Solar Assisted Underfloor Heating

Solar panels are not only suitable for DHW heating, but also as backup for your central heating. During the spring and autumn, the solar system can support the central heating system. This considerably reduces your oil or gas consumption.

• Assist your underfloor heating by up to 30% on well insulated buildings
• Green Systems UK is a Jupiter Underfloor Heating Partner
• In addition provide up to 80% of your domestic hot water consumption
• Mains pressure cylinders and mains pressure hot water from your taps
• Fully automated, just relax as solar helps you boiler to heat your home
• System designed with solar software showing system outputs & savings
• Professionally CAD designed underfloor heating pipe network
• Indirect system, no scale or frost damage
• Professional guaranteed installation

A solar assisted UFH system works like this...
An electronic solar controller constantly compares the temperature of the solar collectors that are usually located on the roof of the building with the temperature of the water in the bottom of the solar thermal store water cylinder. Whenever the solar collectors are hotter than the temperature in the bottom of the solar cylinder, the solar controller switches on the solar systems circulating pump. A solar grade anti-freeze is then circulated through the solar collectors to the solar cylinder's heat exchanger, heating the solar cylinder in just the same way as a central heating boiler.

The water in the solar cylinder is then diverted to the solar underfloor heating system by the use of a valve that monitors the temperature of the return water to the boiler. If the temperature of the return water to the boiler is cooler than the temperature of the water in the solar thermal store, the valve will divert solar heated water to your space heating system, assisting your boiler.

Large solar thermal stores and large solar collector area
With a solar assisted domestic UFH system you will need a thermal store cylinder of at least 550 and a 10m2+ solar collector area. A store of 1000 litres or larger would be better and a large collector area at a steeper inclination angle than a domestic hot water system. A 60 to 90 degree incline is essential for better performance in the winter months. Any solar heating system designed to a smaller specification than this will have very little effect IE <10% assistance to the heating system. As long as direct or diffuse sunlight is available it is converted into solar thermal energy with superb efficiency.