Green Homes
You are here
Roof Boots, Posts and Rails
Roof boots
Mounting Heat Exchangers
In many cases, mounting the heat exchanger is one of the easiest parts of system installation, especially if you buy a pre-packaged kit; you just put the module on the storage tank and tighten a few unions. However, you may decide to construct your own heat exchanger from individual parts. In any case, the first step is to install the storage tank, then attach the exchanger.
Controls for an Integrated Hydronic and Solar Thermal Setup
Combining a solar thermal heating system with an existing hydronic installation requires not only plumbing and solar equipment but some extra control gear – both electronic and hydronic – to divert fluid when needed. There are several options available in most cases.
In some situations, you will be able to wire the solar thermal setup into the existing thermostat control system so that the water supply passes through the solar storage tank's exchanger when there's enough heat to do some good.
Non-Integrated Solar Thermal Heating Systems
Although it is usually preferable to connect your solar thermal space heating installation into a grid-tied system and have the two work together, it's not always possible. Some retrofits simply do not lend themselves to integration, so you will end up with two separate systems. They can still work together, just not to the same extent.
High Mass Solar Thermal Space Heating
One of the oldest known man-made solar thermal space heating systems was built by the Romans, who constructed radiant floors for their bathhouses over 2,000 years ago. The systems heated the bathing water and the buildings by circulating hot air under the floors, then up through multiple chimneys. Today, radiant floors are not only the most comfortable heating system available, but the most economical – especially when tied into solar thermal heat generation!
Liquid-Based Solar Thermal Systems for Space Heating
Active solar thermal installations come in two main types for space heating: liquid-based and air-based. The third type – high-mass systems – is completely different to active systems and deserves separate treatment.
High Mass Solar Thermal Space Heating Layout
High-mass installations use a sand bed or pit underneath the building and a network of Pex tubes to gather, store and deliver heat to a radiant floor. They are extremely economical to run and provide very comfortable heating for the whole home. Remember to complete your installation in spring, so that the system starts gathering heat as soon as possible!
Liquid-Based Solar Thermal Space Heating Systems Without Storage
The simpler option for solar thermal space heating is to install what's known as a "dump" system. In this setup, there is no storage tank: the collectors heat the domestic supply when the sun is shining and send that heat to some kind of liquid-to-air interface, such as a radiator, a baseboard heating unit or a fan convector.
Living with High-Mass Space Heating
Although they are extremely efficient and produce very comfortable radiant floor heating, high-mass solar thermal systems can be difficult to live with, especially at first. They require changes in habits and it may take a few years to figure out the optimal approach for your particular situation. This article will provide the background knowledge and some pointers to help you along the way.