Naugler House Solar Domestic Hot Water System
The collector panels for the solar DHW system are mounted on a solar shed. The south roof of the shed is at a 60 degree angle for maximum winter solar gain. Two 4' X 8' Thermo Dynamics solar panels are secured through to the rafters of the shed. Connected to the hot water solar panels is a photovoltaic panel that produces the electricity to operate the complete system. A glycol solution circulates through the solar panels, collecting the sun's energy. The collected energy is transferred by the pipes on the lower right to the solar boiler which is inside the house.
To the right you see the solar boiler (orange) and the 60 Gallon (273 liter) storage tank (white). When the sun shines on the photovoltaic panel electricity is produced to operate the pump (green) located on top of the solar boiler. The pump continuously circulates the heated glycol from the solar panels through the heat exchanger located inside the solar boiler (orange). The heat exchanger transfers heat from the glycol solution to the water in the storage tank (white) by thermosyphon.
After some cloudy weather the water in the storage tank may not be quite hot enough to use directly. In that case the in-line hot water heater (the grey unit above the storage tank) kicks in and brings the the water up to usable temperature. The in-line heater heats only the water that flows through it on its way to the tap.
After some cloudy weather the water in the storage tank may not be quite hot enough to use directly. In that case the in-line hot water heater (the grey unit above the storage tank) kicks in and brings the the water up to usable temperature. The in-line heater heats only the water that flows through it on its way to the tap.
A close up view of the solar boiler (heat exchanger). The system is simple, efficient and made by a Maritime business located in Halifax/Dartmouth.