I'm reactivating a 1980's era solar thermal system that's been out of service for about 15-20 years.
It's all working now, but I have a concern.
The potable water solar loop has two 100 gallon tanks, set up to preheat the cold input to a gas tank heater.
There's a valve to force all the cold input to flow through the tanks.
The 2" main is centered. The first copper vertical is cold to the storage tanks.
The second insulated copper vertical is the hot output from storage.
PXL_20220326_231517249.jpg
The red ball valve forces everything through the storage tanks.
Yet that would mean that ALL the hot for 11 units of apartments goes through the 1" pipes and the storage tanks.
The building has no backflow check valve to the main.
Your thoughts? Is there a way to pressure balance this so the solar heat is harvested, without risking a pressure
reduction for the 11 apartments?
It's all working now, but I have a concern.
The potable water solar loop has two 100 gallon tanks, set up to preheat the cold input to a gas tank heater.
There's a valve to force all the cold input to flow through the tanks.
The 2" main is centered. The first copper vertical is cold to the storage tanks.
The second insulated copper vertical is the hot output from storage.
PXL_20220326_231517249.jpg
The red ball valve forces everything through the storage tanks.
Yet that would mean that ALL the hot for 11 units of apartments goes through the 1" pipes and the storage tanks.
The building has no backflow check valve to the main.
Your thoughts? Is there a way to pressure balance this so the solar heat is harvested, without risking a pressure
reduction for the 11 apartments?
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