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Be Smart When Installing Solar/Lpg Water Heating Systems

Choosing the right system to support solar thermal technology is important to achieve significant energy savings and contribute to a reduction in carbon emissions, according to Darran Smith, product manager at Alpha Heating Innovation.

The Feed In Tariff has provided a much-needed boost to the solar industry. Similarly, the forthcoming Renewable Heat Incentive, scheduled for June 2011, will provide further encouragement and uptake on solar power.

The demand for solar heating solutions is continually rising as pressure mounts to find low-to-zero carbon and renewable sources of heat. Furthermore, using energy from the sun has the potential to save up to 645kg of CO2 emissions. However, installing the right support system is important to maximise reductions in both cost and carbon emissions.

Whether fuelled by lpg or natural gas, supplementing solar thermal in both commercial and domestic applications provides additional heat to deliver water at the recommended 60°C. Conventional solar thermal systems work with a traditional boiler to maintain a stored supply of hot water, which often means the boiler fires up to replenish the stored water as soon as its volume or temperature deteriorates, regardless of demand.

Alpha’s award-winning SolarSmart is a comprehensive and technologically advanced system that works with lp gas combination boilers, ensuring there is always hot water on demand. The three main components that comprise the SolarSmart system are the cylinder, the drainback unit and the solar valve – central to the whole system.

The unvented cylinder in the SolarSmart system stores the water that is indirectly heated by the solar panel. There is a choice of a 90-litre or 150-litre capacity. The 90-litre cylinder is smaller and lighter than most solar cylinders, yet still provides enough hot water for an average family sized property. Because of its size, the cylinder is wall mounted and comes complete with a wall mounting bracket and a template to simplify installation.

Built into the cylinder is a simple display indicating the temperature of water in the cylinder, as well as the status of the system pumps. The cylinder is fully G3 compliant, meeting all building regulation requirements, and has WRAS approval. An unvented kit and expansion vessel are also provided.

The SolarSmart drainback system has two functions. Firstly, water from the collector ‘drains back’ into the unit when the system is not in use. This protects against freezing or, in some circumstances and rare in the UK taking into account the unpredictable weather, against overheating. The drainback unit comes prefilled with water and is fully insulated to minimise thermal loss.

Secondly, water from the solar panel is used to heat a copper coil in the unit. Cold water from the cylinder passes through the coil and is heated before being pumped back to the cylinder – and this is where the system differs from most solar thermal. As the water has been preheated, the boiler has to do less work in order to heat the water, resulting in lower lpg gas usage and subsequent carbon emissions.

The solar valve ensures that the boiler is only ever used as a backup and not to heat water when there is no immediate demand. When there is demand for hot water, it is drawn from the cylinder and passes into the solar valve, which acts as a diverter valve.

If the water is already at 60°C or more, it flows directly to the tap and the lpg boiler doesn’t need to fire. This is where a big proportion of the lp gas savings come from.

However, if the water from the cylinder is less than 60°C, it is diverted to the lp gas boiler. Because the water will normally be preheated by the solar part of the system, the lpg gas boiler will modulate down and only have to operate at part load to raise the water to the required 60°C. The result is that, even when lpg is required, it’s at much lower levels. As a source of heat, solar thermal has been used for a number of years. Now, with appropriate legislation and growing interest from consumers, installers need to make sure they are up to speed and qualified to install such technologies.

Alpha offers a range of training choices at venues across the UK to help installers keep up to speed on both renewable technologies and the advancements in Alpha’s products. By ensuring they have the latest training and knowledge to provide the right solar thermal system, installers will ensure they are placed to respond to a market sector that is continually evolving and growing, and deliver efficient and carbon friendly heating systems.

Contact Alpha Heating on 08448 718764 www.alpha-innovation.co.uk

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