EnerWorks Solar Water Heating Appliance
Installation Manual / Energy Kinetics Inc. - Page
8
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© 2011 EnerWorks Inc.
2 – EnerWorks Pre-Heat Solar Water Heating Appliance
2.1 Appliance description
The EnerWorks Solar Water Heating Appliance has four main parts (
Fig.2.2
) – the solar
collectors, the line-set, the Energy Station and the solar storage tank.
The Energy Station uses a pump to circulate a heat transfer fluid through the “collector loop”.
This collector loop includes the solar collectors, the fluid lines or “line-set” and a heat-
exchanger. The collector loop is a “closed loop”, meaning there is no contact of the heat transfer
fluid with your potable water or with the atmosphere. The collector loop contains only a small
volume of heat transfer fluid which is food-grade and freeze-protected. Though freeze-protection
may not be necessary in all areas, the heat transfer fluid also has an elevated boiling point and
so is suitable throughout North America.
When exposed to sunlight, the solar collectors get hot. As the heat transfer fluid passes through
the collectors, it absorbs heat and then travels down the line-set to the Energy Station. The hot
fluid passes through the heat-exchanger and heat is transferred to the potable water. After
giving up its heat to the potable water, the cool heat transfer fluid is pumped back to the solar
collectors to be heated again. Hot potable water is stored in the solar storage tank.
In the
Pre-Heat Solar Water Heating Appliance
(
Fig.2.2
), the solar storage tank is a standard
North American electric hot-water tank. No power is connected to this tank – it only stores solar-
heated water. The solar storage tank is plumbed in series with the original water heater (electric
or fossil fuel). Whenever hot water is used in the home, solar-heated water leaves the solar
storage tank and enters the original water heater. The original water heater now requires much
less energy for water heating.
Thus, the Appliance displaces energy, but it does not replace the original water heater. The
original heater guarantees hot water even under poor solar conditions (at night or when very
cloudy). It also ensures that hot water is stored or supplied at an appropriate temperature to kill
harmful bacteria. The acceptable temperature set point is specified in local plumbing codes. Do
not turn off or bypass the back-up water heater. Even in summer months, additional heat from
the back-up heater may be required.
For more information on Appliance components and function, please see the
Owner Manual
.