AIA - In The Mix

Solar Domestic Hot

Bob Ramlow
Midwest Renewable
Energy Association Cofounder, BOD member,
Workshop instructor
Wisconsin Focus on
Energy Solar Thermal
Technical Lead
Artha Sustainable Living
Center
artha@wi-net.com

Solar Water Heating

Greetings!
Overview

What do they do?

How do they work?
Building design impact
Benefits
Solar Economics

Solar Water Heaters

Preheat incoming water
using free energy
Can provide up to 75%
of annual domestic hot
water
Require back-up water
heater

Water Basics

Water expands when it

freezes
Hard water can be hard
on your system

Types of Collectors
Evacuated Tube
Moderately high
temperature collector
Collector design varies by
manufacturer
Some tubes have moving
parts
Glass tubes are fragile
Do not shed snow and frost
as well as flat plate
collectors

Types of Collectors
Flat Plate
Proven Technology
Durable
Temperature operating
range perfect for SDHW &
space heating
Collectors shed snow
Repairable
Competitively priced

System Types
Drainback
Drainback

Advantages

can withstand moderate freezing conditions

not affected by hard water
uses distilled water as the heat transfer fluid most efficient and no fluid
degradation
virtually maintenance free
can be part of a combination system
versatile installation options using flat plate collectors

Disadvantages

can be damaged under severe freezing or snowy conditions

require careful pipe installation
require a high-head pump and a vertical distance between the collectors and the
reservoir of less than 25 feet

System Types
Drainback

System Types
Closed Loop Antifreeze
Antifreeze

Advantages

not affected by freezing

conditions
not susceptible to mineral
buildup from hard water
no limit to the distance between
collectors and storage
can be PV powered
has most installation options
proven technology
virtually maintenance free
most systems have only one or
two moving parts
can be part of a combination
space heating/domestic water
heating system

Disadvantages

cost slightly more than other

systems
slight loss of efficiency due to
heat transfer fluid
fluid degradation under
extended stagnation

System Types
Closed Loop Antifreeze

Site Assessment
Defining the Solar Window
Shortest day of the year
st
December 21
Longest day of the year
st
June 21
Solar collectors need full
sun from 9 AM until 3 PM
(FOE 10-2)

Site Assessment
Solar Window Illustration

Site Assessment
Installation Location Considerations
Access
Tree Growth
Distance from House
or Collectors
Balance of System
(BOS) Placement
Pipe Runs
PV Powered Pumps

Aesthetics
Neighbors
Future Construction
Topography
Roof Condition

Site Assessment
Collector Mounting

Site Assessment
Collector Mounting Roof Mount

Advantages and
Disadvantages of
roof mounting
Advantages and
Disadvantages of
ground mounting

Site Assessment
Collector Tilt

Collector tilt is the angle

the surface of the collector
makes with the horizon.
Fixed array
Tilt and latitude
Roof pitch and collector tilt

Site Assessment
Collector Tilt
Roof Pitch

Tilt Angle

0:12
1:12
2:12
3:12
4:12
5:12
6:12
7:12
8:12
10:12
12:12
14:12
16:12
18:12
20:12

0
5
10
14
18
23
27
30
34
40
45
49
53
56
60

System Use

Tilt Angle

Example @
45 latitude

Domestic hot water

Year-round usage

Latitude

45

Domestic hot water

Summer use only

Latitude 10

35

Space Heating/
Domestic hot water
combination

Latitude +
15

60

System Sizing
Sizing Design
Should not design a
system to cover the
entire annual load
Aim for 75%

100% of summer load

and 50% of winter load

Check for weather

irregularities at the site

System Sizing First Step

Energy Efficiency and Load Reduction
Take quick showers instead of baths.
Install low-flow shower heads or use a flow
restrictor.
Lower the thermostat to between 120-130 degrees
Fahrenheit. You dont need water hotter than that.

Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run

while you scrape them clean.
Whenever possible, wash only full loads. If your
washer has a water selector, use the lowest
practical level.
Install covers on pools and spas.

Wrap the back-up water heater in insulation if it is in

an unheated area.

Insulate all of your hot pipes.

Use cold water with the garbage disposal. Cold

water solidifies grease so the disposal can get rid of
it more effectively.

Upgrade your appliances: Energy efficient and

low water use dishwashers and front loading
washing machines save a lot of hot water.

When washing dishes in the sink by hand, dont let

the water run while rinsing. Fill one sink with wash
water and the other with rinse water.

Turn of the water while you shave.

System Sizing
Simple Sizing Using Flat Plate and ICS Collectors
Work backwards:

Consumption of 20
gal/day
Need 20 gal/day of
storage
Need certain ratio of
collector area to storage
Need 20 ft2 of collector
to heat 20 gallons of
water (in Wisconsin)

Alter simple figure

according to:

Households water
consumption habits
Size of household
Geographic location
and amount of solar
radiation
System type

System Sizing
Simple Sizing Chart
Number of People
In Household

1-4x10

1-4x10
or 24x8

2-4x8

2-4x10

3-4x8

3-4x10

Type of System
Closed loop antifreeze
or Drain-back
Cool Climate

System Sizing
Sizing Using Computer Modeling Software
Three primary inputs

Hot water load

Meteorological data for
the site
Solar collector
efficiency

Sizing evacuated tube

collectors

Free Sizing and Economic

Analysis Software
RETScreen
International
Free Download from
Canadian Government
www.retscreen.net
Solar water heating
module

Notes on the program:

Set security level to
medium when
downloading
Enable macros when
running program
Some figures in metric
PC only at this time

Solar Ready
Install 2 - 3/4 copper
pipes from attic to
basement
Insulate pipes with hightemp pipe insulation (250
degree)
Cap both pipes top and
bottom and label them.
Install 2 wire braded
thermostat cable from attic
to basement

Environmental Benefits
A typical solar water
heating system will
offset between 3/4 ton
and 1 ton of CO2 per
year - the equivalent of
driving over 1,300
miles (@22mpg)

Solar water heaters are

one piece of the puzzle
in reducing greenhouse
gas emissions
Natural gas, just like
oil, is a limited
resource that is being
depleated

Economics of SDHW
Life Cycle Costing
Overall cost of
comparable systems
Solar water heaters
have no operating costs
Add initial cost plus
operating expenses
Compare final cost
after a period of time

Economics of SDHW
Electric with Federal Incentive - Graph

Economics of SDHW
Natural Gas with Federal Incentive - Graph

Cash flow makes the world go

round
Solar water heaters save money
by replacing fossil fuel fired
heat sources
Fossil fuel bills are reduced
The amount saved can often
completely pay for the solar
heater
Little or no cash-flow impact!

Cash Flow
Impact with Federal Incentive

Monthly Bill
1st year
2nd year
3rd year
4th year
5th year
6th year
7th year
8th year
9th year
10th year
11th year

Electric Water Heater

Monthly Savings

Solar Water Heater

Monthly Payment

Cash Flow Impact per Month

$35.83
$39.42
$43.36
$47.69
$52.46
$57.71
$63.48
$69.83
$76.81
$84.49
$92.94

$55.51
$55.51
$55.51
$55.51
$55.51
$55.51
$55.51
$55.51
$55.51
$55.51
$0.00

-$19.68
-$16.09
-$12.15
-$7.82
-$3.05
$2.20
$7.97
$14.32
$21.30
$28.98
$92.94