Overheating [Was: el sid question) [RE-wrenches]

[Allan Sindelar]

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Todd,
I have two 4X8 collectors on a closed loop system feeding PEX tubing in the
floor of an addition on the north side of my home in New Mexico. I use an
old Hartell array direct pump and an 18W Solec module (from a salvaged 1980
system) to run it. I have no sensors, switches, differential controllers, or
even a way to shut down the system, as I went for simplicity and reliability
over anything else There's a Tridicator gauge (temp and pressure) in a
closet, at the Pex manifold on the intake side, so I can check performance.

My system never overheats. The keys are: 1) sized to provide enough winter
heat to temper the space in winter, but not designed for 100% (I have about
8% collector area/floor area and efficient construction); 2) have sufficient
mass (brick floor over 4-6" of sand (with tubing) over 2" of extruded
polystyrene) to absorb the heat; 3) provide backup heat source (I have
hydronic baseboard with a programmable thermostat) to provide fast room
response; and the main solution: mount the collectors and module vertically
on a south wall. Then it's like a trombe wall or direct gain system, and
simply doesn't collect enough heat from the high summer sun to need to dump
it. My system has been in place for about 1 1/2 years so far, with no
attention. The pump is mounted to a floor joist under the kitchen floor, so
when I can hear a faint whine on a winter's morning, I know it's working OK.
Hope this helps.
Allan at Positive Energy

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Todd Cory, Mt. Shasta Energy Services" <toddcory at finestplanet.com>

What do folks do to stop overheating of DHW systems in the summer?

Todd

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