System Information Booklet
Commissioning – General Safety.
The system must be filled with heat transfer fluid. This is a pre-mixed (40% glycol/60% water) solar thermal transfer fluid based on 1,2-
propylene glycol with corrosion inhibitors and should not be diluted further. Do not mix with any other fluid types.
The fluid is non-toxic, odourless and bio-degradable but appropriate precautions should be taken when handling. The use of chemical
resistant gloves and suitable eye protection is recommended when handling.
Wash with soap and water if the fluid comes into contact with skin. If fluid gets into eyes, rinse immediately with large quantities of clear
running water.
A full safety and specification sheet can be obtained by request.
Flushing and Filling the pipework.
Once filled, the collectors can no longer be completely emptied so only a water and anti-freeze solution should be used to perform this
test. Alternatively, an air test may be used on the system to detect any gross leakage prior to flushing and filling with solar heat transfer
fluid. Pressurise the system to a maximum of 1 bar to check for leaks.
The system should be filled when there is no direct radiation from the sun. If direct radiation is likely to occur, the collector(s) should be
covered during filling and flushing.
The solar heat transfer fluid must be pumped into the system. The pump can be electric or manual but must be capable of producing a
pressure of at least 2 bar. The system should be thoroughly flushed with heat transfer fluid to remove any contaminants in the solar
primary circuit prior to filling.
Flush the solar primary pipework and collector via the fill and drain valve on the safety group. If reusing flushed fluid ensure this is filtered
before re-introducing it into the system.
Use a suitable container of a large enough volume to collect the fluid. When satisfied that all pipework and component parts have been
thoroughly flushed, the system can be filled.
The temperature sensor must be correctly installed into the collector. The sensor lead must be secured using a suitable material to
prevent accidental removal from the collector.
The maximum operating pressure of the system is 10 bar.
The system must be fully vented during the filling and commissioning process. It is recommended that this is rechecked during the initial
weeks of the system's operation to remove any further air.
In the event of a system failure or leakage the air venting process must be repeated during re-filling.
Note: Only operate the air vent when the system is cold. The heat transfer fluid is at a high temperature during normal operation and
may cause serious burns.
The pH value should be checked periodically using a suitable meter. Ideally, the pH value should be between 7.5 and 8.5 but if the pH
falls below 7.0 the heat transfer fluid must be changed.
The antifreeze percentage of the heat transfer fluid must be checked every 2 years. The antifreeze can be checked using a
refractometer. The reading should be approximately -21 deg C (40% concentration).
The collectors can be fitted in an array of up to 10 collectors. If more than one array is required the collectors must be installed as a
multiple parallel arrangement as shown below.
Example of multiple array connections
UK
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