Apricus Solar Water Heating System Installation and Operation ...

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Apricus Solar Collector Installation & Operation Manual - USAc) Wall Strength: Always consider the weight of the collectorand the structural integrity of the wall. If the wall constructionis not suitable for the load, it will be necessary to reinforcethe wall frame accordingly. Consult a building engineer fordesign requirements.d) Recommended Angle: Ideally, do not install the collectorbeyond an angle of 80° (close to vertical) otherwise heat pipeoperation will be impaired by 10% or greater. Installingvertically is permitted and will not void the warranty, butperformance will be reduced.e) Roof Eves: When installing on a wall, consider thepossible shading from eves, particularly in the summer(Unless this is part of the system design, in order to minimizesummer heat output). Installing under an eve overhang alsominimizes snow buildup on the collector in areas with regular, heavy snowfall.f) Safety Considerations: If installing the collector on a wall above a walkway,keep in mind the danger ofbroken glass that could fall on passersby, if the tubes were ever damaged. (E.g. during an extreme stormdue to flying debris or tree branch falling on the collector). It may be necessary for a barrier of to beinstalled below the collector to catch any falling materials, such as a clear roofing material.WARNINGIf the solar collector is installed above an area where people may walk, take appropriatemeasures to minimize the risk of injury, if a tube ever broke and glass fell onto the groundor people below.5.6. Connection to Plumbing5.6.1. Plumbing Connectiona) Once the frame has been mounted and the manifold attached, the manifold header may be connected tothe system plumbing.b) Delayed Commissioning: If the collector is to be installed (including evacuated tubes) prior to plumbingconnection (e.g. on new house), high temperature resistant covers (aluminum foil) should be placed overthe header inlet and outlet to prevent any contaminants (bugs, spiders, leaves, dust) entering the header.The solar collector will not be damaged by a short period of dry stagnation (1-2 weeks), however leaving thesolar collector exposed to the sun and not commission for extended periods will void the warranty.c) Soldering: The header connection is standard 3/4” (7/8” OD) copper pipe size and must be connected bysoldering using 90/5/5 (tin/silver/antimony) or equivalent lead free solder. Maximum allowable lead contentin solder for contact with potable water is normally 0.2% (or as specified by local plumbing code). In additiononly use solder that is able to withstand temperature of at least 482°F (250°C) without softening.When soldering, care must be taken to avoid exposing the manifold casing to the torch flame. Place a wetcotton cloth around the base of the header pipe to reduce at the silicone rubber seal. Point the flame awayfrom the collector and anything flammable while soldering. Take care not to set the wet rag on fire. It isadvisable to purchase a pocket fire extinguisher and keep it handy while soldering.! Damage to collectors and other components incurred by extended dry or wet stagnation will not be eligible forwarranty claims.5.6.2. System High-Point Air Purgea) In order to completely purge the air from direct flow and closed loop systems, a Tee fitting must beinstalled at the high point in the system. Usually, this Tee can be soldered direction on the collector outlet(hot), instead of just a 90 elbow. The Tee side-connect (bull, arm) will then be on the collector header pipe,the lower Tee connect (pass-thru, run) on the Return Line and a ball valve can be then be installed on theuppermost Tee connect (pass-thru, run). On the top side of the ball valve, an automatic air vent should beCopyright 2011 – Apricus Inc Doc: A7-05.4.1.4-PB-1.9 Page 48 of 126
Apricus Solar Collector Installation & Operation Manual - USAinstalled TEMPORARILY. After flushing and charging is complete, the ball valve should be closed and theair vent removed and stored on-site. Leaving the air vent in place will lead to degradation over timepotentially forming a leak on the roof.b) Complete instructions for purging the collector of air are presented in detail in sections 7 & 8.5.6.3 Leak Testinga) BEFORE filling the solar loop piping, the collector must be plumbed to the Supply (Feed) and ReturnLines and an AIR PRESSURE TEST performed in the mechanical room. The loop should be tested to 116psi for at least 15 minutes or in accordance with local codes and regulations.5.6.4. Insulationa) Insulate Piping: Heavily insulate all piping running to and from the manifold with a high quality insulationof at least 15mm/0.6” thickness, and double that thickness in cold climates. Heat loss from the piping canbe significant so particular attention should be taken to insulate any possible points of heat loss, particularlyon outdoor piping.b) Seal Insulation: Ensure the insulation is tight against the manifold casing, preventing loss of heat fromthe inlet and outlet. In order to prevent water from entering the temperature probe port and/or in betweenthe piping and insulation foam, a high quality silicone sealant should be used to form a water-tight seal.This is also important to avoid water running down under the insulation along the copper pipe into the roofspace.c) Protect Insulation: EPDM (foam) insulation that is exposed to direct sunlight should be protectedagainst UV related degradation by wrapping/covering with a suitable material such as adhesive backaluminum foil, flexible protective paint, PVC conduit or similar. If using a “line-set,” ensure the casing issuitably rated for outdoor use and will not be easily torn during the installation process.d) Glass Wool Insulation: For systems designed to allow stagnation, high temperature rated insulationsuch as glass wool or mineral wool should be used on piping, Supply and Return, within ~6 ft (~2 m) of thecollector. Glass wool insulation may come with an external foil wrap, but any cuts made during installationshould be sealed with watertight and UV stabilized material such as thick adhesive-backed aluminum foil orPVC jacket.e) Extra Insulation: All system piping, both interior and exterior, should be completely insulated. Thisincludes all potable piping between tanks and to the heat exchanger, as well as, the first 5 ft (1.5 m) hotoutlet piping from the tank to the taps, as this is a significant point of passive heat loss. Also, insulate anyblank ports on the tank, which will radiate heat. An additional insulation wrap around the tank can alsofurther reduce daily passive heat losses.f) Roof Rats: In some regions (California in particular), rats may attack insulation, and so consideration ofthis may be required. Birds have also been known to steal exposed, exterior EPDM to make nests. Refer tolocal regulations and common practices to protect the insulation from attacks.g) Public Areas: In areas of public traffic, all exposed components must be maintained under 140°F orinsulated/isolated. Adhere to local codes and regulations.5.7 Evacuated Tube & Heat Pipe InstallationThe Apricus solar collector is a simple “plug in” system. The heat pipe and evacuated tube assembly justneeds to be inserted into the manifold. The contact between the heat pipe condenser/tip and heat pipe portin the header needs to be tight in order to ensure good heat transfer. Under normal use, once the heatpipes are installed they should never have to be removed.Copyright 2011 – Apricus Inc Doc: A7-05.4.1.4-PB-1.9 Page 49 of 126
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