Solar-Catalog.com 2008
Solar Water Heating
Catalog Contents
SolarTaos.com

State & Federal Solar Incentives

We represent a full line of SunEarth solar water heating products.

Using the sun as a source for heating water which can be used for domestic hot water (basically any hot water which is supplied by a conventional hot water heater), hot water heating (known as hydronic heating which is described below), and/or heating swimming pools and Jacuzzis.

When using solar as part of your heating system, it is usually used as a pre-heater.  Meaning that it supplies hot water to your boiler or on-demand water heater.

A solar water heating system's main components consist basically of the following items...

1. SOLAR THERMAL COLLECTOR which allows the sun's rays to heat water which is running through them.  The number of collectors depends on the size of your system. The two most common methods of hooking up collectors are called open loop system and closed loop systems.  The open loop system uses a drain back method to drain the solar thermal collectors of their liquid when the system is off, this is commonly used where there is no danger of the water freezing in the collectors. While the closed loop system contains a glycol solution to prevent freezing in colder regions.

2. DIFFERENTIAL CONTROL

3. THERMAL STORAGE TANK stores the hot water until it is needed.  Many solar thermal storage tanks include a built in heat exchanger or two depending on the type of use and a thermal switch.

4. HEAT EXCHANGER which is sometimes mounted within the solar thermal storage tank or may be a separate item. The heat exchanger separates the liquid flowing through the solar thermal collector from that which is used for your domestic hot water.

5. CIRCULATING PUMP to move the liquid through the solar thermal collectors.  These pumps are DC and are designed to withstand the extreme heat and run of a PV panel or can run off your deep cycle batteries.

6. PV SOLAR PANEL is a panel which converts the sun's energy to DC voltage. Usually one 20 or 40 watt panel is all that is required to run the circulating pump.

7. THERMAL SWITCH is used to turn the circulating pump on and off.

8. EXPANSION TANK is a small tank which maintains the pressure in the loop.

9. DRAINBACK TANK

10. PRESSURE GAUGES are required so you can monitor your systems pressure.

11. TEMPERATURE GAUGES are important so you can monitor the systems temperatures

12. VALVES are used for control functions and isolating system components.

The remaining components to complete your system are readily available from your local plumber. These items would include but are not restricted to, pipe, tees, elbows, ball valves, check valves, drain valves, a boiler or tankless water heater and the remaining plumbing normally found in ones home or business.

The above items shown in bold type are the products which we sell, all remaining items are available from your local plumber, or for you do-it-yourself types, you can purchase them at your local hardware.

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GENERAL
The casing is an anodized aluminum extrusion (alloy 6063 T5), a minimum 1/8 inch in thickness, with an architectural dark bronze finish. Sheet metal fasteners shall be stainless steel (18-8 #10 X *). The framewall is secured by four exterior anodized aluminum corner brackets attached with 8 each AD54BS aluminum rivets per corner. The casing backsheet is a painted textured aluminum of not less than .014 inches in thickness.

GLAZING
The glazing is one sheet of low iron tempered glass of not less than 1/8 inch thickness, and has a minimum transmissivity of 91%. The glazing is thermally isolated from the casing by a continuous EPDM gasket. There is a secondary silicone seal between the glass and the aluminum capstrip to minimize the intrusion of moisture into the casing.

INSULATION
The backing insulation is a foil-faced polyisocyanurate foam sheathing board with a minimum thickness of 1 * inches, and is siliconed in place to the aluminum backsheet. Aged thermal resistance R-value of the backing and side-wall insulation will be not less than R-12 at 75 F mean temperature. The ends of the ICS are insulated with 1 inch polyisocyanurate foam sheathing board with an aged thermal resistance R-Value of no less than 7.2.

ABSORBER/STORAGE CYLINDERS
The CopperHeart ICS is a combined collector and storage tank all in one unit. The all copper storage cylinders is a seamless drawn 4.125 inch O.D. copper tubing with a minimum wall thickness of .058 inches, and has machine spun ends to accept 7/8 inch O.D. Type L copper internal manifolds. Eight storage cylinders are manifolded in series to form a storage vessel. The rated internal working pressure is be 120 PSIG at 200 degrees F. All internal manifold braze joints are joined utilizing a copper phosphorous brazing alloy with no less than 15% silver content and conforming to the American Welding Societys BCuP-5 classification. EPDM grommets will isolate the manifolds from the aluminum casing.

ABSORBER COATING
The absorber coating is a moderately selective paint with a minimum absorptivity of 94 percent and a maximum emissivity of 56 percent.

Specifications subject to change without notice.  (Performance specifications subject to testing error of +/- 3%)

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