Glycol Solar Panels

Consult a solar heating professional or the local authority having jurisdiction to determine the requirements for heat transfer fluid in solar water heating systems in your area.

Glycol solar panels. During static conditions the solar collectors should be completely empty so that the thermal fluid is not exposed to extreme temperatures. Solar365 green homes other the industry standard for solar fluid is a mix of propylene glycol and water. 1st it must be able to with stand extreme high temperatures that can and will occur in a solar system including stagnation temperatures that can reach 410 f. It s non toxic biodegradable and relatively stable.

In all three scenarios if a glycol fluid is used the residual glycol remaining in the panels becomes acidic and can cause corrosion issues. It has a long track record over many decades in this application and is widely available from a number of sources. The spp corn glycol is specifically designed for chillers radiant heating air to water hydronic heat pump and solar thermal applications such as solar hot water or solar space heating. Propylene glycol pg has become the most common heat transfer fluid used in closed loop solar heating systems that contain antifreeze.

The following are some of the most commonly used heat transfer fluids and their properties. Sentinel r100 solar thermal fluid is glycol based and designed for use in solar heating equipment operating up to 200 c. Typically any time a system has a glycol bulk temperature in the range of 250 f 121 c fluid degradation increases. This glycol is completely non toxic safe for all types of solar heating applications and is made from sustainable bio based raw materials.

When commissioning a pressurized glycol solar hot water system it is essential that all the air in the solar loop is removed. At first air returns into the bucket and then glycol mixture with air and foam which can be very hot. However you should always mix as much water as possible with your choice of glycol product as simple water is the ideal solar fluid. In some instances glycol antifreeze can also overheat within your home s solar panels leading to a reduction in the life and efficiency of the glycol an unwanted blockage of liquid within the system and potential corrosion of the pipework cylinders or worse still the panels themselves.

Glycol is now pumped out of the bucket filling the solar collectors from the bottom to the top.