WATER HEATING SYSTEM

AET’s #1 water heating system
The Natural Solution for Hot Water

These new packages include the solar hot water system components ONLY; collectors, racks & mounts and the hot water storage tanks must be added on to make a complete system.

System Features

• Fewer components for easy system installation.
• Taco Variable Speed Solar Control Circulator Pump and two sensors.
• Maintenance free drainback design for all climate conditions.
• Works on sunny or cloudy days with electrical backup (included).
• Attractive collector design.
• Conforms to national plumbing, electrical, and solar standards.
• The only household appliance that will pay for itself several times during its useful life.
• Long life non-corroding reservoir.
• Exceeds Energy Star criteria, delivers maximum credit toward Energy Efficient Compliance.

The Solar Variable Speed Circulator (009-VT) continuously optimizes the flow through the collector to achieve maximum energy gain. For example, there is no benefit of pulling 80° water out of the collector when you are trying to maintain 120° in a tank. If a proper delta T is maintained through the collector then higher source temperatures can be achieved over longer periods of time, no matter the weather conditions.

Taco Variable Speed Solar Control Circulator (009-VT)

At the heart of these systems are the AE Collectors with their solid copper absorber plates. Efficient solar energy absorbers begin with high thermal conductivity between the fin and tube.

Forge weld crossection x-ray

The AET welding process actually makes the tube one with the fin and creates a joint at least two times wider than the thickness of the copper fin, resulting in a clean. uninterrupted heat path unlike any other.

AET absorbers have no soldered or crimped seam joints to weaken or fail. The forge welding actually strengthens the joint area, unlike other welding processes, such as ultrasonics, which causes a weakening of the fin around the joint area.

Every AET/Thermafin Absorber Plate is coated with durable and efficient Crystal Clear™ Selective Coating. The coating, which cannot be removed from the fin on an absorber plate, is based on single-phase nano-technology, pioneered by AET/Thermafin. Crystal Clear™ Selective Coating increases solar collector efficiency due to its unique optical properties. It has the ability to strongly absorb short-wave light (absorptivity: <0.96) while simultaneously reflecting long-wave light (emissivity >0.8). These intrinsic properties of Crystal Clear™ enable the collector to reach optimum temperature in a minimal amount of time and retain the absorbed heat longer.

This premium absorber is encased in a solid extruded aluminum frame and covered by a sheet of durable, low iron, tempered glass. The collector plate is insulated from the aluminum frame by a layer of foil faced poly-isocyanurate foam on the sides and back. The foam, in turn, is protected in the rear by a layer of embossed aluminum. Finally the entire unit is gasketed all the way around by a high temperature silicone sealant.

These Indirect, or Closed Loop systems operate on conventional ac current using special Taco solar pumps. The solar pump is selected for its high head pumping characteristics. It is also very quiet, efficient, and reliable. It is protected from over-temperature (as a failsafe device) with a thermal high temperature shut-off switch. If this pump needs to be replaced after a few years of service, all moving parts are contained inside a replaceable cartridge. The outer pump body may be removed by unbolting the pump flanges, and the inner cartridge may be replaced without having to disturb any of the plumbing.

A Differential Temperature Controller (DTC) controls the pump. It is factory preset to turn the pump on when the collector temperature sensor is 16°F hotter than the storage tank sensor and is programmed to work automatically. The potable water in the insulated storage tank never touches nor mixes with the fluid in the collectors. The heated collector fluid is directed through the heat exchanger, which transfers heat from the collector loop fluid to the potable water in the solar tank.

Once the complete system is in place and plumbed, the final act is to simply plug in the controller line cord to a standard 115VAC wall outlet.

Drainback Systems

As the sun comes up in the morning, and starts to shine on the solar array, the collectors will begin to heat up. The thermal sensor on the collector signals the differential temperature controller which turns the pump on. The pump runs very quietly, so you may not notice when it is on and when it is off from the sound of the pump.

When the pump turns on, the return water from the solar collectors that accumulates in the drainback tank is pumped through the heat exchanger. Here the solar heat energy is transferred to the potable water within the solar storage tank. The heat exchanger transfers heat from the collector loop fluid to the potable water in the solar tank.

All solar systems require some form of freeze protection. The Drainback system uses the drainback method, in which the collectors and plumbing are drained of fluid when the outside temperature approaches freezing. When the temperature difference between the hot collector sensor and the storage tank sensor is less than 4°F, the controller turns off the pump and all the collector and plumbing fluid drains back into the drainback reservoir. Here it is stored safe from freezing until the temperature difference rises above 16°F again.

Sizing Your System

Sizing a solar water heater involves determining the total collector area and the storage volume required to provide 100% of your household's hot water during the summer.

Solar storage tanks are usually 50-, 60-, 80-, or 120-gallon capacity. A small (50 to 60 gallon) system is sufficient for 1 to 3 people, a medium (80-gallon) system is adequate for a 3- or 4-person household, and a large (120-gallon) system is appropriate for 4 to 6 people.

A rule of thumb for sizing collectors: allow about 20 square feet of collector area for each of the first two family members and 8 square feet for each additional family member if you live in the Sun Belt. Allow 12 to 14 additional square feet per person if you live in the northern United States.

A ratio of at least 1.5 gallons of storage capacity to 1 square foot of collector area prevents the system from overheating when the demand for hot water is low. In very warm, sunny climates, experts suggest that the ratio should be at least 2 gallons of storage to 1 square foot of collector area. For example, a family of four in a northern climate would need 20 square feet of collector area for the first person, 20 for the second person, 12 to 14 for the third person, and 12 to 14 for the fourth person. This equals 64 to 68 square feet, multiplied by 1.5 gallons of storage capacity, which equals 96 to 102 gallons of storage. Because you might not be able to find a 96-gallon tank, you may want to get a 120-gallon tank to be sure to meet your hot water needs.

Plumbing Diagram

Mounting Hardware (sold separately)