care and consideration should be given to the clients needs and understanding of each project. Additional responsibilities include the education of local authorities, reviewers and inspectors, as to the design process, system functionality, new technologies, & code interpretation.
Solar Heating Pool Installation
System Sizing Collector Area = % of Pool Surface Area 50% to 100% of Pool Surface Pool covered or uncovered Is pool shaded or in sun Is pool blocked from the wind Direction of collectors Distance from collectors to pool Collectors shaded Outside/room temperature
Mounting
Collector Slope Minimum slope for proper drainage = 2 on 12 slope or 9 degrees 9 degrees
Mounting Panels are 48 inches wide and require 3 inches between absorbers therefore allow 51 inches per collector
Mounting Pop Chalk line on roof according to the length of array Slope line 1 per 6 collectors towards the feed line Line must have ¾ distance above and below to allow for clips Tile roofs allow 2 above bottom of tile Allow minimum 2 clearance around array for piping and saftey
Mounting Panels installed with either side up. Should be flipped every 5 years Lay the top header approximately 1¼ below the horizontal chalk line Connect panels using 3 rubber connectors from Panel Pack Secure with stainless hose clamps
Securing Array NOTE: Do not attach U Bracket to bottom of collectors Fasten collectors to roof using U shaped bracket Using a drill and a 3/8 nut driver, drive two Stainless 3/8 Hex Screws through the holes of the Bracket and into the roof. Seal properly
End Connectors Install rubber couplings on 4 outside corners On feed and return corners install Pipe to Panel Adapters Install vacuum breaker on remaining upper corner and cap on remaining bottom corner
Hold Down Straps Minimum three per panel row, more in high wind areas Bottom strap is located 12 above bottom header Other straps are spaced equally from one another
Hold Down Strap Using 3/8 stainless lag screw, attach Super Clips between each panel and at ends of the rows. Seal properly
Hold Down Strap Lay strap over Super Clip base and screw on Super Clip cap. Straps may have to be retightened after 2 weeks due to expansion
Collector Piping Balancing Single Bank Collector Flow Reverse Return Piping
Balancing Flow in Multiple Banks of Collectors
Parallel Design
Balancing Flow in Multiple Bank Array
Slope Array To Drain
Cutting & Gluing Pipe Use PVC cutter or a wide blade saw not a hacksaw Use both quality glue and primer (some codes require purple primer) Always use towel to keep job clean and neat
Piping Piping should be supported at intervals of 5 (1.5m) for horizontal pipe and 8 (2.5m) for vertical pipe. Pipe system to properly drain
Pipe Size Whenever there is more than 40 gpm required flow rate to the collectors or more than 100 (121mm) of piping used in a system, install 2 (63mm) piping to and from collectors Use Schedule 40 white or black pipe
Piping