Solex Roofing Installation Manual 35
Solex Energy Ltd +44(0)1305 837223 www.solexenergy.co.uk
diameter by 200mm. To remove the insulation, loosen the small bolts holding the external
metal covering and remove it. The insulation can then be easily removed.
System design
– the pressure rating of these stores is 1.5 bar (optionally 3.0 bar), and
they are generally installed with a feed and expansion tank. Where a boiler, heat pump or
other plant feed directly into the store, then the minimum pressure rating of all the
components must be looked at.
When used with a solar input, care must be taken that the thermal stratification, of cold at
the bottom and hot at the top, is not disrupted. This enables the solar system to input heat
to the coolest part of the store, and thus extract the maximum potential from the solar roof.
Heat exchange coils
– there are two
finned copper heat exchange coils rated
at 10 bar. The connections are ¾ male
for the standard sized exchangers.
Generally these are arranged:
•
Upper coil
– this is used to heat hot
water as required. It is
recommended that a suitably sized
mixing valve is used on the hot water
output. The mixing valve increases
the system efficiency, as it means a)
the store can hold more heat without
the risk of scalding, and b) water can
be distributed at a lower temperature
so reducing heat losses.
•
Lower coil
– this is generally used
for the solar input.
The heat exchangers are bolted into the
stores with 20x M10 bolts. When installing a coil into a store the weight of the coil
hanging on the flange makes this a difficult operation. It is facilitated by the use of a
couple of lengths of M10 studding as guide rods.
If necessary, the bottom solar coil may be bent down so that it heats right to the bottom of
the store, increasing the system efficiency. This is also necessary on some stores where
the ¾“ port for the sensor is located below the level of the solar coil hatch.
Store connections
– all the ports feed directly into the body of water in the store. These
ports are all female threads, and are:
•
Central top 1”
– this is usually used for the pipe to the F&E tank.
•
Central bottom 1”
– this is used as a drain point.
•
Top left & right 1¼”, bottom left & right 1¼”
– these are usually used for the main
boiler, radiator and underfloor heating connections. They have guide pipes to the
extreme top and extreme bottom of the store, respectively.
