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Closed
Loop for Industrial Installations
One thing to remember
is that the Thermal Solar Collector is putting out a fixed amount of
energy for a given sky condition. There will be a reasonably constant
heat rise across the collector. For example if the supply to the
collector was 60ºF and the return 73ºF, at a supply of 160ºF the
return would be close to 173ºF. This means that we cannot put both high
temperature and low temperature applications in series on the collector
loop. The low temperature application would drag down the high one. With
high temperature applications, where Vacuum Collectors excel, the
collector loop should be dedicated to that application until it is
satisfied
For larger hot water installations, e.g. hotels,
motels, hospitals, car washes, office blocks etc., two or more tanks can
be connected in series. This arrangement allows for a fast recovery on
the primary tank and excellent overall efficiency. |
|
| 1.
Storage Tank |
3.
Cold Feed |
5.
Supply and Return to
Collector |
| 2.
Preheat Tank |
4.
Mixing Valve |
6.
Hot Water Out |
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|
Operation
|
- Hot water from the collector passes
through the coil in tank (1).
- Then, depending on it's temperature,
it is diverted by a three way valve (4) to either:
- the coil in tank (2) if
it is above the set temperature, (meaning tank (1)
is hot) or
- the collector, if it is below the
set temperature of the mixing valve.
- Preheated water from tank (2)
is drawn into tank (1) .
- System backup can be by any
conventional means.
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| Commercial
and Industrial Design Considerations |
- This system can be expanded to include
any number of preheat tanks, with their heat exchange coils linked
by three way valves, and the water to be heated running in series
through the tanks in the opposite direction.
- The three way valve (4)
can either be thermally operated (controlled by the temperature of
the water only) or an electrically operated three-way valve.
- No more than 100 tubes should be
plumbed in series. Care must be taken when designing the pipe work
between the collectors that each section receives equal flow
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|
E-Mail:
Thermo Technologies
Thermal Solar Collectors | Solar Controller
| Solar Tanks
| Home
9009 Mendenhall Court
Suite E
Columbia, Maryland 21045
Voice: (410) 997-0778 Fax:
(410) 997-0779 |
