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Fisrt diary post: house description and tentative flow diagram | 24 comments (24 topical, editorial)
Re: First diary post: house description and tentat (3.00 / 0) (#12)
by zeusmorg on Wed Apr 23rd, 2008 at 08:09:13 AM MST
(User Info)

 Actually, an antifreeze solution reduces the thermal conductivity of your liquid solution. (check the thermal conductivity of the planned anti-freeze) Depending on type used, this can be significant. That is one of the gains using a drainback system for your solar loop.

 Eliminating exchangers can reduce losses. For instance if you had a heat exchanger on your solar loop, the tank water would not increase as easily as if you used the water directly.

 Heat exchangers should be used to separate Domestic Water from any possible contaminated water. In other words, your pool loop, and your DHW loop. Which could be the same if used at differing times.

 Oh and using PEX for an exchanger loop is not as efficient as copper. Also when I was speaking of your PEX loop I was speaking of your heating system loop(s).


[ Parent ]



Re: First diary post: house description and tentat (3.00 / 0) (#14)
by mbeland on Wed Apr 23rd, 2008 at 09:35:18 AM MST
(User Info)

I understand that using the fluid directly is always best for efficiency. Question: if I stick with indirect system with antifreeze in the collectors (I still think it would be best for my climate), is it better to add concentrated antifreeze in the tank (costly considering te volume) and put a stronger pump or add a heat exchanger? I chose to eliminate the heat exchanger for the heating loop instead because it can use water without antifreeze (or with only a minimum amount) without risk.

I didn't get your point about using the same loop for pool and dhw. I need dhw year round. But that gives me the idea of using

About the pool heat exchangers: wouldn't using copper end up having corrosion and pool water contaminating the tank.

Considering all these nice posts, I will have to reconsider my whole system...

Martin
Eau, soleil, le vent
[ Parent ]



Revised system flow (3.00 / 0) (#15)
by zeusmorg on Wed Apr 23rd, 2008 at 01:30:39 PM MST
(User Info)

ok, I decided to do a quickie diagram eliminating unneeded things and adding my suggestions.


 To help describe some things, there are two thermal valves to switch from main storage to Domestic Hot Water exchanger storage. A pv panel to supply power for pumps. A tempering valve to insure no scalding water is present at DHW faucets. A heat exchanger for pool,and one for DHW to insure no contaminants enter the DW supply.

 I still prefer drainback for freeze protection , and to make the filling costs cheaper.You'll also notice a pipe(not labeled) between the tanks, this should be slightly above the normal water level, to allow the two tanks to balance their levels..

 I also forgot to add a fill and overflow..oops, and didn't label the house heating circuits pump.
 For simplicity I didn't show any wiring.

 You are obviously mis-reading something my suggestion for using 1 heat exchanger was you COULD switch between the house heat circuit and the pool circuit IF you do not require both at the same time. You NEVER (ever) EVER!!!!! mix ANY water (or switch between pipes that use it)that could possibly contain contaminates with your DW system..PERIOD.

 System usage: PV runs pump when solar insolation is high enough to use the collectors(it's possible to add a mini-maximizer in that circuit). the system drains back (I neglected to add valves for that) emptying the collectors when not in use. Eliminating the need for anti-freeze.
Water is routed to the DHW exchange tank until tank temp is high enough, then switched over to main storage.(or you could have two totally separate systems). Heating is available for pool in summer, and heating the house in winter.

 Sizing solar panels the size of the storage tanks,pumps and the heat exchangers depend on your needs,and I'm not going to engineer that part for you.

[ Parent ]



Re: Revised system flow (3.00 / 0) (#18)
by mbeland on Thu Apr 24th, 2008 at 05:44:35 AM MST
(User Info)

Thanks for that nice diagram!

Very good idea to separate the dhw from the main heating storage! I will search the board for drainback valves and sizing calculations.

Martin
Eau, soleil, le vent
[ Parent ]



Fisrt diary post: house description and tentative flow diagram | 24 comments (24 topical, 0 editorial)

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