Criterion 6.2.3 Operating Conditions

Criteria text:
Collectors, tanks, pumps, valves, regulating orifices, pressure regulators, heat exchangers, piping, hoses and other components shall be capable of operating within design pressure and temperature ranges and withstanding environmental extremes anticipated in actual service without significantly reducing system design life.

Comments:
The requirements of this criteria are evaluated during the initial system certification process. All specific installation requirements (design and components) are then incorporated into the system manufacturer's installation manual.

Installers must make sure that the collector and ancillary components and materials that make up the SRCC approved system package are used during the installation. The installer must also follow the installation guidelines included in the manufacturer's SRCC approved installation manual.

A specific example of what this requirement addresses is a direct system using collectors that are not rated for street pressure. A pressure reducing valve (See Figure 1) would have to be included as part of the SRCC approved design. The installer must follow the installation instructions provided by the system manufacturer.

Figure 1

Another example is a thermosiphon system with a mantle type heat exchanger in the solar tank. The pressure rating of the solar tank shell and the mantle are often quite different. In this case, the installer must follow the manufacturer's instructions to make sure that the correct ports on the tank are used during the plumbing of the system.

Proceed to the Next Collector Subsystem Guideline

Return to the Collector Subsystem Main Page