Solar Panel Heat Transfer System & Controller

Solar Panel for Hot Water Heat Transfer System and Solar Controller

This page explains the Heat Transfer System and Solar Controller system. This is referred to as Group 2 throughout the eco hometec website. A heat transfer system consists of solar piping, water/glycol mix, the solar pumping station and controller connected to a coil inside the hot water cylinder to transfer the collected heat to heat water. Groups 1, 2 & 3 are fully explained in the Solar Panel Hot Water page.

3 components of Solar Panels

Heat transfer system - the solar piping between collectors and hot water cylinder

All Solar Panels pipework between collectors and hot water cylinder must be insulated. Due to the high temperatures (+150°C) associated with solar pipework then ordinary insulation is unsuitable. eco hometec recommend the use of it solar metalflex insulated flexible stainless steel pipe system.

The special advantage of the solar metalflex HT (high temperature) insulation material is it's UV resistance. Non UV resistant insulation will deteriorate over time and break down resulting in a loss of thermal efficiency.

eco hometec metalflex HT insulation, because of it's UV resistance, be installed outside without additional protective measures.

eco hometec metalflex HT insulation also withstands a temperature range of -50°C to +150°C, making this product ideal for all solar installations. For more information on how eco hometec can help you to incorporate a solar space heating system in your new build please submit your Building plans here.

Solar Panels Pipework Heat Transfer System

Solar Panels heat transfer system

Solar Panel water/glycol mix Heat Transfer Fluid

eco hometec Solaris biodegradable antifreeze fills the solar panels and piping. eco hometec Solaris has been especially formulated for use in solar panels. eco hometec Solaris is a propylene glycol, blended with corrosion inhibitors and distilled water.

All the constituents of Solaris are biodegradable, with 90% degradation taking place over the first 30 days. Solaris has a very low order of oral toxicity and can be classified as "Relatively Harmless" (aka non-toxic) with an LD50 rating (oral rat) in excess of 20,000mg/kg of body weight.

The specialist inhibitors contained in Solaris are specifically formulated to withstand high temperatures and have been success fully tested to 300+°C for short periods - e.g. during stagnation. The inhibitors are formulated to protect those metals commonly found within solar panels, including copper, brass, stainless steel and aluminium. There is also an inhibitor that helps to prevent fine solids precipitating or coating heat exchanger surfaces - thus prolonging equipment life and thermal efficiency.

Solaris provides excellent frost protection, remaining fluid down to -20°C. Solaris is supplied premixed (Ready-To-Use) with distilled water, to achieve a freeze protection of -20°C therefore eliminating the need to add water on site.

The eco hometec Solar Water Heating Pump & Control Set

The eco hometec solar water heating Pump and Control Set is designed for installations with both flat and vacuum tube solar collectors. The microprocessor based multi-functional integrated unit providing complete control for the solar heating system. It operates based on temperature difference between solar collector and system return (from tank) temperatures.

The controller is a designed for various applications and as such comes with three temperature sensors. For most applications e.g. hot water cylinder and collectors only two of the sensors are required. The controller is factory programmed with six different control/sensor variations that make it suitable for controlling a variety of installations and can be configured to heat additional items e.g. central heating systems and swimming pools.

The eco hometec Solar Water Heating Pump and Control Set is designed for 230 ~ 240v 50Hz single phase operation and includes the following features and components:

Heating carrier circulating pump
Air separator and bleed valve
Heating carrier flow meter
Safety valve
Check valve, cut-off valve & manometer
Two thermometers for measuring the supply and return temperature, electronic
Controller of pump operation with a set of sensors
All the elements of the subassembly are built in a cabinet case made of steel sheet lacquered in white

Pumping & Control set for installations with both Flat and Vaccum tube Solar Panel Collectors

Solar Panel pumping control

Solar Panel Hot Water Cylinder

The eco hometec solar cylinder is a stainless steel unvented hot water cylinder which has a 25 year guarantee. Unvented cylinders are connected and supplied directly from the cold water mains supply, resulting in hot and cold water being delivered to all outlets within the dwelling at mains pressure, fast filling baths and power showers are a reality. Feed and expansion tanks associated with a conventional cylinder and tank installation are not longer required.

Hot water cylinder - stores the hot water that is heated during the day and supplies it for use later.

Solar Panel hot water cylinder eco hometec unvented cylinders offer high performance water heating and hot water delivery flow rates of up to 55 litres per minute.

A very large surface area of the solar heating coil mean that the maximum heating advantage can be achieved from the solar system. Unvented cylinders are now commonplace in the UK and are taking over from traditional gravity fed (vented) cylinders as the product of choice for many installers in both new build properties and retro-fit units in existing properties.

The eco hometec solar cylinder can be fitted as either a bubble top (BT with internal air gap expansion) or fully flooded cylinder (FF** separate expansion vessel required).

Fully flooded units offer a superior hot water performance when solar gain is low, whilst bubble top units offer space-saving solutions when the dedicated area for water storage is tight.

**As a general rule, eco hometec would recommend that Solarcyls are fitted using the fully flooded option as a greater amount of usable hot water from the upper heating coil is available.

The capacity of the cylinder on a solar installation must be based not just on the size of the cylinder but also on the amount of hot water required from the cylinder when the solar gain is very low.

It is generally recognised that fitting a larger capacity cylinder than would normally be the case in a conventional hot water system will, over the course of a year, increase the solar efficiency of the cylinder. A large cylinder that heats up fully during a day with high solar radiation, may well, dependent upon individual hot water demands, provide hot water well into the following day without alternative energy sources being deployed. For more in depth technical information please download our PDF Cylinder data sheet here.

For more information on how eco hometec can help you to incorporate a Solar Panel Hot Water & Space Heating system in your new build please submit your Building plans here.

Please browse our website for more information about eco hometec and our range of Eco Heating products including Solar Panels for Hot Water & Central Heating Installation then click here to submit your plans or contact us on Freephone 0800 8620278 to speak to one of our team or e-mail us on sales@eco-hometec.co.uk