Solar Panel Antifreeze Valve

It is important to refer to the solar water heater manufacturer s installation instructions in conjunction with the following instructions.

Solar panel antifreeze valve.

If you live in south florida or anywhere that doesn t have freezing conditions the answer is no. The photovoltaic solar panels or pv solar panels convert the sun s energy into electricity which then can be used to heat water. Avg recommend that an frost protection valve be installed onto each solar collector panel within the solar collector array to ensure the best protection. Solar water heating systems that use an antifreeze solution propylene glycol or ethylene glycol as a heat transfer fluid have effective freeze protection as long as the proper antifreeze concentration is maintained.

Location of the valve may vary depending on the system design and piping. The freeze protection valve s should be located in a position to allow good water distribution through the solar panel so that when the valve opens water flows as evenly as possible through all the collector tubes. In solar applications the gate of the valve typically opens as temperatures decrease allowing the liquid to spill and to be replaced by warmer water when the water is near. Do we really need this anti freeze valve.

Antifreeze fluids degrade over time and normally should be changed every 3 5 years. In solar applications the gate of the valve typically opens as temperatures decrease allowing the liquid to spill and to be replaced by warmer water when the water is near the. How do i know this. I have one of the largest residential solar hot water setups in ct.

So what to do i. Install a fill and purge valve assembly typically near the main solar glycol circulator pump and often low in the solar plumbing loop. Robertshaw fp 45 thermostatic antifreeze valve the robertshaw fp 45 antifreeze valve uses a reliable self contained power element that is sensitive to temperature and operates without electrical power or sensors. Because nobody is silly enough to make their solar setup 3x bigger th.

Solar panels can also directly heat water by heating water filled pipes within the solar panels or by heating a transfer fluid such as antifreeze usually propylene glycol. Make sure the fill valve feeds the bottom of the solar collectors so that liquid entering the fill valve will push any air in the system up to the top of the solar plumbing loop. Using an antifreeze solution. The robertshaw fp 45 antifreeze valve uses a reliable self contained power element that is sensitive to temperature and operates without electrical power or sensors.