I have a small 1000 gallon above ground pool.
I have an opportunity to pick up a used decommissioned solar thermal panel for about $100.
It's the flat panel type with glazing used to heat domestic hot water.
The panel is 48x97". I didn't go look at it yet and I don't know its specs, but from reading about them, I assume it will be copper piping inside aluminum frame and tempered glass on top.
From what I've read about them, they hold only about 1.8L of fluid, which can be heated to very high temperature. Their stagnation temp is around 190C. Pretty scalding!! So, when not in use, it would need some kind of cover to keep the temps low and water from boiling to gas.
So, my question is whether I can make it work for my very small 10x7' Intex pool.
First, I realize that will need to flush the unit thoroughly as it was running glycol or other fluid.
My plan would be to simply lean it against the side of our house that gets lots of noon to late afternoon sun. Then I would run piping from/to pool.
I only have a measly 530gph pump and I will perhaps buy a 1000gph one and use a valve to send filtered water to the panel and return it back through the pool's return port.
The panel will be about 10-15 feet away.
From specs on other panels, it appears, they need up to 5gpm flow, so 300GPH. While my pump is rated higher, it's also pumping additonal 15 feel away and up an 8' foot vertical panel, so I'm not sure that's a good idea.
My other idea is to run a submersible sump pump with a hose out to the panel and return back to the pool through the return port. That pump though has 1950gph rating.
Now, the faster flow should actually be beneficial here since it should keep the temperatures in the piping much lower than those desirable for glycol loop that heats DHW tank.
Any thoughts/recommendations?
I have an opportunity to pick up a used decommissioned solar thermal panel for about $100.
It's the flat panel type with glazing used to heat domestic hot water.
The panel is 48x97". I didn't go look at it yet and I don't know its specs, but from reading about them, I assume it will be copper piping inside aluminum frame and tempered glass on top.
From what I've read about them, they hold only about 1.8L of fluid, which can be heated to very high temperature. Their stagnation temp is around 190C. Pretty scalding!! So, when not in use, it would need some kind of cover to keep the temps low and water from boiling to gas.
So, my question is whether I can make it work for my very small 10x7' Intex pool.
First, I realize that will need to flush the unit thoroughly as it was running glycol or other fluid.
My plan would be to simply lean it against the side of our house that gets lots of noon to late afternoon sun. Then I would run piping from/to pool.
I only have a measly 530gph pump and I will perhaps buy a 1000gph one and use a valve to send filtered water to the panel and return it back through the pool's return port.
The panel will be about 10-15 feet away.
From specs on other panels, it appears, they need up to 5gpm flow, so 300GPH. While my pump is rated higher, it's also pumping additonal 15 feel away and up an 8' foot vertical panel, so I'm not sure that's a good idea.
My other idea is to run a submersible sump pump with a hose out to the panel and return back to the pool through the return port. That pump though has 1950gph rating.
Now, the faster flow should actually be beneficial here since it should keep the temperatures in the piping much lower than those desirable for glycol loop that heats DHW tank.
Any thoughts/recommendations?
