Dimplex ST0133 Landscape Lighting User Manual


 
Technical manual
Page 9 of 72
ST0133 – A 02/09
SOLAR
Each component in the solar thermal system fulfils a specific function which is described
below:
Solar thermal collector
The solar thermal collector receives the solar radiation, converts it into thermal energy
and passes it on to the heat transfer fluid.
Heat transfer fluid
The heat transfer fluid circulates through the solar collector, the pipe work and the heat
exchanger. It transfers the energy gained by the collector into the storage device. The
heat transfer fluid has additional properties such as frost protection and anti-corrosion
inhibitors to ensure a long and reliable operation of the solar thermal system.
Pipe work
The pipe work connects the various components of the solar thermal system to allow
the heat transfer medium to transport the energy from the collector to the storage de-
vice. The pipe work must be insulated and both, the pipe work and the insulation must
be of appropriate material for solar thermal applications.
Pump and safety equipment
The pump and safety equipment are combined in the pump unit. Beside the actual cir-
culation pump the pump unit contains a flow meter, flush and fill point, air separator,
non return valves, manual thermometers, isolating valves, pressure relief valve, pres-
sure gauge and the connection point for the expansion vessel.
Heat exchanger
The heat exchanger allows a hydraulic separation of systems but allows the transfer of
energy between the two systems, i.e. the solar circuit and the wholesome water. In a
domestic solar thermal hot water system the heat exchanger is usually in form of a coil
immersed in the wholesome water inside the hot water cylinder.
To ensure the solar thermal system works at its optimum efficiency, the heat exchanger
has to be sufficiently sized and positioned correctly within the hot water cylinder.
Storage facility
The storage facility is most likely to be a domestic hot water cylinder or a buffer vessel.
As the solar thermal system will not always be able to supply all of the required energy,
it is important that an auxiliary heating system is available to boost the system as and
when required.
The storage facility should be of such design that all energy sources can work inde-
pendent of each other without compromising each others efficiencies, giving solar ther-
mal the priority to allow for maximum energy gain.
Control unit
The control unit has the primary function of switching the circulation pump on and off
ensuring that the maximum amount of energy is being transferred from the solar ther-
mal collector into the storage facility.
The control unit is usually also the user interface with the system and has therefore a
display and additional functions to ease the operation, maintenance and control of the
system.