The Importance of Duty Cycle in Solar Thermal Systems
In a recent letter from Kevin about single tank vs two tank solar hot water systems, he brings up a very important concept that we didn’t cover in the previous discussion. It is known as “duty cycle”, or the load vs time. To start this off, let’s go back to Kevin’s comments about single tank […]
Solar Thermal Design Class Reminder
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkJZzLS0T5M Hey Everybody! I’d just like to send out a reminder about the class for designing and engineering commercial-grade solar hot water systems that is coming up in about two and a half weeks. Here are the details… “Designing Durable, Low-Maintenance Commercial Solar Thermal Systems” Friday, September 9, 2011 8:30am – 5:00pm Holiday Inn Express at […]
Solar Hot Water Systems – Embedding FHS Controls
In this video, we’re putting the finishing touches on three Fluid Handling Systems that are soon to be delivered to the Fayetteville VA Medical Center as part of the solar hot water systems being installed there by our friends at Southern Energy Management. Sam and David are installing the controls and auto-fill valve… httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX0l8PXFhyA&feature=channel_video_title
Pump Selection for Solar Hot Water Systems
I’ve been having some conversations with a few engineers about how to properly select pumps for large solar hot water systems. The pumps used in our Fluid Handling Systems are selected from major manufacturers, such as TACO and Bell & Gossett. Each pump is chosen for the particular characteristics needed for solar thermal collector operation. […]
3 Solar Hot Water Tanks Under Construction
This past week has been a particularly busy one out at the solar hot water systems shop. We’ve been working hard to get four Fluid Handling Systems ready to ship to our friends at Southern Energy Management. The first one to go out the door will be a 400 gallon solar hot water tank destined for […]
What’s the COP of a Solar Thermal System?
COP is a term that is used to refer to the performance of heat pumps. Coefficient Of Performance is the ratio of the energy to drive the compressor versus the energy transferred. For any solar thermal system there is a “COP” which refers to the energy gained vs the energy to run the system. More […]
Upcoming Solar Thermal Engineering Course
Hey Gang! I’m excited to announce that the North Carolina Solar Center is offering a professional-level one-day course on commercial solar hot water systems. Here are the details… “Designing Durable, Low-Maintenance Commercial Solar Thermal Systems” Friday, September 9, 2011 8:30am – 5:00pm Holiday Inn Express at NCSU 3741 Thistledown Drive Raleigh, NC 27606 Or Attend Remotely Using Elluminate […]
The Heat Exchanger Arrives for our FHS250 Solar Hot Water Tank
The heat exchanger for our 250 gallon Fluid Handling System arrived today. With a little luck, we’ll be able to get this component installed and the tank finished by the end of this week. This solar hot water tank will be shipped out to my old friend Clarence Beaver of Beaver Brothers in Salisbury, NC. […]
Solar Hot Water for Bragaw Hall?
As a school that prides itself deeply on its long history of education in engineering, North Carolina State University is always looking for new ways to become more efficient in its consumption of energy. I recently had the opportunity to meet with Pete Fraccaroli, the Facilities Engineer for University Housing. Pete knows very well that college dormitories make […]
Fort Myer Fluid Handling System Hits the Road!
This afternoon around 4pm, our 800 gallon Fluid Handling System left to be installed in the solar hot water system at Fort Myer, Virginia. Check out the video below for details. Thanks again to our friends at Southern Energy Management for trusting us to get the job done. We’re looking forward to seeing more orders from […]