|
|
|
19-12-2023 -------------------------------------------
Navigation
-------------------------------------------
https://www.habiter-autrement.org/ > Energies -------------------------------------- Dale's Solar Energy System Solar Hot Water System
I heat water in the summer using a solar batch collector that a friend built. Its an old hot water heater tank painted black and enclosed in a plywood box with rigid insulation in back of the tank and a curved fiberglass front.
This system worked fine but the water in the tank heated up in the daytime and then cooled down at night. I wanted more consistent solar heated water, so I decided to put a heavily insulated tank on the roof and set up a thermosyphon system with the batch collector on the ground. My hot water then comes from the insulated roof tank. Earlier I mentioned that I use my excess photovoltaic power for heating water, and I accomplished this by putting heater elements in both the roof tank batch collector and connecting them to the output of the EnerMaxer load diverter.
With water being heated by both the sun for the tank on the ground, and solar panels through the heater element for the tank on the roof, and whatever thermosyphoning takes place as well, I am able to supply most of my hot water needs during the summer, and then occasionally or not at all in the winter.
The solar hot water in the roof tank is actually a pre-heating system which then goes through an Aquastar propane flash heater in the pantry. If the solar heated water is hot enough, the Aquastar never comes on and the hot water passes right through it. If the water is less than the Aquastar input temperature setting, the Aqaustar comes on with just enough flame to make up the difference. This system works great.
Solar Hot Water System
Micro Hydro SystemOur property has a 2 acre-foot catch pond which captures rain water in the winter and supplies our water during the summer. A 1" domestic water lines runs 1800 feet past two houses and at the bottom of the hill (220' vertical drop). Near the creek I installed a Burkhardts Turbine micro hydro system, consisting of a Delco alternator, an aluminum housing, a nozzle holder and Rainbird nozzle, and a 5" brass pelton wheel. This system produces about 5 amps (70 watts) at the hydro, and about 3 amps after being distributed through wiring to two houses. This may not seem like a lot of power, but coming in 24 hours a day during the rainy season not only can supply an average homestead with power, but leaves solar power in the dust as far as cost/watt. In fact there is a lot of inefficiency built into this hydro system as set up (pipe size too small, distribution wires too small) and I am planning on upgrading my hydro system in the future as I have my solar system. For more information on Burkhardt Turbine hydro systems, write: Burkhardt Turbines 1258 N. Main St. - Fort Bragg, CA 95437
Micro-hydroelectric system Cost of My System6 BP275 solar panels: $2800 Wattsun Dual Axis Solar Tracker for 10 panels: $1500 Trace U2512 2500 watt inverter: $1150 Linneage 2000 batteries: $2100 Power center, meters, wire & cable: $1000 Trimetric amp-hour volt meter & shunt: $190 Solar hot water system: $500 Misc expenses (tracker pole, conduit, etc.): $400 TOTAL: $9650
Dale Glaser's Home Page Mendocino Environmental Center Alternative energy links, part of the Mendocino Environmental Center Links Page
Home Power Magazine, the Hands On Journal of Home-Made Power Author:Dale Glaser (dglaser(AT)pacific.net)
-------------------------------------------
Navigation ------------------------------------------- ...https://www.habiter-autrement.org/ > Energies Contact pour HA: lreyam@gmail.com
|
