[RE-wrenches] Building integrated thermal collectors?

Tue Jan 20 18:01:43 PST 2009

Mick,

We are about to do a Wagner system about 50 SQM.

It is a top German product, definitely worth a look.

Carl Emerson
Manager
Free Power Ltd.
Auckland, New Zealand.

-----Original Message-----
From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of mick abraham
Sent: 29 December 2008 7:04 a.m.
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Building integrated thermal collectors?

Good points made, Karl...esp the one about "every btu reduces the load on
the
backup water heater". My takeaway from that is that even if the Dawn system
can only preheat water for the main heater, that's still something. I assume
that the solar fraction could never reach 100%, but that's often the case
anyway. 

I plan to write to Velux to learn more about their flashed/glazed collector
system. Interested parties may contact me off list and I'll forward what I
get. (Disclosure: I have no relationship with and get no benefit from Velux
for forwarding their information.

Mick Abraham, Proprietor
www.abrahamsolar.com
Voice: 970-731-4675

---------- Original Message -----------
From: Karl Schwingel <karl at northwindrenewable.com>
To: mick at abrahamsolar.com, RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Sent: Sun, 28 Dec 2008 11:44:35 -0600
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Building integrated thermal collectors?

> I will beg to differ on the space heating properties.  domestic hot 
> water can use any degree above about 50 degF here in wisconsin.  
> every btu reduces the load on the backup water heater.  pool heating 
> is just fine with anything above  80 degrees or so (pool temps 80-85 
> deg) and space heating is the tricky one because it needs temps 
> minimum of 60 deg above ambient.   say 80 deg on a 20 deg winter day 
> for infloor heating, much higher for fan coils and other convective 
> devices.
> 
> There's someone here in the upper midwest peddling something similar 
> to the amercian solar air to water heater, and that's fine, but what 
> happens when something fails and the HX freezes.  I've heard too 
> many stories about the HX's freezing overnight and thawing when the 
> sun comes out, presto, impromptu indoor pool.  not on my watch cap'n.
> 
> what worries me is that dawn solar is peddling their collector to a 
> potential customer as a space heating option.   he wants us to 
> install it, and I'm willing to do it, but ONLY with a huge signed 
> neon rotating, I TOLD YOU SO!!!.
> 
> karl out.
> 
> mick abraham wrote:
> > Thanks, Kurt & Ian~
> >
> > The Dawn Solar arrangement makes me think of a similar looking setup
from
> > American Solar: http://americansolar.com/product-solar-roof.htm
> >
> > The American Solar setup heats air which they claim can then heat water.
Hmm. 
> >
> > My inner geek suspects that both of these systems would yield only low
> > temperature rise...which would be OK for pool heating or even for space
> > heating...but for DHW? Hmm. Both of these systems remind me of unglazed
> > swimming pool collectors.
> >
> > Glass is old school, low tech, breakable, and there's that nagging low
R-value
> > problem. Even so, glass really has some marvelous properties. The
"greenhouse
> > effect" makes glass behave similar to a selective surface. 
> >
> > Ian's note about the Velux integrated collectors is also appreciated.
There
> > are some excellent how to videos on the Velux website which may be of
interest
> > to other List members.
> >
> > Anyone in the SW Rockies who might be interested in pooling an order for
Velux
> > gear in order to save freight costs may contact me off list.
> >
> > Thanks again,
> >
> > Mick Abraham, Proprietor
> > www.abrahamsolar.com
> > Voice: 970-731-4675
> >
> > ---------- Original Message -----------
> > From: Kurt Albershardt <info at es-ee.com>
> > To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
> > Sent: Sat, 27 Dec 2008 09:36:27 -0800
> > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Building integrated thermal collectors?
> >
> >   
> >> --On Saturday, December 27, 2008 8:08 AM -0700 mick abraham 
> >> <mick at abrahamsolar.com> wrote:
> >>     
> >>> I'm looking for thermal collectors which integrate into the roof of
the
> >>>       
> > building. These would heat glycol to modest temperatures, for domestic
hot
water.
> >   
> >> Dawn Solar uses a design which effectively puts radiant floor tubing 
> >> just below the metal roof panels.  They were not particularly 
> >> forthcoming when I asked for more info.
> >>
> >> I suspect you could use Rehau Raupanel in a similar fashion.
> >>
> >> <http://dawnsolar.com/gallery/TherDSS-StandingSeamClip.JPG>
> >>
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> 
> -- 
> Karl Schwingel
> NABCEP Certified Solar Thermal Installer
> NorthWind Renewable Energy LLC
> 
> PO Box 723 Stevens Point, WI 54481
> Karl at Northwindre.com
> Cell: 715 209 0446
> Fax : 715 952 4501
> 
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