Hi from Australia!

[Runsible]

I have just joined this forum and have an interest in Solar Thermal systems. In particular, I want to build a system with enough capacity for hydronic space heating.

Solar energy isn't an issue for us but finding water storage tanks with enough capacity (1,000L) in Oz has been difficult. Do I build one or import one? That's my dilemma.

Any thoughts appreciated. Cheers, Bruce

[russ]

Hi Bruce - Welcome to Solar Panel Talk!

Solar thermal is a sensible choice - usually cost effective.

I have read of people building the tanks with good success. Try looking at www.builditsolar.com They have a good many plans supplied by various parties.

Russ

[Naptown]

Gee I have a 10000 gallon non pressurized tank that was mis ordered and custom built that I could let you have cheap. Shipping would be a bit of an expense to AU though

[john p]

Runsible what do you mean?? finding water storage tanks with enough capacity (1,000L) in Oz has been difficultWhat type of storage tank you cant find?/ Im not understanding you,,as there are hundreds of thousands or poly water tanks available and made most places locally in every shape and size possible. and in Queensland now are fitted to just about every new house built along with mandatory solar water heaters.

[Runsible]

Hi Bruce - Welcome to Solar Panel Talk!

Solar thermal is a sensible choice - usually cost effective.

I have read of people building the tanks with good success. Try looking at www.builditsolar.com They have a good many plans supplied by various parties.

Russ

Thanks Russ. Build It Solar is a great site. I've spent many hours there! Thanks for the tip.

Bruce

[Runsible]

Gee I have a 10000 gallon non pressurized tank that was mis ordered and custom built that I could let you have cheap. Shipping would be a bit of an expense to AU though

Thanks Naptown but 10,000gal! That's big. But thanks for th offer

[Runsible]

Runsible what do you mean?? finding water storage tanks with enough capacity (1,000L) in Oz has been difficultWhat type of storage tank you cant find?/ Im not understanding you,,as there are hundreds of thousands or poly water tanks available and made most places locally in every shape and size possible. and in Queensland now are fitted to just about every new house built along with mandatory solar water heaters.

Sorry for the misunderstanding John. As I am talking solar thermal systems, I assumed it would be understood I require hot water storage. In Oz, the biggest I have been able to find is 500L which I think, will be too small for serious space heating and DHW.

There are numerous combi tanks available in EU but the prices aren't attractive (so far). If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them.

Tks, Bruce

[john p]

ok now I understand.. sorry I dont know enough about pressure hot water systems to help you.

[Mike90250]

what a couple folks have done, is to install a concrete septic tank in the ground, line it with rigid insulation, and then a rubber liner, and use that as hot water storage.

[russ]

Concrete tank or even metal tank can be lined, insulated and used. How about an old dairy truck tank - or even propane tank.

Real easy if operated at ambient pressure.

Russ

[Runsible]

Concrete tank or even metal tank can be lined, insulated and used. How about an old dairy truck tank - or even propane tank.

Real easy if operated at ambient pressure.

Russ

Thanks Russ and Mike. I picked up the same idea from Build It Solar. Seems you can use just about any rigid vessel with insualtion and an EPDM liner.

The reality for me is the time for designing and construction. Everything is possible if you have the time! Finding time for the installation will be challenging enough, let alone building a tank.

If I can't find one on the market for a reasonable price, I may just have to do it myself, with patience

BTW, does anybody have any experience of Consolar tanks www.consolar.co.uk ?

Tks Bruce

[Naptown]

Actually it is 4000 gallons
dimensions are 10' diameter and 7' tall
Checking on weight and price
Please PM me regarding this I believe it is a Schuco tank

[Naptown]

send me an e mail at the addy below my signature

[Naptown]

here's the problem I have with the sundrum collectors.
From what I have read they are an aluminum product in which a fluid is circulated to draw off the heat from the PV collectors.

The problem I have is the aluminum.
I spent many years working for Reynolds Aluminum in their solar division. We made and installed aluminum collectors. The problem with aluminum is in isolating it from dissimalar metals especially copper. So what you are going to have to do to plumb this thing in is to use an aluminum piping to and from the collectors terminating in an aluminum side of a double wall heat exchanger. You can add some Iron or stainless steel in the form of a pump and one brass check valve but these will have to be dielectrically isolated from the aluminum. The aluminum side of the heat exchanger and collectors will need to be filled with an ethylene glycol (Prestone) anti freeze mixed with Deionized water. Any Ions of copper etc left in there will start a corrosion process on the inside of the collectors.
Now for the water side of the heat exchanger this needs to be copper. I know this sounds contradictory to what I just said but the heat exchanger is two coils in close contact with each other and ultrasonically soldered in a zinc bath. This is OK as the zinc seals out any moisture which would turn the heat exchanger into a battery corroding the aluminum.
You will need two of these one for the large tank and one for the DHW.

Now for the kicker
You will have a hard time finding aluminum tubing the fittings for aluminum tubing to attach the sundrum collectors and most of the other parts. However the best places to start looking are at suppliers to aircraft maufacturers and many of the hydraulic fittings and pipes on aircraft are aluminum. Lenz used to make hydraulic fittings that we used to put the tubing together.

Have fun

[Naptown]

PEX is an acceptable material as long as the temperatures on the sundrums never exceeds 180 degrees which I suspect they would not.