Best Practices & Case Studies: A HUNDRED SOLAR HEATED HOUSES LATER…
SolarLogic, LLC Bristol Stickney, CTO BSME, MM1, MM4 SOLARTHERMAL‘11 [email protected] DECEMBER 1, 2011 505.577.4633 Our Solar Heating Focus
Active Hydronic Solar Combisystems Large Groups of Collectors Residential & Small Commercial Existing and Conventional Buildings New & Retrofit Less than 10,000 square feet. Residential Solar Hydronic Why Active Solar Hydronics?
Closed loop solar hydronics is directly compatible with existing "hot water boiler" systems. Both new and retrofit heating systems can be augmented with solar heat, nationally and worldwide. Conventional construction practices are compatible. (e.g. Radiant Warm Floors) Why Pressurized Glycol?
Collector fluid does not have to drain ‘downhill’. This allows Ground Mount and Wall Mount collectors as well as Roof Mounts. It allows Multiple Banks of collectors with little restriction on their location. Pumping power is reduced. Small Commercial Solar Hydronic The Solar Heating Opportunity
Hundreds of thousands of "hot water boilers" are installed in the US every year. Most of them could easily benefit from supplemental Solar Hydronic heat collectors. The backlog of hydronic heating systems installed over the past 20 years is an enormous market. There are millions of homes and buildings that use hydronic ('hot water') heating systems. The Piping Problem: What is holding us back? There are hundreds of different ways to configure the solar piping and controls.
The proper design and control can be a daunting challenge to any mechanical installer.
Too many confusing choices, too many “spaghetti diagrams”. The Solar Design Dilemma
Plenty of Choices from Suppliers Example: “Spaghett i Diagram” Typical Solar Heating Thought Process
Solar Collectors Solar Hot Water Tank Solar Heated Floor Hot Water Baseboards Backup Boiler (and other heat sources). Can we connect them all together? Can we send extra heat to …the pool, spa, ice melt, more water tanks, hot air blowers, etc.? Primary Loop “Flow Center” Approach
Example: Glycol Direct SLASH-D: The Solution by Design
We have Multiple Heat Sources and Multiple Heat Loads with Intermittent Availability
We need a standard system of design and control so installers can "plug and play" solar heat.
The Primary Loop “Flow Center” Configuration can fill this need. “ZIA Diagram” Primary/Secondary
Note: Temperature Priority Does Matter! Primary Loop Advantages
Multiple Heat Sources
Multiple Heat Loads
Multiple Heat Storage Locations
Each Connection Achieved with 2 Pipes
Modular Piping Allows Modular Controls
Allows Direct Solar Heating of Daytime Loads (Solar heat used 25% more effectively) Dual Primary Loop System Block Diagram
OUTSIDE INSIDE Heat Storage Boiler
DHW Collectors Glycol Water Side Side Heat (Boiler Fluid) Non-mass Exchanger zones Ice-melt zones
Indoor Pool and/or Spa Outdoor Pool Mass zones and/or Spa SLASH-D Program Output Sample From Chaos to Elegance From Wiring to Software
Intelligent Central Control
SLIC Control Functions Include…
Two Stage Thermostat Room Heat
Solar and Backup DHW Heating
Solar Heat Storage in Tanks or IN FLOOR
Solar and Backup Heat for Pool and Spa
Solar and Backup Ice Melt Zone
Solar Overheat Control of Panels & Tanks
NSRC (night sky radiant cooling), etc. More Best Practices: THINGS THAT WORK!
Use Masonry Floors to Store Solar Heat
Use Radiant Floor Tubing for Pool Heat
Match the Collector Tilt to the Heat Load
Use Two Stage Thermostats
PV Direct Solar Circulator Pumps
Solar Overheat Control (NSRC, Dumping)
Alternate Backup Heat Sources Solar Heat Storage in Masonry Floors
Insulated Mass Floors Provide Direct Solar Heat Banking Solar Pool Heat: Warm Concrete and Warm Water Match the Collector Tilt to the Heat Load CombiSolar Residential Installation - Taos CombiSolar Residential Installation – Jemez Spgs CombiSolar Residential Installation – Taos Two Stage Thermostats PV Direct Solar Circulator Pumps Solar Overheat Control
Heat Dissipation to Masonry Floor, Water Tank, Pool or Ground.
Heat Dumping Through Fin Tubes
Night Sky Radiant Cooling Heat Dissipation to Masonry Floor Heat Dumping Through Fin Tubes Night Sky Radiant Cooling Night Sky Radiant Cooling vs. Heating Case Study: Solar Combisystem Placitas, New Mexico
Solar Savings: Retrofit in Placitas, NM Six Principles for Good Solar Hydronic Design
RELIABLE
EFFECTIVE
COMPATIBLE
ELEGANT
SERVICEABLE
EFFICIENT