buried solar tank + heat pump, insulate?

buffalobillpatrick · 07-01-14, 09:11 AM

"Cold water from HP would 1st go through the solar storage tank, pick up heat & then distribute it in slinky loops. water back from slinky loops source HP."

If solar storage tank is kept above 40*F, which I expect with my 360ft2 array & excellent solar location + foam insulation above slinky loop field, I don't think loops would ever freeze.

I could design it to automatically switch over to NG boiler if loop temps get below 35*F

"Water only needs about 1 GPM to start turbulent flow in 3/4 pipe , but glycol or alcohol needs about 3.5 GPM."

This is a big difference in pumping head loss (Watts)

07-01-14, 09:11 AM	#11
buffalobillpatrick Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Florissant, Colorado Posts: 599 Thanks: 814 Thanked 59 Times in 55 Posts	"Cold water from HP would 1st go through the solar storage tank, pick up heat & then distribute it in slinky loops. water back from slinky loops source HP." If solar storage tank is kept above 40F, which I expect with my 360ft2 array & excellent solar location + foam insulation above slinky loop field, I don't think loops would ever freeze. I could design it to automatically switch over to NG boiler if loop temps get below 35F "Water only needs about 1 GPM to start turbulent flow in 3/4 pipe , but glycol or alcohol needs about 3.5 GPM." This is a big difference in pumping head loss (Watts) Last edited by buffalobillpatrick; 07-01-14 at 09:14 AM..