Solar Thermodynamic - anyone using?

[BotusBuild]

I recall seeing this system several years ago. It was being specified for use in heating an domestic indoor swimming pool instead of an air source heat pump.

 

I see that with a single panel, a 250L DHW tank can be supplied and fitted for about £5k.

 

Now, as I prepare to build my garage, I was wondering whether solar thermodynamics could be used to heat the garage (to about 15C during the cooler months), but without the large 250L tank. I was thinking a small 40-50L volumiser tank with a couple of 100m UFH loops in the slab. Anyone seen anything like that?

[JohnMo]

I did investigate for quite a while. And concluded an ASHP was way better. CoP generally wasn't great, very little proper technical information from manufacturers. Systems used to be approved for grants, but upon proper testing grant status was removed shortly after. Some of the rest data I could find had units running at a CoP in the 1s and 2s.

 

34 minutes ago, BotusBuild said:

prepare to build my garage

Insulation and a wooly jumper. UFH in a garage - are you sat there reading a book ?

[SteamyTea]

There is a blog on here where someone made their own heat pump from an old freezer.

But the cheapest A2AHP is probably best.

 

I have just bought a 45 quid diesel hot air heater to play with in my shed.

[John Carroll]

1 hour ago, BotusBuild said:

I recall seeing this system several years ago. It was being specified for use in heating an domestic indoor swimming pool instead of an air source heat pump.

 

I see that with a single panel, a 250L DHW tank can be supplied and fitted for about £5k.

 

Now, as I prepare to build my garage, I was wondering whether solar thermodynamics could be used to heat the garage (to about 15C during the cooler months), but without the large 250L tank. I was thinking a small 40-50L volumiser tank with a couple of 100m UFH loops in the slab. Anyone seen anything like that?

 

I think these (thermodynamic) had/have a small solar panel combined with a HP, I did see a few about but the problem with them is that the solar panel, in effect, the evaporater,  can freeze up leading to very poor COPs. Ariston and others make fully fledged ASHP stand alone units for cylinder heating, I knew someone that has a Ariston Nuos? for a good few years and was very happy with it.

 

These are the type/make I've seen around.

https://www.lvprenewables.ie/thermodynamic-solar-panels/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=190000387&gbraid=0AAAAAD2YT0cjqg7iVPQZdpMCzZks0klRH&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrojHBhDdARIsAJdEJ_dP-3EBFueQJGiDtwoDgBYE5xEFuoXluMm0ecVn5rf27D4UNnhKMekaAvvZEALw_wcB

 

Edited October 5 by John Carroll

[-rick-]

Traditional PV to power a traditional electric system will be alot cheaper.

[BotusBuild]

7 hours ago, JohnMo said:

are you sat there reading a book ?

The Haynes manual 😂

[BotusBuild]

7 hours ago, SteamyTea said:

But the cheapest A2AHP is probably best.

Ah, the old tin cans and a solar powered fan project 🙂

Did one to dry logs - worked well

[BotusBuild]

For clarity, the reason for low level heating is to keep the classic car dry

[SteamyTea]

23 minutes ago, BotusBuild said:

Ah, the old tin cans and a solar powered fan project

Was better than that.

Think this was the page.

 

https://forum.buildhub.org.uk/topic/27460-diy-gshp/