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HEATING SYSTEM DESIGN
SOL
AR HEA
TING SY
STEM
4.5.3 Torrent
RE-Solar
(a)
The Torrent RE-Solar is an advanced thermal store and has been designed to incorporate
existing boiler and central heating controls and is based on the tried and tested standard
Torrent range. Therefore general design requirements for hot and cold water systems
(section 3), for Ball valve and overflow (section 4.1), for water treatment (section 4.2) and
for heating system design (section 4.3) should be taken into account when designing the
Torrent RE-solar based systems.
(b)
Figure 4.8 shows the Torrent RE ‘OV’ type used in a traditional open vented heating
system and depending upon the location of the Torrent within the property, it would be
possible to use the existing feed and expansion cistern. In any case the water level in the
F&E cistern should be at least 250mm above the highest point of the heating system e.g.
a radiator.
(c)
In the open vented ‘OV’ system shown in figure 4.8, the thermal store, radiator heating
circuit and the under-floor heating circuit are all fed from the same feed and expansion
cistern. Therefore it should be sized to accommodate the expansion of total water content
of the complete system (i.e. water content of the store + water content of radiator heating
c water content of under-floor heating circuit).
(d)
Figure 4.9 shows the sealed primary ‘SP’ variant of the Torrent RE-solar used in a typical
sealed heating system. With this system arrangement, although the boiler and the radiator
central heating circuits are sealed, both the store and the under-floor heating circuit (if
installed) are open vented. Therefore the feed and expansion cistern should be sized to
accommodate the expansion of total water content of the open vented system (i.e. water
content of the store + water content of under-floor heating circuit).
(e)
Figures 4.8 and 4.9 also show typical configurations of a solar thermal system with Torrent
RE-solar, which will accumulate the energy from more than one renewable energy sources
(e.g. solar, wood burning stove).
In the open vented ‘OV’ system (figure 4.8), this energy is available for hot water and at
low level for both radiator and under-floor (if installed) space heating circuits. However in
the sealed primary ‘SP’ system configuration (figure 4.9), this energy is only available for
hot water and at low levels for the under-floor space heating circuit (if installed).
(f)
For maximising the use of the renewable ‘green’ energy, the system should be managed
and controlled so that the unnecessary firing of the boiler is kept to minimum. This can be
achieved by combination of: -
Use the store to provide shower or a bath in the morning after the store has been
charged or utilising the heat gained by the system from previous days solar energy
input. Alternatively showering or bathing in the evening will utilise the energy that has
been stored during the day from the solar system.
As with any system, hot water and space heating should be programmed according to
house holder requirements. However it is always good to remember that to gain
maximum advantage from the solar panels, the store should be as cool as possible. To
achieve this in spring, summer and autumn, the hot water channel of the boiler should
be programmed to come on 30 minutes before the hot water is required in the morning
and then programmed off before volumes of water are drawn off the system. This way
the store is depleted of heat allowing maximum transfer from the solar system during
the day.
Summary of Contents for TORRENT COMBI-PREHEAT
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