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How to Charge a Pressurized Solar Thermal System: Step 3
There are three steps to the charging process. Make sure you read and understand all three stages before starting the charging process.
Ground Mounts for Solar Collectors
Although almost all urban installations opt for roof-mounted arrays, ground mounting is a popular alternative because it is much more flexible. The biggest advantage is that the installation location can be chosen for optimum solar output rather than relying on which way the roof happens to point.
If you decide to ground-mount your collectors you should be aware of the following factors:
How to Charge a High-Mass Solar Thermal System
Charging a high-mass solar thermal heating system is much like charging a pressurized system. However, flushing all the air out is more complicated if you're running a combination system: you will need to flush each individual circuit. Always keep at least one circuit open during this procedure.
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.
AC Power and Controls in Solar Thermal Installations
All solar thermal systems need electric pumps to operate, except thermosiphon and ICS setups. However, you can't just plug the pump in and leave it running all the time. If you did, it would reverse the energy gathering process, dispersing stored heat through cold solar collectors into the night. The installation needs a control system to switch the pump on when there is heat to be gathered and off when there isn't.
Preparing for Plumbing
Good plumbing is a return on investment in itself. Proper plumbing, carefully planned and implemented with professional soldering and workmanship can last 100 years, so it's worth doing it right. If you're a newbie, you will want to either practice beforehand or employ a skilled professional.
Sensors for Solar Thermal Control Systems
There are many different sensors that work with solar thermal control systems, ranging from flat models which bolt onto equipment, to screw-in threaded models, to pointed models designed for immersion in liquids. Most consist of a ¼-inch diameter copper cylinder about an inch long, with two wires sticking out the end.
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!
How to Size an Air-Based Solar Thermal Heating System
In air-based systems, it's very important to plan for a collector array of the right size for your needs. It's a difficult calculation for inexperienced installers because you need to strike a balance between the collector output, the amount of thermal mass inside the building and the rate of heat loss from the structure. If you're unfamiliar with calculating thermal mass and heat loss, it's going to be even tougher.