4
Solar Thermal -
Installation and Servicing
general
inTroDucTion
Ideal Solar is a range of solar water heating equipment for use
with twin coil storage cylinders only. The solar collectors come as
flat plate type or evacuated tube and are suitable for use in new
and refurbishment installations.
A range of packs are available providing all equipment (except
cylinders, pipework and insulation) for a range of properties. The
pack includes solar collector(s), mounting brackets, controller,
pump station, expansion vessel and system fluid.
The solar collector is copper tube ultrasonically welded to
selectively coated absorber plates. This is housed in a sealed
casing with mineral wool insulation to rear and sides. It is sealed
into the casing with EPDM seals and a robust tempered glass
cover. Mounting kits are available to suit tiles, slates both on or
inset to roofs. In addition flat roof mounting is provided.
THe iDeal solar sysTem pacKage comprises of:
1. ideal solar collector(s)
The TS800 solar collector panel(s) can be mounted directly
onto sloping roofs with a variety of fixings for different roof
coverings or onto a support frame for flat roofs.
The TS8001 is for inset applications only.
The Ideal Solar kit comprises of one, two or three high
performance flat solar panel collectors.
Pressure loss (bends, valves, etc.)should be recognised when
specifying the pump arrangement.
2. ideal solar Twin line pump station
The solar pump station is supplied with integrated pump
to provide circulation of the heat transfer fluid, the main
components of the unit are:
A circulation pump.
A flow limiter with fill & drain valve shut-off valve.
Two ball valves with integral display thermometers and check
valves.
Safety relief valve/pressure gauge assembly.
Non-flow valve fitted in both the flow and return circuit to
prevent the possibility of gravity circulation in the solar circuit.
3. ideal solar controller ec1
The controller allows quick setting of functions and features
with LCD display to provide graphical information.
The controller allows the user to select the temperature
required at the hot water cylinder. The controller then
automatically determines when to run the pump to bring the
energy from the solar collector panel(s) to the cylinder.
The control uses a simple temperature difference to define
when the pump runs. This ensures that the pump is running
only when the benefit from the solar collectors is available.
operaTion
The solar collector panel is mounted on a surface which is
selected for its exposure to sunlight and connected via pipe work,
to the lower coil of a twin-coil solar cylinder.
The solar controller monitors the temperature of the solar
collectors and the cylinder via its sensors.
The energy in the sun’s rays is absorbed by the solar collector’s
selective coated plate’s which is then transferred to the heat
transfer fluid contained within the collector system pipe work.
When the solar collector sensor temperature is elevated 4
o
C
above the cylinder sensor temperature the controller activates the
circulating pump.
The pipe work is filled with a ready-mixed heat transfer fluid
containing glycol and water, which is circulated by a pump to the
solar coil in the hot water cylinder. The heat is deposited in the
storage cylinder and the heat transfer fluid returns to the collector
to absorb more free solar energy.
The circulation pump will continue to operate until the
cylinder sensor is satisfied (factory set 60
°
C) or the differential
temperature between the solar collector sensor and the cylinder
sensor reduces to 2
°
C.
With current recommendations to store water at 60
o
C it is
becoming more of a consideration to protect persons of reduced
physical, sensory or mental capabilities from scalding. A suitable
method to achieve this would be to fit a Thermostatic Mixing
Valve (TMV) to the hot water outlet from the cylinder. If the TMV
is not fitted with a line strainer, they must be fitted on the hot and
cold supply lines.
imporTanT
plastic pipework is not suitable for the temperatures
possible in solar circuits.
all connections and joints must be resistant to glycol and be
resistant to temperatures of up to 200°c.
opTional exTra KiTs
• Flat Roof Frame Kit (1 and 2 collectors)
• Roof Fixing Kit (slates)
• Heat Transfer Fluid (10, 25 & 25 lt containers)
• Additional on roof and in roof flat panel collectors
• Vacuum tube collectors
• Single line pump station
• First fix kit - on roof
• First fix kit - in roof
• Solar controller EC2 (controls East/West solar collector
orientation)
• Roof Inset Kit (1, 2, 3 and additional collectors) for tile roofs
• Roof Inset Kit (1, 2, 3 and additional collectors) for slate roofs
unvenTeD DHW cylinDers
When connecting the Ideal Solar System to an un-vented hot
water storage cylinder, it is recommended that the electrical
supply to the solar control system is taken via the thermal cut-out
device on the cylinder.
cylinDers
For your Ideal Solar System a dual coil hot water storage cylinder
must be used. Installation can be for both open vented and
sealed systems. If a sealed system is used then part G3 of the
Building Regulations must be observed.
When sizing the Dual Coil Hot Water Cylinder a minimum
dedicated solar volume must be either 25 litres per sq metre of
panel or 80% of the daily hot water used.
For reasonable efficiency 35 litres per sq metre of panel should
be used.
For best practice a figure of 50 litres per square metre of
panel should be used. (These details are contained within the
Domestic Heating Compliance Guide).
207786-2.indd 4
16/02/2012 11:25:36
