Solar Space Heating Storage Tank Size [RE-wrenches]

[Travis Creswell, Ozark Solar]

Thanks for the rules of thumb.  3 to 4 lineal feet copper per sq ft of
collector?  Wow!  That's 328 ft2 (1600 lineal) of copper coil for my 400 ft2
of collectors.  That would surely do it!  Did you mean 1 lineal foot of
copper pipe per 3 to 4 sq. ft of collector?  That would be more in line with
my rule of thumb.

The easiest way I've found to make heat exchangers out of soft copper it to
use a 100 lb propane cylinder (full of propane, of course!).  1) Uncoil the
copper down a small incline in the yard.  2) Start at the top of the hill
and wrap the coil around the propane cylinder as you roll it down the hill.
The cylinder is the perfect diameter. It's heavy so it easily and smoothly
coils the copper and when you're done the coil slips right off!

Best,

Travis Creswell
Ozark Energy Services, Inc.


-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Lane, Energy Conservation Services [mailto:tom at ecs-solar.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2004 9:27 AM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: Re: Solar Space Heating Storage Tank Size [RE-wrenches]

Rules of Thumb:
*    When you exceed 3 gallons per sq. ft. of collector area you get no
benefit from additional storage.  Typically 1.75 to 2.5 gallons per sq. ft.
is the best ratio of gallons per sq. ft. if you are also space heating
during the day.
*    Make sure all penetrations are above the water level.
*    Get 30 or 50 gallon metal drums and roll form 3/4" copper type L pipe
around the drums to form a coil. Use 3 to 4 lineal feet of 3/4" copper per
sq. ft. of collector area.  Use bare copper ground wire to wire the spread
coil to a copper ground road. Pull your heat from the bottom coils to the
top.  You can buy finned coils from SEPCO, VAUGHN, or WOLVERINE COPPER - but
it is more cost effective to make your own.

Gator Tom

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