Solar and Radiant Heat

[Smrtpunk]

Has anyone experimented with Solar Vacuum Tubes and Radiant floor heat in their garage?

I'm in Eastern Ontario and have a fairly small radiant setup, just under 600 Sq ft.

I've been doing some reading online and it seems as though most of these systems require the use of a storage tank. I've been wondering though, can I run a setup without a tank and how many solar panels would be required to heat my building to a moderate temp, say 10-14 C.

Is there a way to run my pump only during the day while there is sun and then revert to my boiler if needed for extra. Maybe some kind of solenoid on the panel that detects heat and trips the pump to run direct into the floor while there is heat.

Has anyone experimented with this stuff?

 

[walrus]

Has anyone experimented with Solar Vacuum Tubes and Radiant floor heat in their garage?

I'm in Eastern Ontario and have a fairly small radiant setup, just under 600 Sq ft.

I've been doing some reading online and it seems as though most of these systems require the use of a storage tank. I've been wondering though, can I run a setup without a tank and how many solar panels would be required to heat my building to a moderate temp, say 10-14 C.

Is there a way to run my pump only during the day while there is sun and then revert to my boiler if needed for extra. Maybe some kind of solenoid on the panel that detects heat and trips the pump to run direct into the floor while there is heat.

Has anyone experimented with this stuff?

My shop is has solar radiant heat. www.builditsolar.com is a good place to start. Look at my build, its in my signature line assuming you aren't on a phone.

Mine works great, keeps it in the 40s to low 50s, never had it freeze. My storage tank is 22 yds of concrete. My shop was built for solar though, tight and lots of insulation keeps my heat load down.

 

[tyme2par4]

It can be done, you just get no heat output when the sun isn't shining. A storage tank allows you to capture extra heat and store it for night time use.
For the pump control, again, it can be done. A cheap micro-controller and some basic programming should be pretty much all you need (and a temp sensor of course)

 

[Smrtpunk]

I checked out your build Walrus and I like the Home brewed ingenuity. This is the sort of thing I was thinking about doing. However, I was thinking of buying a panel already made though as I’d like to minimize the amount of time spent on the project and from what I hear the vacuum tube solar heaters are the most efficient at creating warmed water.

If I could get 50 Fahrenheit all winter out of a solar system, I would be as happy as a pig in ****.

I have a question for you about your controller, where did you get it and how is it wired up?

 

[walrus]

Controller is easy, temp sensor in collector, temp sensor in floor, collector temp 10 degrees warmer than floor, pump starts, when it hits 4 degrees differential, pump stops. If you Google solar differential controller you will find many.

Flat plate collectors are close to vacuum tube, price much more reasonable. One thing, my collectors built into wall in the summer with high sun angles roof over hang keeps collectors cool when covered. On the roof it isn't going to matter if you cover them or not. They are going to get hot.

 

[Smrtpunk]

Controller is easy, temp sensor in collector, temp sensor in floor, collector temp 10 degrees warmer than floor, pump starts, when it hits 4 degrees differential, pump stops. If you Google solar differential controller you will find many.

Flat plate collectors are close to vacuum tube, price much more reasonable. One thing, my collectors built into wall in the summer with high sun angles roof over hang keeps collectors cool when covered. On the roof it isn't going to matter if you cover them or not. They are going to get hot.

Sage advice Walrus! Hopefully I'll be able to experiment with solar shortly.

Cheers!

 

[2011laramie]

Anyone know if theres a decent temp 3 channel data logger that could record outside temp, inside temp, collector temp at say 15 or 30 minute intervals that isnt 500 bucks?

 

[Ed Devinney]

Another HVAC thread turned me on to these, haven't tried them yet but intend to as my construction winds up: http://www.controlbyweb.com/x300/