Solar Pool Heating: Flexible and Economical
Nov
28
Compared with solar space heating, solar pool heating is remarkably adaptable. Its low operating temperatures and summer use free it somewhat from the stringent requirements of collector orientation and tilt. The relatively high summer sun—from May through September—is readily available, and a fairly low efficiency of solar collection is enough to provide all the heat a pool needs. (Of course, if you have other uses in mind for the collectors, such as heating a hot tub, household water, or even the house air itself, you need just as rigorous a design and as efficient a system as for any other kind of solar heating.)
As a result of this design flexibility, there are successful solar pool-heating systems in which the collectors crop up in all kinds of unusual situations: fences, pool- house roofs, banks and hillsides, and garage roofs. Some even face directions other than directly south. (Beware, however, of sloppy design: just because there’s room for more variation in solar pool heating design doesn’t mean that the designer can afford to ignore the basic tenets of solar design in general.)
In addition to its suitability for retrofitting, solar pool heating has the advantage of economy: homeowners turn to it because it conserves resources or, as in one case in which the house and pool crown an open hilltop, because the sun is plentiful. Most often, homeowners turn to it because gas or electric pool heaters cost so much to run that they threaten to become unaffordable (or even outlawed in some states). A solar pool heating system, on the other hand, grows cheaper as it pays for itself.
PVC panels on flat poolhouse roof are mounted on freestanding framework to get necessary angle and orientation for solar exposure. Pool is solar-heated from March to October, then gas auxiliary comes on. System can be controlled thermostatically or manually. Early problems with water circulation were solved by new thermostats, replacement of small pump with larger one.
Solar panels were installed on garage roof 1 year after pool was built, to coincide with roof remodel. Forward-looking homeowner/installers put in pipes for solar heating when they added pool, so as to conceal piping, make later solar installation easier. Five collectors (aluminum absorbers with copper tubes, single-layer fiberglass covers) provide heat from May to September, then gas heater supplements system through October. One more panel may be necessary to prolong swimming period and overcome shading problems caused by nearby pine trees. Built-in spa is gas-heated; temperatures needed are too high for this solar system to heat both pool and spa.
Panel camouflage: Unglazed black PVC collectors are mounted on steep black roof of colonial-style house to heat deep round pool below. Seventeen collectors were installed to keep pool warm (85°F.) all year around. Though most of the panels fit onto conveniently south-facing roof plane (divided into three clusters by chimney and vents), some were placed on east-facing roof plane, with less desirable solar exposure. Large pump circulates water from pool up to high roof. Gas auxiliary supplements solar heat on occasion.
Pond bank provides unshaded, sloping site for solar pool-heating panels. Unglazed, black PVC panels lie directly on soil of south-facing bank; reflection off water adds to solar collection. Buried pipes lead uphill to terraced pool area off west end of house, carrying heated water to pool.
Collectors on the fence: Two tiers of panels, mounted on retaining wall and deck rail that rings hillside pool area, face south and southwest for solar collection. Copper-absorber, single-glazed panels provide all pool heating (no backup for pool heat was installed). When pool is heated to selected temperature, collectors transfer extra heat to 700-gallon storage tank to preheat household water and radiant space-heating system. Climate is mild; panels heat pool from April to October. In winter, solar system is used only for household water and space heating; pool is left unheated.
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November 28th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
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November 28th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
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