Absorption chiller air conditioners are not new, they have been commercially used in the U.S. since the early 20th century and are a very widely deployed technology. Absorption chiller AC units are also very popular in Asian countries like Japan, where the high cost of electricity make them very desirable and they constitute up to 40% of all installed commercial air conditioning tonnage. They are simple and dependable, using no harmful CFC (Freon, etc.) and some units actually operate without any moving parts.

When engineered to run on solar energy the absorption chiller AC units provide the lowest cost to operate and the best return on investment of any air conditioning system in the world.

SolarPanelPlus solar heating and air conditioning units can be used anywhere that the sun shines; they are low in operating and maintenance costs. They consume little or no electrical energy - essentially the only parts that use electricity are low amp fan motors and small pumps that move the thermal transfer fluid (Glycol, a food-grade antifreeze) from the collectors to the chiller and then back up to the collectors - all of these small electrical loads can run from solar PV panels if desired. Inside the unit is another small pump that circulates the refrigerant. There is no "compressor" to consume power.

Solar powered air conditioning systems are based on time tested absorption chillers made by Yazaki.

Absorption chillers are powered by heat (hot water). Thousands have been installed using gas boilers or waste heat from generators or other sources. They also run very effectively with a proper solar thermal configuration.

The solar air conditioner / solar heater is powered by solar energy collected in the evacuated tube solar thermal panels (right). The thermal energy is delivered to the solar powered chiller using a Glycol (antifreeze) solution and a simple but carefully designed system of pipes, pumps and controllers.

Solar Heating and Cooling
In the winter, even when it is below freezing outside, our special evacuated tube solar thermal collectors produce an abundance of heat that will be transferred into your building, either reducing or eliminating the operation of your existing heating system.

As with any air conditioning system, heat has to be exhausted. The solar air conditioning system is no different. A small cooling tower is installed on the roof, or on the ground, to remove the heat. Shown here are some cooling tower options.

Left is a cooling tower made made from heavy duty corrosion-proof recycled plastic and has a lifespan guarantee of at least 15 years. It will never rust, chip or need painting and there are no gear reducers, couplings, additional shafts, or extra bearings to maintain.

Pricing/Return on Investment:
The payback period for a solar air conditioning system can be very fast depending on incentives and credits in your state. For example, in North Carolina a solar HVAC system can fully pay for itself in as few as two years, making solar air conditioning an easily understood investment. In states with less favorable incentives and credits, the payback period will be longer. Note that most tax credits and incentives are limited to businesses, so solar air conditioning and heating systems may have a longer payback when implemented for residential use.

[Read more about Solar Air Conditioners at the Solar Panels Plus website]                                                    [top]

SOLAR HEATING INTEGRATED WITH AIR DUCT SYSTEM
(forced air systems)

As shown above, a fan coil is installed in the existing duct system. Multiple zones can be accommodated. Solar heated glycol/water mix is circulated through the fan coil. There is a low-medium speed fan that runs more-or-less continuously but is controlled so that it runs only when the fan coil temperature exceeds indoor temperature and of course the fan is not allowed run when doing so would overheat the interior space. Another sensor allows the controls to isolate the fan coil when the solar heated water is not hot enough to contribute, so as to keep the system from removing heat from the building.

The result is the delivery of a constant flow of heated air, in the 90-125○F range, into the building which reduces or eliminates the need to run the legacy heating source. While this constant flow of heat may at times be not be much above human body temperature and therefore not feel “hot” at the vent, it is sufficient to satisfy the thermostat and maintain comfortable conditions within the building. At any time that more heat is needed, the legacy system can provide supplemental heating. Solar space heating starts with (preferably) southerly-facing evacuated tube solar collectors mounted on the roof or other structure. It is a requirement to use high performance evacuated tube solar collectors so that the necessary high temperatures combined with BTU collection can be achieved even when the ambient outdoor conditions are very cold. A properly configured system will be able to provide heat to the building with outdoor ambient conditions as low as -23○C. During the summer, the hot water can be used to provide free hot water to eliminate water heating bills all season long, and/or heat a swimming pool or hot tub. Alternatively, the solar heating system can be disabled.

[Read more about Solar Heating Integrated with Air Duct System at the Solar Panels Plus website]                  [top]

SOLAR POWERED RADIANT HEAT SYSTEM

Hydronic Radiant Heating System

In the first drawing shows a very simple topology of a conventional hydronic radiant heating system. There is a pre-existing boiler, pumps and controllers that circulate the heat transfer fluid consisting of hot water/glycol, and a network of existing radiators (shown as a single radiator in the diagram). The fluid is circulated in a closed loop with the fluid circulated back to the boiler for reheating.

This type of existing heating system is a perfect candidate for the integration of a solar heating system, which will allow the boiler to operate far less frequently, and depending on configuration, the boiler may not need to operate at all. If your building has an existing air duct system instead of a radiator/floor system, check out our solar space heating system.

Solar Heating Integrated w/ Radiant System

In the diagram above, we show a simplified topology of a solar powered hydronic radiant heating system. Notice that the existing system remains in place with some control and plumbing modifications.

The existing boiler is still available to operate when needed - for example during a period of extreme low outside temperatures or after extended periods of cloudiness. Solar heating is not typically designed as a replacement for the existing system although it can be, more typically the purpose of a solar heating system is to provide a large solar contribution that dramatically reduces the need for the conventional system to run. Remember that conventional heating systems are designed to provide sufficient heat on the absolute coldest days of the year, so a typical heating system will have much more capacity than is actually needed, 95% of the time.

We normally recommend installing enough solar capacity to operate the system at 75% of the existing systems rated capacity in order to achieve the highest cost benefit and ROI (Return on Investment).

For purposes of adding solar heat to a system, it really doesn’t matter if the system is a baseboard system or heated floor system.

Solar Radiant Heating With A Tankless Heater (Trim Heater)

The above diagram shows a solar heating system where the boiler has been removed, and we see the addition of a high efficiency tankless heater. Next to solar, tankless water heaters are the most efficient form of water heating available, making them an ideal companion of a solar powered hydronic heating system. Above we see a simplified topology where a tankless heater is integrated into the solar heat system to provide temperature trim or backup, eliminating the need for a conventional boiler.

Tankless systems instantly heat the water directly without the need for maintaining the temperature in a boiler tank. Also called instantaneous or “demand” heaters, these units are much more efficient than typical boiler systems, in part because they only heat water if and when needed and waste no energy maintaining water temperature in the tank. They fire up aggressively and shut off as soon as their work is done. They also have a much smaller footprint, conserving valuable space because they require no tank.

In any situation that includes integrated solar radiant heating, using a tankless system to replace the boiler is a consideration that should not be overlooked.

[Read more about Solar Powered Radiant Heat System at the Solar Panels Plus website]                                [top]

SOLAR POOL HEATERS

Increase the value and enjoyment of any outdoor swimming pool, by increasing the number of days per year that it can be used. Even when used without a cover, a solar pool heater can economically double the number of swimming pool days per year.

Indoor solar pool heating solutions for year round use in cold climates are also available, contact us for details.

A Solar Pool Heater Pays For Itself

With today's rising energy costs, solar is the only thing that makes sense for heating a pool.

How Solar Pool Heaters Work
Solar pool heaters are integrated into the normal pool pump/filter system and work by intercepting the water flow after it comes out of the regular pool filter, and directing it through the solar collectors before it is returned to the swimming pool.

The temperature of the water is raised significantly as it passes through the collector array. The system uses the standard pool pump and filter.

To control the the temperature of the pool water, a temperature sensor can determine whether or not additional heat is needed. When no heat is needed, a diverting valve is activated and the solar collectors are avoided - in that case the water flows directly back to the pool after filtration.
Solar Panels Plus Solar Pool Heaters Are Manufactured in the USA with Strict Quality Control

Design
Unlike other panels, we do not use individual "round flow" tubes, instead we use a flat design with square channels* to allow for the expansion/contraction stress of constant heating, cooling and even freezing of the panels. This design also means that each channel is insulated by the channels next to it eliminating heat losses to wind. Compare solar pool heater designs.

Materials
Our USA manufacturing plant uses a combination of the very highest quality Polypropylene, Carbon Black and non-depleting UV Stabilizers to guarantee an efficient and durable solar swimming pool heater panel. The Solar Panels Plus solar pool heater panels are more than 30% heavier (they contain about 35% more material) than most other brands insuring higher durability and a longer life, attracting more heat and reducing heat loss.

Extrusion
Extrusion is the process of converting the material into a panel form. We have one of the few manufacturing systems that does all of its extrusion in-house. “In-house” extruding gives the assurance that each of our solar pool heating panels meets the highest standards of quality. Also, by using the same material throughout the heating panel (even the weld), we eliminate weak points or uneven expansion and contraction in the finished product.

Assembly
Once the extrusion is complete, the Solar Panels Plus manufacturing process includes highly skilled technicians and the latest technologies to assemble each solar pool heating panel. The Solar Panels Plus process goes the extra mile by adding a reinforced bead weld to provide additional strength and protection.

Testing
Before leaving our factory, EVERY individual solar pool heating panel passes a weld, seam, flow and pressure test at 95psi of water (this is more that 10x typical operating pressure). This guarantees a high quality, ready-to-use product every time we ship one of our heating panels.

10 Year Replacement Warranty
The above steps insure that our Solar Panels Plus brand solar pool heating panels are of the highest quality in the industry and are ready for use when you receive them. Solar Panels Plus solar pool panels are expected to last 20 years and have a 10-year full replacement warranty. That’s right, replacement - not repair. Although our panels can be repaired, we are happy to replace them if there is any problem, even if damaged from freezing.

[Read more about Solar Pool Heaters at the Solar Panels Plus website]                                                        [top]

SOLAR WATER TANKS

Solar Panels Plus also offers several single wall tank configurations, including:

• Duel coil tanks (double heat exchanger tanks)
• Triple coil tanks (three heat exchangers)
• Sizes from 80 to 5,000 gallons or more

Rheem 81V80HE-1 and 82V120HE-1

Features include

• Brass Drain valve
• Cold water inlet at bottom
• Double-wall heat exchanger satisfies inspectors
• Glass lined
• Rated for 150 PSI, 185F
• Includes 4500W backup heat element
• Includes temperature and pressure relief valves

[Read more about Solar Water Tanks at the Solar Panels Plus website]                                                         [top]