EcoRenovator  

Go Back   EcoRenovator > Improvements > Solar Heating
Advanced Search
 


Blog 60+ Home Energy Saving Tips Recent Posts Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-06-14, 04:24 PM   #21
Mikesolar
Master EcoRenovator
 
Mikesolar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Toronto
Posts: 958
Thanks: 40
Thanked 158 Times in 150 Posts
Default

OK, I may have missed a couple of things here but this system looks no different from any other glycol (proplyene, not ethylene) solar system. Every system with the proper internal pressure (2 bar minimum) and 40% glycol will convert the WATER in the panels to steam at 170C+. This is a very small amount of real liquid changed to steam and the upshot is that the rest of the liquid will be pushed into the expansion tank (which must be big).

There is no issue with this process. Look up Tyfocor LS heat transfer fluid, made in Germany. I have used lots of it over the years and is the standard in Europe. It is non toxic and recyclable. Some companies in Canada also use USP (food grade) grade propylene glycol and water and it lasts 10 + years. It is all in the design of the system.

Mikesolar is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Mikesolar For This Useful Post:
osolemio (07-08-14), stevehull (07-06-14)
Old 07-17-14, 02:42 AM   #22
gtojohn
Journeyman EcoRenovator
 
gtojohn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 314
Thanks: 39
Thanked 50 Times in 45 Posts
Default

Its been a few years, but I spent a summer touring German technical schools. They had a lot of solar projects. I remember one that used alcohol in the heat exchanger and I think it might have been under a vacuum. The main reason was to lower the boiling point because you gain more latent heat transforming to steam. It also requires less btu to superheat steam vs warming liquid, usually half. So in short, consider a low temperature solar boiler for efficiency, I'm sure easier said than done.
gtojohn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-14, 06:38 PM   #23
mmesser@ameren.com
Lurking Renovator
 
mmesser@ameren.com's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Fulton, MO
Posts: 3
Thanks: 2
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

I can't say I've read all of the replies here, and it seems that there are some requests to supply us with a diagram. What I could add is that I've learned over some time now that a good, safe coolant could be 'propylene' glycol, versus the automotive coolant 'ethylene' glycol, which tends to kill animals who are won over by its aroma. There! I added something to a post. Hopefully it helps someone?
mmesser@ameren.com is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-23-15, 02:53 PM   #24
house4u
Lurking Renovator
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Ukraine
Posts: 17
Thanks: 1
Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts
Default

I used propylen glycol + water (40%) for my solar sysytem. This winter the lowest temp was -22C and everything is ok. But i know - someone who used alcohol 25% (vodka + water)

house4u is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:25 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Ad Management by RedTyger
Inactive Reminders By Icora Web Design