Multi Drum Heat Storage

This low cost method of storing lots of solar heated water in multiple drums is specially suited for MTD solar heating systems.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Solar
• heat
• storage
• drums
• miltiple
• tanks
• HHW
• solar
• heating

[jcanivan]

Thank you for your positive support..

Most of my ideas must sound a bit radical, but I have tested all of them.

The important thing for you is to start small but continue to think big like the sun.

For a large solar hot water system  plan for possible leaks. If you have a major problem in a basement you should have a drain.

Plastic sealed drums can handle temps up to 180*F but you should plan on systems that operate between 100*F and 140*F

John

[josephdupont]

where do you get the rubber hose to act as a seal?

[jcanivan]

I use a 2" rubber boot inside the hole. When the 2" PVC pipe is forced through the rubber boot the pressure exerted by the PVC on the boot forms a watertight seal. the boot must be lubricated before sliding the pipe through. It has been over a year now and I have not had a leak yet.

[jcanivan]

Oh getting the heat out of the tanks is just as easy is putting it . A small circulator is attached to the bottom of the hottest tank. so that the hottest water available is circulated through the radiant floor. Call this tank 1, tank 1 drawa hot water from the top of tank 2 and tank 2 draws hot water from thr top of tank 3 etc In this way the adjacent tank preheats water for the one in front of it, The cooled water that returned ffrom the radiant floof. enters the tank with the main pump.

[cbsunsten]

Excellent information. Thanks for posting. I want to try a passive solar closet with many drums of water to charge and hold the heat but if I go the collector and pump route this is perfect for connecting the drums together.

[jcanivan]

It's always a good idea to seperate the heat collection area from the heat storage area.

Practical solar applications have a large heat collection area as well as a large heat storage area.

[jeffpicks]

Your dentist must love you... ever hear of scissors?

[CTOL1]

Your a true inspiration to us all Well me anyways

In a basement application I see this as a no brainier heat addition, as heat will radiate to the floor above.

I have a fully insulated basement, extruded polystyrene 2" walls 1" floors, covered with drywall and OSB respectively. many days in a sub freezing northern climate it is the warmest place in the house heated only by the forced air ducting, no direct venting though, so I can see a series of tanks adding to this very nicely, heat is heat

[jakubec]

I understand circulating the water from the tanks to the collectors. BUT... How do you get the heat from the tanks to the DHW or radiant floor system??

[josephdupont]

ONCE AGAIN , ,WHAT IS A 2" BOOT.

DO YOU HAVE A PART NUMBER.

WHAT INDUSTRY USES IT?

i DON'T RECALL SEEING IT.

iT MIGHT MAKE RAIN STORAGE REALLY PRACTICAL. i COULD SEE TWO

HOLES NEAR THE BOTTOM.

DRILL SOME HOLES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PIPE GOING FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER!  NEAT.