Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
Alpha Heating Innovation has made its SolarSmart solar thermal package capable of supplying much larger quantities of solar heated water than before.
As well as SolarSmart 90, there is now the high capacity 150 Pack, comprising a floor-mounted 150 litre stainless steel unvented hot water cylinder, a 10 litre drain-back unit, unvented kit and a wall-mountable control box with simple wiring to link all components.
The cylinder’s 100mm thick insulation ensures heat loss is kept to a minimum, while a factory fitted manifold and circulation pump simplify installation. The drain-back unit incorporates a 10 litre cylinder and DHW plate heat exchanger – both of which are of stainless steel construction – plus a built-in pump. Its compact, all-in-one nature enhances installation further still.
This new 150 Pack can be easily installed with the company’s existing roof-mounted solar panels in a side-by-side, multi-panel set-up.
Two, three or four panels can be specified according to the situation, as well as the hot water and energy efficiency demands of the project. A two panel configuration can be achieved using two landscape or two portrait panels, while portrait panels can be used to create a three or four panel configuration.
There is also a new range of flashing kits which can be specified according to whether panels are to be positioned left, right or centre in the chosen configuration. These are for use where panels are to be set into a pitched roof, Alpha’s recommended installation method for a neater, flusher finish. Fixing kits can also be specified to enable the panels to be installed on top of pitched roof surfaces and on flat roofs.
Depending on how many panels are used, SolarSmart and the new 150 litre cylinder can make an impressive contribution towards achieving Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes – up to 10% of the total 25% energy efficiency improvement required.
The SolarSmart 150 litre cylinder is compatible with Alpha’s CDC, plus CDX combination boilers and – if installed in conjunction with an unvented cylinder – its CDS system boilers.
