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Solar Pool Heating System -- Installation & User Manual
© Copyright 2020 Optex Solar Pty Ltd. All rights strictly reserved.
Page 53
27.4
Adjusting the 3 Way Valve for Manual Systems
The following procedure for a manual system need be carried out only once during installation.
1)
Open the three way ball valve (9, see plumbing diagrams) using the lever handle by a small increment.
2)
Wait to see if there is sufficient flow and back pressure to create positive pressure at the vacuum valve (7).
3)
If after some time air bubbling is still present in the return line, open the three way valve (9 see plumbing
diagrams) by another small increment.
4)
If air bubbles stop reliably at this point then the vacuum valve is now at the required positive pressure.
5)
Fix in place a back stop on the ball valve lever handle at this travel point, as this will be your maximum
opening point for your three way valve when turning the heating system on again.
27.5
Optimizing Pressure for Oversized Pumps
For an over-sized solar pump (13, see plumbing diagrams) we recommend the following procedure, carried out only
once during installation, to limit pressures inside the panels.
1)
Removed any potential constrictions in the return line going back into the pool such as eyeballs in the return
outlets.
2)
If pressure is still too great (as measured at the pressure gauge, see above
Pressure Check Procedure
, install
a by-pass ball valve (18) (see plumbing diagrams).
3)
Turn the solar pump on with the by-pass-ball valve fully open.
4)
Constrict the by-ball valve in small increments until you get the correct pressure, see above.
5)
Fix the by-pass ball valve handle in place by some means.
28
Checking for Balanced Water Flow
At midday with the sun shining on the collectors and the pump running, run your hand over every part of each
collector in the array. The bottom face of each collector should be cool to the touch while the top of each collector
maybe slightly warmer to the touch. No part of any collector should be hot to the touch.
Hot spots indicate that
there is no water flow through this part of the collector.
During operation the outlet water flow should be strong with a temperature no greater
than about 1-2°C that of the inlet.
Why?
Faster flows rates will result in lower
temperature differences across the collector array and higher collector efficiencies;
however this should be balanced against electricity usage and maximum allowable panel
pressure.
Over-sized pumps and flow rates could potentially limit the lifetime of your collectors
due to pressure working. Note, the return line to the pool MUST be unconstricted, with
an appropriate number of pool outlets so as not to create significant back pressure.
