Training on Strengthening the Capacity of
Tumba College of Technology, Rwanda
Lecture 5: Solar Thermal Technology
Installation of Solar water
Heater
Tri Ratna Bajracharya, Ph.D.
Center for Energy Studies (CES)
Institute of Engineering/TU
Pulchowk, Lalitpur
Installation includes:
collector installation
plumbing and connecting techniques
components of the hydraulic cycle
filling and leakage testing
electrical installation
setting in operation
troubleshooting and control of
operation
Layout of Pipelines:
Connection of hot water storage tank and
collector should be shortest as possible
Pipes should not be exposed if possible
All connections must be of good quality
Air valves and drainage valves must be
accessible places
Layout must allow complete drawings of the
entire system
Pipe Diameter:
Consumptions
Duration of user total quantity
Length
Materials
Connection:
Connection
Thumb Rule of sizing:
Surface of a standard collector is approximately
1.4 m2
Per m2 of collector count approx. 50 litre
Capacity in ltr No. of collectors Riser pipe Down pipe
100 1 1” 1”
125 1–2 1’ 1”
150 2–3 1” 1”
200 2-3 1” 1”
Layout and Plan:
Plan
The cold water supply tank (overhead tank) has
always to be higher than the SWH system
Thermo-syphon system – Collector must be
below than the hot water storage tank
Keep sufficient spacing between the riser and
bottom of the hot water storage tank
Keep easy access to collectors and the solar
system for maintenance and repair
Layout of Pipelines:
Connection of hot water storage tank and
collector should be shortest as possible
Pipes should not be exposed if possible
All connections must be of good quality
Air valves and drainage valves must be
accessible places
Layout must allow complete drawings of the
entire system
Collector spacing:
spacing
h
hb
x1 x2
X1=h cos X2=hb tan hb=h sin
Collector Installation - mounting
Collector Installation - mounting
Preparation of Collectors for
glazing:
glazing
clean off dust and dirt from the absorber plate
glass cleaning, the inner surface of the glaze
must be cleaned before installing
place the glazing on the collector with proper
rubber gasket
cleaning glaze from outside
In case of need of protection from hailstones,
collectors should be protected by using galvanized wire
netting about 80 mm above the collector surface.
Angle and direction of Collectors:
Collectors
directly facing South in Northern Hemisphre
(and due North in the Southern Hemisphere),
deviation 15 to 20 degrees, slightly to the West
Example
The latitude of Kathmandu is about 27°
Therefore, 27°+10° = 37°
So, an angle of 37° is recommended for Kathmandu
Angle of Collectors
Slope
17
Horizontal Level
• Slope for Rwanda: Latitude of Rwanda + 10C is
recommended
• Eg: for Kathmandu: 27+10 = 37 is recommended!
• However, minimum slope should be 17.
Direction of Collectors
N
The collector glass
directly facing South
or
t
c w E
W l le
Co p Vie
To
WSW
ESE
SW
SSE SE
SWW
S
15 to 20
0
Either side of South
Thermo-siphon System Example
No.1
1. Cold storage tank
2. Hot storage tank
3. Collector
4. Coldwater pipeline
5. Coldwater to hot tank
6. Hotwater to the taps
7. Circulation pipe to collector
8. Circulation pipe to hot tank
9. Vent pipe
Thermo-siphon System Example
No.2
1. Cold storage tank
2. Hot storage tank
3. Collector
4. Coldwater pipeline
5. Coldwater to hot tank
6. Hotwater to the taps
7. Circulation pipe to collector
8. Circulation pipe to hot tank
9. Vent pipe insulated
10. Check valve (non return valve)
Thermo-siphon System Example
No.3
1. Coldwater town supply
2. Hotwater storage tank
3. Collector
4. Coldwater to hot tank
5. Check valve (non return valve)
6. Safety valve
7. Hotwater to the taps
8. Circulation pipe to collector
9. Circulation pipe to hot tank
10. Air valve
Thermo-siphon System Example
No.4
1. Coldwater supply from roof tank
or town
2. Hotwater storage tank open
container
3. Collector
4. Coldwater line
5. Coldwater to the boiler
6. Hotwater to the taps
7. Circulation pipe to collector
8. Circulation pipe to boiler
9. Vent pipe
10. Feed system
Thermo-siphon Antifreeze System
Example No.5
1. Coldwater storage tank
2. Hotwater storage tank
3. Collector
4. Coldwater line
5. Coldwater to the boiler
6. Hotwater to the taps
7. Circulation pipe to collector
8. Circulation pipe to boiler
9. Vent pipe
10. Circulation pipe to the
combustion cooker
11. Circulation pipe to boiler
12. Slow combustion heater
Thermo-siphon Anti Freeze System
Example No.6
1. Coldwater storage tank
2. Hotwater storage tank
3. Collector
4. Coldwater pipeline
5. Coldwater to hot tank
6. Hotwater to the taps
7. Circulation pipe to collector
8. Circulation pipe to hot tank
9. Vent pipes insulated
10. Heat exchanger
11. System for top-up and
expansion, containing anti
freeze and anti-corrosion fluid
Plumbing and Connecting
Techniques:
Techniques
For long distances and collector link, compensation of
dilatation necessary
welding - steel
soldering - copper
screw - steel
flange – steel
No plastic pipes in the collector field !!!
Typical Installation Mistakes
interchange of advance and return
interchange of sensors
air in the system
low flow rate
dirt in the strainer
Fittings and Piping in a Closed
Circuit
pump
safety valve
expansion vessel
heat exchanger
air breather
non return valve
