Glycol Replacement In Solar Panels

This is not always the case we will test the condition of your system before we do.

Glycol replacement in solar panels. However you should always mix as much water as possible with your choice of glycol product as simple water is the ideal solar fluid. Most solar thermal systems use antifreeze as the liquid to transport heat from the solar panel to the cylinder. It s non toxic biodegradable and relatively stable. A conventional immmersion heater or gas boiler can be used to top up the temperature of the water particularly in winter or to provide extra hot water when required.

During static conditions the solar collectors should be completely empty so that the thermal fluid is not exposed to extreme temperatures. Food grade propylene glycol the other kind like normal antifreeze is quite toxic if ingested different uses have different formulations get the one for solar panels. The antifreeze is normally non toxic propylene glycol as opposed to toxic ethylene glycol. However there are a few drain back systems that only use water.

All glycol products used in solar fluid mixes come with a dilution chart an example of which is shown below. When commissioning a pressurized glycol solar hot water system it is essential that all the air in the solar loop is removed. An antifreeze change may be required for your solar system. Sentinel r100 solar thermal fluid is glycol based and designed for use in solar heating equipment operating up to 200 c.

Antifreeze fluids degrade over time and normally should be changed every 3 5 years. It is vital that you consult the chart to avoid mixing too little or too much glycol into your system too little will risk consequences in cold weather too much will reduce the mix s efficiency. A solar collector mounted on the roof absorbs energy from the sun and transfers it to a medium usually a water glycol mixture which is then pumped to a coil in a tank where it heats up the water. For solar thermal applications mixtures based on propylene glycol or the green glycol are recommended.

Air in the loop can cause pump. Most glycol will break down and become acid needing immediate replacement if those temperatures are reached. The other factor specific to solar glycol is is ability to completely vaporize or steam when stagnation temperatures are present.