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| Radiant Floor | Solar Heated Water | Solar Electricity | Micro Hydro | Wind Energy |
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Hydronic radiant floor heat augmented with solar heated hot water.
Solar collectors |
Solar heated water Solar energy can be collected to heat water by ways of different types of collector’s .Here we will focus on the most common types for residential and small commercial projects. The flat plate collector has been the most used style for many years and is still the most competitive price wise. They are 3” thick flat, glass covered black boxes ( typically 4’ x 8’ or 4’ x 10’ ) with heat absorbing plates mounted at an angle suited to latitude and application , facing south +/- 15 deg. . Best mounting angle (from horizontal) in the WNC-area is: Domestic water heating only: 45 degrees Space heating and domestic water heating: 55-60 degrees. Vacuum tubes are a newer technology with a better performance in the fall .spring and winter, mainly due to the fact that the tubes are less affected by the ambient temperature. The increase in output during the heating season makes them an excellent choice for space heating projects. A Solar Heated Domestic Hot Water system for a household with 4 people typically consists of 64 sq .ft. of collector surface area and an 80 Gallon indirect heated water tank with electric backup. Gas heater back up is also possible when needed. Homes using solar hot water systems augmenting radiant floor heat require larger water storage (300 gals. and up). The collector surface area must match the given storage volume and the temperatures needed for the system. Often these systems require 200 sq. ft. or more of collector area and are frequently mounted on a ground rack, rather then a roof mount. When solar heated water is supporting a hydronic space heating system it is important to incorporate controllers that will combine information about outdoor temperature, room temperature and solar storage in order to maximize the use of the energy gained from the sun.
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Links General Info NC State University Solar Center Solar collectors Alternate Energy Technologies, LLC
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