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The central component of a solar thermal system is provided by the thermal store. Heat from the solar collectors is conveyed via the pipework to the water in the thermal store. The main functions of the thermal store are efficient transfer of solar heat to the reservoir water, storing the heat for as long as possible, and efficiently delivering the heat for heating the mains hot water and/or the space heating system. New to the UK the innovative Consolar range of thermal stores have been refined over 20 years and are used in thousands of installations across Europe. For more information click on a tank or see the downloads below.
Transfer of solar heat to the thermal store water is usually achieved using what is known as a heat-exchanger, as the water in the solar circuit (usually) contains antifreeze which prevents the pipes from freezing up in winter. An efficient solar-heat-exchanger enables a particularly high heat transfer to the thermal store. This doesn’t automatically mean high energy conservation: energy losses are caused by the mixing of colder and warmer thermal store water. These losses can be minimised using an efficient stratification system which stores energy by selective in-feeding and separation of cold and hot water. Simultaneously, the solar heated reservoir water is available for immediate use, resulting in less frequent boiler firing. The solar thermal system results in maximum energy conservation. A further important aspect of thermal stores is water hygiene. It is possible, especially in systems which provide solar support for space heating and hot water provision with large volume tanks combined with long idling periods for there to be risks from breathing in the bacteria which cause Legionnaire’s disease when showering. For this reason, safer hot water systems have only a small volume of water, or better still, they work utilising the continuous-flow heater principle.
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