SOLAR COLLECTOR

Laurenz TackTechnological design engineeringDocent: dr. ir. R. Versluys

Solar collector Solar panels

Solar energy warm water Solar energy electrical energy

Difference between solar collector and solar panels

2 types of solar collectors

Flat plate collectors Evacuated tube collectors

Solar collector system

(at my home)

Outside inside

Plan of solar collector system

Solar collector

Gas burner

Solar boiler

Reserve boiler

Expansionvessel

Circulatorpump

The controller (Deltasol BS Plus) controls the system due to 3 sensors. They messure the temperature of the fluid in the solar collector, in the solar boiler (300l) and in the reserve boiler (200l). If the temperature in the solar collector is higher than in the boilers the controller ensures that the circulation pump starts to pump the coolant trough the inox pipes. If the coolant passes the solar collector the temperature of the fluid will rise.

A Datalogger DL2 is connected to the controller. The collected data of the sensors can be followed on the internet.

There has to be an expansion vessel in the circuit. If the boilers reach the maximum temperature that is required and the temperature in the solar collector is still climbing, the water will evaporate and the pressure in the pipe system will rise. In the expansion vessel is a membrane that separates the coolant and compressed air. If the pressure in the pipes rises the membrane in the vessel can expand, so the pressure can be controlled.

The gas burner has two functions. It takes care of the heating in the house and thanks to a three-way valve it also can be used to increase the temperature in the boiler if there is not enough solar power to heat the pipes in the solar collector.

The solar collector system is only connected to the warm water system in the house and not the heating system. In a house with floor heating it is possible to connect it to the solar boiler because low temperature heating is used.

Heat pipes

Process in the heat pipes

Heat conduction paste

-for maximum heat exchange-prevents leaks

expansion vessel

-A vessel is a small container divided in two by a rubber membrane-one side is connected to the pipe system and contains the coolant-the other side contains compressed air. (with a valve it is possible to check and add air)-the vessel relieves the pressure in the system that could otherwise damage the plumbing

-material of body: epoxy coated stainless steel-material of membrane: EPDM

Compressed air

Coolant

Rubber membrane

Circulator pump

1.Top Screw:Brass2.O-ring:NBR3.Nameplate:Plastic4.Motor housing:Aluminium5.Screw:Stainless steel6.Stator7.Stator jacket:Nylon8.O-ring:NBR9.Rotor Can:SST10.Bearing:Ceramic11.Rotor:Brass12.Rotor shaft:Ceramic13.Back plate:SST14.Gasket:NBR15.Impeller:PP16.Inlet ring:SST17.Pump body:Cast iron18.Capacitor19.Terminal box:Nylon20.Screw:Stainless steel21.Cable grip:Nylon22.Terminal box:Nylon

Exploded view

Body pump

cast iron: good pressure resistance

Impeller

-PP (polypropylene)-using metal tube to connect the impeller with the ceramic rotor shaft

Back plate

-stainless steel-ceramic bearing in the middle: high hardness, high temperature resistance

Rotor

-brass

Rotor can

-Stainless steel-Closes the part of the pump where water can be ( the water can’t reach the electrical part of the pump)

Stator

Terminal box

-nylon-capacitor (smoothing the output of the power supplies)

Power range system

RANGE OF PERFORMANCE Manual in 3 stagesPower ranges from 100W ,67W to 46WFlow rate up to 55l/minHead up to 4m

LIMITS OF USE Max.water temperature: -10 to +110℃ ℃Max.ambient temperature: + 40℃Max.working pressure: 6 bar

Properties circulator pump

Working of the circulator pump

-if current flows trough the stator, a magnetic field is created so the rotor starts to spin-the impeller is directly connected to the rotor of the electromotor.-on the impeller are curved blades-centrifugal force makes sure the water in the impeller is pushed to the outside of the impeller-mechanical force is turned into potential and kinetic force-the kinetic force is the increased speed of the water-the potential force is the increased pressure

Solar boiler

-the tank stores the hot water until it is used-copper heat exchanger-steel body-PU isolation

Why would you place a solar collector?

-Save 50% of the costs for warm water-Contribute to a cleaner environment

Simulation

(Link)