EUROPE
Balloo Crescent
Bangor BT19 7UP
United Kingdom
Phone:
UK (1247) 270411
Fax:
UK (1247) 270572
Sales@Thermomax.co.uk
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Drain Down Systems
General
Information |
Drain Down Systems are
suitable for single application systems, particularly
domestic hot water, in moderate climates. One or two tanks
can be used in various configurations and they retrofit easily into
existing systems. |
Advantages of a Drain Down System |
The
Drain Down System provides various advantages. There is no heat exchanger, which allows
efficent heat transfer directly to the water. It does not use anti-freeze or non-potable
water. The Drain Down System offers freeze protection during power outages or
malfunctioning of the pump or the control systems, as well as providing better freeze
protection than recirculation systems in areas of moderate freezing. The system eliminates
loss of stored heat by thermosyphoning or the recirculation process. The Drain Down System
integrates easily with existing systems. The system can also be disassembled easily and
moved to another location. |
| Disadvantages
of a Drain Down System |
The Drain Down system
also exhibits a few disadvantages. A draindown valve and special controls required. Care
must be taken to plumb the supply and return so that they will drain down. Drained water
cannot be recovered, however, a 30 tube Thermomax Manifold and 50 feet of ½" pipe
only holds 5 pints of water. As a result of line pressures in the solar loop, leaks are
potentially more serious. In areas with hard water, scaling can be a problem for the
valve. Providing valve is cycled daily it should only need de-scaling every few years, a
simple process. |
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