Solar heating: how profitable and possible

Solar heating

Modern solar heating - how much heat demand can be met

From residents of settlements remote from the center, you can often hear the question, how effective is heating with a solar system? It's all about the availability of equipment and, at first glance, the possibility of using solar energy for space heating. We have already considered this issue in our publications. Let's highlight the main points and conclusions.

Warm walls and floors: low temperature heating

In winter, the all-season solar system is capable of heating the coolant only up to 30 degrees Celsius. Radiator heating requires at least 60 degrees Celsius. In this case, you can use the technology of low-temperature heating - warm walls and floors. They do their job quite well and create a pleasant atmosphere with moderate humidity due to convection of radiant energy.

The required temperature for these purposes is 45 degrees Celsius. The missing 15 degrees can be obtained from an electrode boiler connected to monocrystalline solar panels (not sensitive to cloudy weather). With their help, you can get 2-3 kW of energy for the autonomous operation of the boiler. The boiler will be connected at certain temperature values of the coolant to give them the required amount of heat. At the same time, such a system in winter cannot be called safe, trouble-free and working smoothly. At any time, the power of the heating equipment may not sound.

Solar heating with backup boiler: diagram

The heating of interest by the solar system does not provide enough heat in the northern regions to heat the connection radiators, but it can become a source of thermal energy for low-temperature heating. The missing energy will need to be obtained from external sources, obtained "green" or from central engineering networks.

The proposed heating by a solar system with a backup electrode boiler, powered by solar panels, must be supplemented by emergency heat sources. For example, fireplaces or solid fuel boiler rooms. An expensive heat pump can also perform this function. But the cost of installing it is quite high, so the combination of "green" heat sources in this case is financially unprofitable.

Solar heating with electrode boiler can be used for heating:

  • pool;
  • greenhouses;
  • terraces;
  • utility rooms where a comfortable temperature is not required.

In other cases, the use of a technological solution is economically unprofitable, but it can be used to maintain the air temperature in rooms during the off-season.

Principle of connecting a solar system with a reserve boiler
Principle of connecting a solar system with a reserve boiler

Heating and DHW in a system with a buffer tank

Heating with a solar system is of interest, as a rule, to those homeowners who use solar energy for hot water treatment in the summer. The simplicity of obtaining heat and the high temperature of the water creates the false impression that this way it is possible to heat the coolant in the heating system. However, everything looks much more prosaic, in winter, when it is cloudy, the solar system increases the temperature of the liquid, but not enough for heating. In this case, the temperature indicator changes depending on the brightness of a sunny day.

The proposed thermal scheme is based on the operation of a buffer tank that heats the coolant and hot water for use. In some engineering solutions, the accumulator is replaced by an indirect heating boiler. The difference lies in the direct or indirect supply of heat. Domestic heating systems can be solved in different ways, but the general principle of operation will be preserved.

Solid fuel boiler FOCUS 65
Solid fuel boiler FOCUS 65

In summer, warm water will come from the solar system for hot water treatment and heating. This is required during the month of September-December. When the temperature drops, it connects pellet boiler FOCUS... Thanks to the control of the microcontroller, it can supply heat to the system if it is insufficient.

Advantages solid fuel boilers FOCUS:

  • modulating burner;
  • stepless change in the temperature of the coolant;
  • burner connection for low temperature heating.

The proposed heating from the solar system is supplemented by the operation of a high-performance and high-temperature autonomous boiler. With its help, you can provide comfortable temperature indicators and trouble-free heating in winter.

Examples of hydraulic piping schemes for specialized pellet boilers FOCUS - with a thermal buffer
Examples of hydraulic piping schemes for specialized pellet boilers FOCUS - with a thermal buffer, to which a solar system can be connected

 

Order a boiler room with a thermal buffer

 

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