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Designing your system
This chapter describes the factors you need to take into account when designing your system, and
the process of creating the plan of the system structure.
Important:
At all stages of the design and construction keep in mind that you want to produce a
system for the customer that will be as efficient and as
aesthetically pleasing
as possible.
Deciding on the location for the panels
The first thing to do is determine the location of your solar heating system. The following factors must be
taken into account:
Collector area
–
The total panel area must be large enough to heat the pool efficiently. The exact
optimum size depends on many factors in addition to the pool surface area, including climate,
latitude, roof orientation and slope, winds, pool covered at night and the presence of local
obstructions (such as overhanging branches) between the panels and the sun.
An approximate “rule of thumb” is to allow for a collector area equal to half the surface area
of the pool.
Proximity to pool
–
The panels need to be as close to the pool as possible, although longer pipe
runs are possible but may need an additional pump.
Orientation
–
Ideally the collectors should be mounted on a flat or north-facing roof, or an
elevated ground mounted rack, facing north. Where necessary, East facing or West facing roofs can
be used (in that order of preference). Then
the system has to be sized to compensate for ‘lost’ time
in the morning (west), and an afternoon (east)
Tilt
–
Be sure the planned position of the collector panels allows for them to drain naturally when
the pool pump shuts off.
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