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Forum Index : Solar : solar hot water heat pump
| Author | Message | ||||
| howler Newbie  Joined: 03/06/2015 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6 |
hi all just got a coupla questions bout hot water i have a heat pump its using4kw a day during winter anyway i scored a coupla hot water panels i was thinking bout just hooking them up before the heat pump and it would use the heated water in solar panels then use less power sounds too easy the heat pump is on the ground and the panels on roof water is under pressure from pump am i missing something or it that easy.......... |
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Downwind Guru  Joined: 09/09/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2333 |
Yes you are missing something. You are expecting the panels to heat water on demand which they will not do. What you need to do is circulate the panel water through the HW system as the panel water becomes hotter than the stored water. If you dont than the panel water temp will rise high enough to blow the relief valve (i hope you have one instslled) as the pamels can boil water if not circulated. What you are intending to do is store hot water in the panels until required, which will not work and will result in a failure in one of several ways. Pete. Sometimes it just works |
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| howler Newbie Joined: 03/06/2015 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6 |
thanks Pete i will work a circulation system i guess release valve on HS should be enough... |
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| Downwind Guru Joined: 09/09/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2333 |
You require a thermal/pressure relif valve on the panels as well as on the cylinder tank. Its the same relief valve fitted to the cylinder you require on the panels.(rat one off a old HW cylinder) Simply you need a vent on the panels should the temp/pressure go above 100 Deg C, which it will should the pump not circulate the water. You can not rely on the pump and need a excape port to dump the water should all else fail to work as intended. On super hot days, my system can dump water even though the pump is working fine. The thing is to set it up right the first time and not need to do it twice. Pete Sometimes it just works |
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| howler Newbie Joined: 03/06/2015 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6 |
i tried to load an image of my design what i thought is house water tank to solar hot water panels to in let of heat pump which has 300 litre tank and a safety valve than outlet hot water to kitchen bathroom then onto inlet to solar hot water panels,thinking bout having thermostat connected there do when 300lt tank get too hot pushes water back to panels,the hot water panels also have release valve at high point ,just wondering if i need a circulation pump or if will push its self around....Howly |
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jebz Regular Member  Joined: 13/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 79 |
The plumbing arrangement should look more like this - 
See the hot water leaves the panels at the top and returns the water 1/2 way up the storage tank. The cold water from the tank goes up to the bottom of the solar collector via a small pump. The pumps are like these - Solar recirculation pumps |
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| howler Newbie Joined: 03/06/2015 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6 |
Thanks jebz that help heaps mate |
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