If we want to tie the solar heated water into the back up on demand gas heaters, would there be a controller that could feed the solar heated water direct to the hot water lines bypassing the on demand gas heaters when the water is hot and when the temperature drops automatically have the water directed through the on demand so that the gas turns on to bring the water up to required heating.
Ibon wrote:Here are the specific design questions and doubts I still have
1) We now have good water pressure to the lodge as there is about 20m head from a 6000liter reservoir we built above the lodge. If we add a closed loop active solar to this water line how do we do this and not lose the pressure? Maybe this is a dumb question?
2) What pressure valves and check valves etc do I need when setting this up so that we avoid pressure building up anywhere in the system.
3) If we want to tie the solar heated water into the back up on demand gas heaters, would there be a controller that could feed the solar heated water direct to the hot water lines bypassing the on demand gas heaters when the water is hot and when the temperature drops automatically have the water directed through the on demand so that the gas turns on to bring the water up to required heating. I will have paying guests so I do need to make this system as automatic as possible trying to provide a hassle free hot water to the lodge without having to go run to the tanks and switch things around everytime a guest complains that the water is running cold on a cloudy afternoon. I hope that was understandable what I just wrote
Any further ideas appreciated
Jeffrey
vtsnowedin wrote:!. The entire system can be at the pressure of the incoming cold water. Opening a hot water tap lets hot water flow out and as the cold water pushes into the tank to make up the volume. The cold settles to the bottom of the tank and starts out the feed pipe to the collector.
2. A single pressure /temp relief valve on top of the storage tank will safeguard the whole system as long as your circulation pump allows flow through it when not turning. If you pump doesn't allow flow or if your collector is a long way from the tank you could add another relief valve in a T coming up off the collector pipe at the top of the collector loops. No check valves are needed or advisable.
3. I would not fiddle with automatic controls but just feed your solar hot water into the cold side of your on demand heaters and let the on demand top off the heat as needed. When you don't have guest you could turn off the on demand heaters and just let the solar run through them.
Pops wrote:Thanks VT, I was afraid of that
I made a tank for the greenhouse out of a series of 55gal plastic drum and had to order some fittings to go through the sides of the tank, I assume you can make it work through sheeting
http://www.mcmaster.com/#tank-fittings/=sbh92x
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