Solar storage Continued from page 38
Blank tanks, without internal HX
coils, are also available. Placing the HX function outside the tank has several advantages. First, the tank is less expensive to build and replace some day. Next, external HX coils can be sized exactly for the job. Another benefit is the ability to ser- vice, clean or replace the HX with- out replacing the tank. This seems to be a more common approach with tanks in excess of 119 gallons. There are more and more multi-
port insulated tanks on the market. These are designed to be installed as buffer tanks and can be useful for heat pumps, micro loaded hydronic systems or solid fueled boilers. Many of the new buffer tanks offer large ports at multiple levels for high flow rates and good air elimi- nation. Think of this type of tank as a super-sized hydro separator device. With the correct application, the tank serves as a buffer, hydraulic separator, air and dirt eliminator and
a central location for the control sensor or sensors. Another unique feature I noticed on
Jenni tanks, built in Switzerland, is that the connections were placed on the side of the tank with an angled connector pipe. This helps eliminate any ther- mo-siphoning that might be possible with a single outlet port on the very top of the tank. It elimi- nates what is known as single pipe ther- mo-siphoning. Cold water connections at the bottom were configured the same way. The following are some exotic
Jenni tanks
tanks and collection methods: • How about an aluminum tank
built in Sweden, developed by Salzburger Aluminum of Austria.
This product, named the ECOScience, is manufactured from recycled products, including an EPP insulation shell, and provides a weight reduction of approximately 60% compared to a steel vessel. • A copper tank with a glass fiber
lamination for additional strength comes from SolarDome of South Africa. • Stockbro, from Sweden, has a
dual chamber tank that allows load- ing in the bottom and heat removal from the top. DHW is produced inside a stainless steel inner coil. This provides a simple four connec- tion tank. View the cool YouTube animated video of their Siljan tank in operation. • Ouraset of Turkey builds a tank
with all piping connections located on one flange. This greatly reduces the number of ports welded onto the tank. • Ezinc, also locat-
ed in Turkey, builds a very attractive solar tank with the pump station and controller attached to the tank in a streamlined pack- age. They also offer a corrugated stainless steel upper coil for DHW production. • Thermo siphon
solar is very popular in mild climates. Most of these systems have a tank mounted integral to the collector, on the rooftop. Transsen of Brazil builds a tank with additional outer anti cor- rosion protection for use in harsh outdoor conditions. These tanks were featured in a recent issue of Sun & Wind Energy magazine. So, there is a quick update on
Ezinc tanks
some of the tank technology on the market produced domestically and abroad. “Tanks” for taking a look. n
Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr has been a Circle 25 on Reader Reply Form on page 49 Page 40/Plumbing Engineer
plumbing, radiant heat and solar contractor and installer for 30 years. Rohr is a longtime RPA mem- ber and Plumbing Engineer and Phc News columnist. Bob joined Caleffi North America as manager of train- ing and education.
June 2011
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