Recent arctic weather has reminded people with solar thermal heating systems that their solar panels need to be treated well and regularly maintained around the year if they are to continue to provide around 50% of the hot water the home needs during the year.
With the huge interest in solar PV systems, solar thermal systems have tended to take a back seat when looking at ways of reducing energy costs and usage on the domestic front.
But solar thermal is still very much out there doing its bit despite the current economic climate which makes persuading anyone to invest in new heating and hot water systems rather than repair their existing traditional heating systems a difficult ask. Solar ‘power’ is still free and still offers a way of reducing dependence on fossil fuelled heating. If it can reduce your hot water bills by 50% or more, it still has a potential role to play for a large slice of the UK population.
Solar thermal heating systems can experience a wide range of temperatures throughout the year, from below freezing on a cold winter’s day to temperatures in excess of 200°C on a hot summer’s day. It is these high temperatures during the summer months which can lead to the premature degradation of the thermal fluid. Therefore it is important to choose a thermal fluid which has been specifically developed to withstand these extremes of temperature.
Just as with traditional ‘wet’ heating systems in a home, it is vital that solar heating systems are checked regularly in order to establish the condition and ultimately the effectiveness of the heat transfer fluid. Sentinel has developed a unique and highly effective cleaner for solar thermal heating systems – R200 - which is now protected by Patent (GB 2462707) - which helps to solubilise and remove degraded glycol from existing solar thermal heating circuits. Once cleaned, the best way to ensure optimum efficiency and reduced running costs is to use an inhibited thermal fluid that is resistant to degradation. Protecting solar circuits and systems with the correct product will extend the life of the solar panel, prolong usage and minimise the requirement for thermal fluid replacement.
Where degradation has occurred, twenty minutes cleaning with Sentinel’s R200 Solar System Cleaner, particularly when used with the Sentinel SolarFlush unit, will disperse and remove deposits from the system and prepare it for the addition of fresh thermal fluid, such as Sentinel R100.
Sentinel’s R100 Solar Thermal Fluid is a superior heat transfer fluid that is specifically formulated for solar heating equipment and gives effective frost protection down to minus 25°C. It is resistant to degradation, provides effective corrosion protection for system metals and contains chemically and thermally stable components. The buffered pH will also provide some short term protection against the impact of a falling pH until the system can be cleaned free of degraded glycol.
Effective cleaning and protection will ensure that the operation and life expectancy of a Solar Thermal System is optimised and will provide long lasting frost protection throughout the winter months. Using a high quality thermal fluid such as Sentinel R100, will ensure your Solar Thermal System will function at the highest performance level providing a cost effective and energy efficient way of providing heat and hot water for your home.
