Heating Support Systems

Within these systems which are installed for providing hot water and general heating (like radiators or floor heating systems), special boilers are used; these boilers are known as chamber or combi boiler (natural gas central heating boilers) models and have a water capacity changing between 500 to 2000 litres. The hot water storage capacity of these systems changes between 160 and 400 litres; within the rest of the storage capacity, the water of the heating system is stored. As well as it is dependent on the heating potential of the sun, solar collectors which has a total surface area that changes between 10 to 40 m² and operating with selective surface technology, are used in order to feed these boilers.

First, the water in the boiler is heated by a differential thermostat electronic panel which has multi circuit control feature. The temperature of the water in the return line of radiators or floor heating system and the temperature of the water that is in the boiler are continuously measured by the panel and compared with each other. According to the pre-adjusted differential temperature differences, either the water coming from the plumbing system or the heated water in the boiler is delivered to the tank by means of three way motor valve that is on the return line. As long as the temperature of the water in the boiler is higher than the temperature of the water in the return line, the heating system is supported by solar energy and as a result, fuel is saved. In terms of solar energy usage, the floor heating systems are more advantageous when compared to radiator heating systems, because the temperature of the water circulating within the system is much lower.

Especially during the winter, fulfilling the heating needs completely by using these systems only, is out of question. When taking the heat loss of the building, the state of the isolation systems, the solar heating intensity and the geographic and climatic characteristics into consideration, the effect of the solar energy system on the annual fuel savings, will be between 10 % and 45 % (hot water supply + heating). When determining the quantity of collectors and the capacities of the equipment that forms the system during the project designing phase, the safety measures related to the redundant energy that will be produced in summer should be taken into consideration.