Twin coil heat exchanger cylinders will enable the user to utilize two heat sources to provide hot water i.e. the main heat source and solar collectors.
 |
 |
Stainless steel, high pressure cylinder Complete with a pressure/temp relief valve 7bar/90°C as well as a complete kit for water connection and boiler thermostatic control.
|
 |
Solar Panels
Solar energy is a versatile, highly-efficient, low maintenance solution for your hot water needs. When averaged over the year a correctly sized solar water heating system can provide up to 70% of a household’s hot water needs at a reduced cost, compared with conventional systems.
|
During the winter season the solar heating system will still be able to provide heat to supplement the primary heat source to preheat the water and thus reduce the running cost of a boiler or heat pump if you have one installed.. Inclination and direction are extremely important yield factors in solar energy performance. A directly south-facing orientation and an inclination of 40º are ideal settings and will provide the optimal performance of your solar heating system. Facing either South East or South West is still very viable as the reduction in yield compared to facing due South would not be greater than 10%. An east/west orientation might also work but may result in reduced efficiency levels. In Ireland, 70% of the solar energy we get is in the months of April to September with the other 6 months providing the other 30%. Solar power can be harnessed all year round; it even works on hazy and overcast days. The yield however is higher and more savings can be made from April until September. |
Find out more by clicking below:
Map Indicates the average level of sun in W per square metre.
|
How Solar Works
In one minute, the sun gives the earth enough energy to meet the earth's power needs for a year. Tapping into this energy will not only contribute to a healthier environment, it will cut your home heating bills drastically and insulate your domestic budget from periodic rises in fossil fuel prices. As a solar hot water system typically provides between 60% and 70% of your domestic hot water per year and in an average household the domestic hot water accounts for about 25% of the annual thermal energy in the household so the solar panels or solar tubes system would typically provide about 17 ½ % of the annual fuel consumption be it oil, gas, electricity or other forms of thermal energy.
Solar Panel Technology
The oldest renewable technology, the solar panel can potentially be utilized to cut more than half your domestic hot water bills. Another advantage of using solar panels is their flexibility of use, whether you’re located in a rural setting or a space confined urban setting they present a viable solution for renewable heating. For such urban settings solar panels can be mounted on roofs – they can also be mounted on the ground but this is not as viable. While slightly less effective than solar tubes, solar panels they still are a reliable and proven renewable technology. The cost of installing solar panels ranges between €3,000 and €5,000. There is grant funding available for the installation of solar panels, this is €250 per square metre up to a maximum of 6 square metres.Solar Panels - the right solution for Ireland
Solar panels tend to be a less efficient form of solar energy technology than evacuated tubes overall. Having said that, a solar panel system would supply typically 90% of your hot water needs in the summer months while turning out 60% to70% of your annual hot water needs. As regards maintenance, while they can be expensive to replace if it were to get accidentally damaged, a solar panel has no moving parts and so has few maintenance issues over what should be a lifespan of at least 20 years. The cost savings you make on your system should deliver payback on your installation in some cases as soon as five years but as energy prices continue to rise, the system will save you more and more each year.
Solar Panels offer a flexible solution
Solar panels can be used in a variety of environments, from rural to confined urban settings, they don’t come with as much space requirements as other renewable or conventional technologies as they are usually roof mounted.
How Solar Panels work
With a solar panel system used for water heating the system will use a collector to absorb solar radiation and transfer this solar radiation in the form of heat to an antifreeze mix – a transfer fluid – that is circulated around a closed loop between the solar panel and the coil in your hot water tank. The heated antifreeze solution passing through the coil in your hot water tank heats the water in your tank for use in showers and hot taps. The solar controller ensures that the antifreeze solution is only circulated when the collector is warmer than the hot water tank. To get scientific about it the collector is coated in a material that when struck by light the molecules of this material start to vibrate which causes friction and with this friction comes heat. This heat is then absorbed through the collector and transferred to the conducting liquid. An added bonus of using a solar collector system is that it is designed to catch solar radiation and, in turn produce hot water in a range of conditions, from a hot summers day to below zero temperatures. Ensuring you get the most from your solar panel system right throughout the year.
Solar Tubes
Solar tubes are more productive than solar panels while more expensive to install. They are a highly efficient renewable technology as their design eliminates convection and heat loss. They also enjoy a long lifespan and require little maintenance and if they do need replacing, they are cheap to replace. Like solar panels they offer flexibility of use being a viable renewable solution even in confined urban settings, and can be roof or ground mounted. Solar tubes also capture sunlight better because they have a greater surface area exposed to the sun.
Grants and cost of installing solar tubes
The cost of installing of installing solar tubes is €300 per square metre installed, to a maximum of 6 square metres. Grant funding of between €3,000 and €4,000 is available for the installation of solar tubes.
Please check the SEAI website below for full Terms & Condtions on these grants which are for existing houses only.
Click here>
Solar Tubes - the right renewable solution for Ireland
The best thing about solar tubes is their efficiency in performance, with less heat loss and convection than solar panels they also work very well in overcast conditions making them especially viable in Ireland’s climate. They can also be used in sub zero temperatures. In terms of maintenance they come up trumps too, with very durable components they can enjoy a long lifespan and if a tube is broken and needs to be replaced they are inexpensive to replace. Over time a solar tube suffers minimal degradation and has an expected lifespan of at least 20 years.Solar Tubes offer a flexible solution
Solar tubes can be used in a variety of environments, from rural to confined urban settings, they don’t come with as much space requirements as other renewable or conventional technologies as they are usually roof mounted.How Solar Tubes Work
A solar tube, or evacuated tubes - as they’re also known - use heat pipes rather than a liquid that passes through them. Each glass tube contains a heat pipe which is thermally coupled to the absorber which conducts the absorbed heat to an antifreeze mix – a transfer fluid – that is circulated around a closed loop between the collector manifold and the coil in your hot water tank. The heated antifreeze solution passing through the coil in your hot water tank heats the water in your tank for use in showers and hot taps. The solar controller ensures that the antifreeze solution is only circulated when the collector is warmer than the hot water tank. It is because the outside of each solar tube is surrounded by a vacuum that prevents heat loss making the solar tube an especially efficient renewable technology and very suited to domestic hot water applications as well as larger, or commercial specifications.
Solar Photovoltaic
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) panels use energy from the sun to create electricity. PV requires only daylight – not direct sunlight – to generate electricity.The PV cell consists of one or two layers of a semi conducting material usually silicon. When light shines on the cell it creates an electric field across the layers, causing electricity to flow. The greater the intensity of the light, the greater the flow of electricity. The latest generation of Solar panels (PV) technology means it is now possible to produce up to 50% of your household electricity from the sun. It is also one of the easiest carbon neutral energy systems to be incorporated into your home. Any excess electricity generate can easily be sold back to the grid.
Components:
- Polycrystalline photovoltaic module
- DC system isolation switchboard
- DC/AC converter (inverter)
- Meter for energy produced
- Delivery switchboard (AC)
- Electrical switchboard
- Bi-directional energy meter
- Electricity grid
- Utility
- Any excess electricity generate can easily be sold back to the grid.
Solar Thermal Explained
Dim lights Download Embed Embed this video on your site
Back to topFrequently Asked Questions
What is solar thermal?
Solar thermal is the technical name for solar energy which is used to heat your hot water. Solar thermal uses a solar panel or solar tubes to heat your hot water.
How does a solar thermal system work?
Solar thermal hot water heating works by heating a liquid that is pumped through the panels or tubes and around to your hot water cylinder where it indirectly heats the water in the hot water cylinder. It only pumps the liquid around when there is enough sun to heat up the solar panels or solar tubes.
My house faces North, are solar panels or tubes right for me?
The best outlook for such a heating system is directly south although it can still work for an outlook of south east through to south west. If your house faces north, then the back of the house would usually face south so the panels or tubes could possible be installed at the back of the house.
Will solar panels or tubes work with my combination boiler?
No. Combi boilers are not compatible with solar heating in their own right, you have to have a hot water store. It is possible to add a thermal store, or to convert the boiler to a system boiler by the use of zone valves. In either case a hot water cylinder will need to be installed.
How much gas will it save?
While fuel prices will vary across Ireland and the UK solar water heating will still save approximately 50-60% of your gas bill needed to heat your hot water. This is not to be confused with central heating. Solar thermal does not contribute to your central heating.
Does using solar panels or tubes cut carbon emissions?
Yes. By installing a solar hot water heating system, you are actively contributing to cutting carbon emissions responsible for global warming. On average a typical domestic system will cut 500kg- 1 Tonne of carbon emissions a year.
In the summer will it heat up the all of my hot water?
Even in Ireland, yes. Generally in the summer your solar hot water heating will provide up to 100% of your hot water heating, and in most cases, apart from a few cloudy or rainy days you should be able to turn off your normal hot water controls.
Will it still work in the winter?
Yes, even a sunny day in November will contribute to your hot water, as the system works on sunlight rather than heat. In Ireland and the UK December and January are usually the only two months that your system will rely on the boiler to heat your hot water as these are the two months with least sunlight.
Does the solar thermal system need much maintenance?
No. Generally the system is maintenance free. Some systems installed in the 1970s are still running. It may be necessary to exchange the antifreeze every few years. It may also be necessary to exchange the pump as it wears, but it’s a normal off the shelf heating pump, and is inexpensive. As with all systems concerned with heating, it is advisable to have them checked out on an annual basis by a suitable qualified person.
Is it possible to obtain a grant from the government for a solar thermal system in Ireland and the UK?
Yes. At the moment you can apply for a grant from the SEAI for existing houses in Ireland and from the Low Carbon Buildings Program in the UK. We can assist you in obtaining the small grants available for these installations.
What about my Roof inclination and direction?
Even though almost every roof type is suitable, the inclination and direction are very important. Pure south facing and an inclination of 40 C are ideal and will achieve optimal performance of your solar product. The direction can be from east to west but after pure south southwest or southwest are preferred. Both panels and tubes can be mounted at an angle between 20 C and 90 C.
Solar simulation calculations
Evolve Technical Solutions is able to provide to all their customers in Ireland and the UK solar simulations and system layouts (for both panels and tubes) including solar fraction analysis and energy performance for our various solar systems. This is a valuable tool for engineers and consultants for the planning of solar thermal systems such as solar panels or tubes.
Back to top
Greenline AKT18 solar tubes
|
 |
  |
The Greenskies solar panels are designed to complement existing heating systems that use a cylinder to store hot water.
|
Worcester-Bosch is part of the Bosch Group - one of the world’s leading names in high-end technology.
Hewalex Solar Panels
 |
|
Hewalex Company Profile
Hewalex is a specialist in solar technology and was established in 1992.
The solar collectors that are produced are successfully integrated in smaller domestic installations,
like family homes, but are also incorporated in medium to large installations - commercial and
industrial, like housing developments or public utility projects.
How to fit solar panels - watch our video to find out how to fit solar panels
Dim lights Download Embed Embed this video on your site
How to fit solar panels - watch our video to find out how to fit solar panels
Dim lights Download Embed Embed this video on your site
Convenient & Cost-effective Solar Panels
Hot water, cool price
Hewalex solar panels are excellent value for money. The standard collectors
can be used horizontally or vertically in various applications:
- Flush-mounted in the roof or surface-mounted on the roof
- Mounted on ground or flat roofs, façades and sloping walls, or on the parapets of balconies
Certified
Hewalex solar panels are approved by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI)
registered product no. SEI-ST-163
Solar Panel Technical Data
| Product make: | HEWALEX | Aperture area (m2): | 1.829 m2 |
| Product model: | KS | Gross surface area (m2): | 2.101 m2 |
| Model number: | 2000 S/P | Rated heat output: | 1.4 kW |
| Collector type: | flat plate | Estimated energy yield: | 910 kWh |
Typical Installation Set-up
|
Number of people living in the house |
Recommended cylinder size |
Number of panels installed |
Gross width |
Gross height |
Aperture area |
|
2-3 |
200 Litres |
2 |
2.16m (2.60m)* |
2.02m (2.70m)* |
3.658 m2 |
|
4-5 |
300 Litres |
3 |
3.29m (2.60m)* |
2.02m (3.70m)* |
5.487 m2 |
* numbers in brackets indicate roof space required including integration kit (for roof integrated panels).
NOTE: This table was produced on the following assumptions: Solar panels installed on south facing roof, roof slope 40-45 °degrees, hot water consumption in family houses of 50 litres per person per day.
According to SEI requirements cylinder volume must be at least 50 litres per 1m2 of collector size
Twin coil heat exchanger cylinders will enable the user to utilize two heat sources to provide hot water i.e. the main heat source and solar collectors.
|
|
Stainless steel, high pressure cylinder Complete with a pressure/temp relief valve 7bar/90°C as well as a complete kit for water connection and boiler thermostatic control.
|
|
This maintenance free booster pump complete with portable water tank guarantees comfort and convenience.
The sophisticated control system ensures that the pump starts as soon as you switch on the tap/shower and stays running until the water is no longer required.
|
|
|
Benefits
|
