Active Solar Air Heating

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Active Solar Air Heating

• By Mitchell French

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Objective

• Give the class enough knowledge to make
  intelligent decisions regarding this heating
  system

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Collection

• Solar Collectors Gather heat
• Air is the absorbing fluid
• Air moves directly into house or stores in rock
  storage bin
• Air circulated through house using ducts
• If excess heated air, stored in container
• If not enough heat, backup heating system
  activates (traditional system)

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Panels

• Must be pointed towards true south
• Point where sun is at its highest
• This usually equates to your latitude 15
• Leniency of about 20
• Should not be placed in shaded area
• Do not have to be placed on roof

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Distribution

• Fans move air through ducts in house
• Large ducts allow the air to move slower and
  therefore feel warmer
• An Air Handler decides where the air will go
• From collectors to house
• From collectors to storage container
• From storage container to house

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Ducts

• Large due to lower temperature of air
• Must move more air to make up for lower
  temperature
• Must maximize the efficiency of fans
• Requires insulation so no heat is lost (R-16)
• Average system moves air at a speed of 1.5 to 3
  m/s

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Storage Container Build

• Lined with rocks on the bottom to absorb heat
• Quartz most common type of stone
• Larger than required for fluid system
• Can be stored inside, basement, or underground
  outside

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Storage Container System

• Heated air enters through plenum at top
• Rocks absorb heat from air
• Air enters through bottom, heats as it rises and
  gets distributed to house
• If air going to house
• Enters through bottom plenum
• Absorbs heat as it rises
• Fans circulate air through house

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Properties of Container

• Materials Cinderblock, Concrete, Wood
• Must be sealed to preserve efficiency
• Usually installed in crawlspaces or basements
• Should have ½ to 1 ft3 for every ft2 of collector
• Should be 5 to 7 feet deep
• Temperature top-140F (60 C) bottom-70F
  (21.1C)

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Advantages / Disadvantages

• Advantages
• If there is a leak in the system, it is less
  important than if one occurs in a liquid system
• More effective during the day than the liquid
  system
• Can heat air earlier and later in the day
• Air systems do not freeze like is possibly with
  liquid systems
• Disadvantages
• Much more space required

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Maintenance

• Check ducts for leaks that could reduce
  performance
• Make sure collectors are clear
• Clean air filters for more efficient flow of air
• Lubricate pumps and fans
• Empty Storage Bin in summer

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Installation

• Depends on Container location
• Hard to upgrade existing house
• Must plan to use air solar heating from beginning

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Partial Systems

• No storage container
• Collector panels not as large
• Collector Panels placed directly on wall
• Same principle as full system, but no storage
• Collectors are relatively small
• Simpler to install
• fits in existing window

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Conclusion

• Size makes it cumbersome
• Requires precise installation

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References

• http//www.healthgoods.com/Education/Energy_Inform
  ation/Renewable_Energy/heating_with_active_solar.h
  tm
• http//www.newenergy.org/sesci/publications/pamphl
  ets/active.html
• http//www.solarenergysociety.ca/2003/active.asp
• http//www.canren.gc.ca/programs/index.asp?CaID60
  PgID141
• http//bathrooms.bobvila.com/Article/743.html

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Diagram