Plumbing question...

danmat2332

Hi all,

We are in the process of renoing an old 1930 house and have some plumbing question, answers are very much appreciated.

The house is tiny but we want to install a Heatrae Megalife 250 HE solar cylinder (vented) indirect, as this is a pretty large unit we were wondering if it is possible to install it in the attic (which is too small to convert into a room) next to the water cistern, is this possible or does the cistern need to gravity feed the cylinder? I have not purchased any of the products yet so I still have time to change my mind on the system to use.

We also will eventually be changing the boiler to a more efficient system and hopefully be moving its current location as its in a small box room.

Thanks for your help

Dan

sullzz

You wouldnt really be able to have the vented cylinder next to the storage tank , the tank would need to be above the cylinder , why not go for a pressurised unvented cylinder .

Outkast_IRE

Depending on the height you have in the attic, its possible but only if you can build a stand for the tank so the bottom of the tank is above the top of the cylinder. Which in many cases just isnt possible , and results in the tank being hard to access for maintaince and would need to be well insulated.

danmat2332

Thanks for your replies.

So as I have not purchased anythinng yet, the alternative would be to buy a pressurised unvented cylinder, does this mean I can then locate it next to the water cistern or does this eliminate the need for a water cistern and run the mains directly into the cylinder? Sorry..I have absolutely no idea regarding plumbing!!

Thx again

heinbloed

Yes, your design can be done. In fact this is how most ST systems work, the tank being far above the collector/taps, above the habitated space of the house.

The tank's content would be the 'dead load' and several loops going through it. One loop from the collector feeding the storage mass( the tank,standing water) from the collector field, one loop feeding it from the boiler and one or two loops drawing from it.

These are the cheapest and most efficient systems (kWh harvest/€ invested).
Sorry for the few answers you got so far, the Irish/European installers aren't up to efficiency when it comes to energy.
If you want to discuss things further post more details.

danmat2332

Hi Heinbloed,

Thanks for your reply, although I dont really understand the technical side of what you are saying I would defininately appreciate more info/diagram or please direct me to a site that may explain this better.

Kind Regards,

Dan

heinbloed

You're welcome.
Post some details: size of collector field, harvest potential, type of collectors, type of proposed storage tank and of course: demand on the consumer side.

heinbloed

Here one made in Europe:

http://www.aguasol.dk/

The competitors from the far east cost about half the money.

Similar hydraulic installations can be half-half, the collector field above the roof and the tank below.