SF360 Boiler, Solar Heat and Need Help?

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Robby
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Post by Robby » Tue. Jul. 15, 2008 12:32 am

My new SF360 arrives next week. 140, 58mm solar heat tubes also arrive next week. I also have a 300 gallon, heavy wall, aluminium tank.

My plan was to hook SF360 to 300 gallons of storage water. Hook the solar panels to same storage using a 100,000 BTU water to water exchanger. Then pipe hot water from storage tank into house, through a 250,000 BTU exchanger( in house) to provide heat via radiators and water to air . Also domestic through a 80 gal tank with 2 stainless coils. Whole system backed up by a 186,000 flash natural gas boiler. The inside portion is alrady in place. Any and all info or experience appreciated.

I hate learning by expense!

Robby

 
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Freddy
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Post by Freddy » Tue. Jul. 15, 2008 6:16 am

Where are you located? My gut seems to think 300 gallons of storage is a bit shy.

 
CapeCoaler
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Post by CapeCoaler » Tue. Jul. 15, 2008 7:19 am

Without having any BTU ratings or other info on the solar array, my guess is summer should be fine just using the solar with only 400 gallons of storage.
Spring, fall and winter I see problems as the solar will be fighting with the coal boiler for heat storage and its overall effectiveness will be reduced.
The solar side should really have its own storage system and be first in line then the coal system and lastly the NG system. This way even with low solar gain in the winter the solar preheats/tempers the DHW before it hits the coal or NG DWH heaters.
We need more info on your location, control systems, heat load and DWH use to give you a better answer.


 
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LsFarm
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Post by LsFarm » Tue. Jul. 15, 2008 9:03 am

Heat storage is a bandaid that the outdoor wood boiler people have come up with to attempt to use their boilers in a hot burning [clean burning] state and not keep a low heat long burning [smokey, smoldering] fire going.. Make lots of heat, with a clean hot fire, and store the heat..
With a coal stove burning coal, this isn't needed.. in fact I would think that unless you had good insulation on the storage tank you would loose as much efficiency you could gain. Of the hundred or so coal boilers the forum members have or have seen, I can't remember any heat storage tanks.. big tanks in the floor joists for expansion, but not part of a heat storage system. [no circulation through the tank].

Storing solar heated water is a good idea, but I'd use the coal boiler direct to a water/water exchanger to your baseboard heat.. unless the storage tank is where it's lost heat will benefit heating the house..

To have a 300gallon tank at temps useable for DHW [110*] or baseboard heat [160-180*] this is going to be HOT, and uncomfortable to be around.

I believe your SF360 will have pretty good recovery and it holds a fair amount of water.. I just don't think you need the storage for house heating,, but for solar storage it usually is a good idea.

Greg L

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CapeCoaler
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Post by CapeCoaler » Tue. Jul. 15, 2008 12:49 pm

Looks like the tubes could put out close to 300,000 Btu/day. Use the 80 gal tank as a primary 130 degree tank and the 300 gal as a low temperature tempering tank for DHW insulate both tanks well.

 
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Robby
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Post by Robby » Wed. Jul. 16, 2008 8:45 pm

I read info with interest. I live Southwest (4400 ft up) of Calgary, Alberta. 3rd best spot in Canada for solar heat. Very sunny, especially in winter. Very easy to increase water storage if needed. Another 300 gal tank available. I had intended to insulate the tank. I also was going to bury uninsulated lines in the bottom of thr trench as a heat sink if solar panels produce too much in early spring and late fall. The NG boiler is already controlled by adjustable aquastat that turns off power to unit if incoming water is over a preset temp. Because the house is fairly large, 2200 sq. per floor X 2, but is
very tight, well insulated and good windows we were heating with only about 90,000 btu. That did not include domestic water.

I am trying to provide all domestic water and morning heat for early fall, latr spring and summer with solar and only use coal boiler for maybe 4 months in winter. I also was trying to keep system as simple as possible. Also Boiler, tank and lines are either well insulated or buried below frost level. Anti freeze is about $24 gallon and I was only going to use in solar(it's open to elements) with boiler etc in insulated building. I think there will be enough lost heat, even from insulated tanks, lines to maintain temp in 10'X14' building.

Thanks

Robby

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