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- High Quality, One Tank System
- Pre-Assembled for Fast Installation
- Efficient - Only One Pump to Run, Only One Tank to Heat
- Hot Spring Heat Exchanger
- Fully Automated SHEM32 Controller
- Long Life Wilo Pump
- Works with Tap Water
- Closed System Requires Little Maintenance
- Save Time and Money on Installation
- Multiple Sizes to Fit Most Homes and Small Offices
- Our Electric Backup system replaces a conventional water heater system.
Simplicity
The Simple Drainback system was designed to bring the simplicity of drainback systems together with some of the better characteristics of pressurized systems to create the easiest installation on the market. We have integrated the standard small drainback tank with the storage tank, eliminating the extra tank, plumbing and installation time associated with these components. The solar fluid is water which has better thermal characteristics than glycol, and is, obviously, less expensive than propylene glycol. The storage tank is filled with the solar fluid (water) and serves effectively as a heat battery to store the energy. The solar fluid circulates directly from the collectors to the tank and back using only one pump. This allows for very efficient and fast recharging of the storage tank.
 Freeze Protection
As with all drainback systems the freeze protection is attained through gravity. When the solar collectors are hot enough to heat the tank, the differential controller turns the pump on and water flows from the tank and back, heating the tank. When the collector temperature drops to the point where the tank will no longer benefit from the collector temperature, the differential controller turns the pump off, and the solar fluid drains completely out of the collectors and returns to the storage tank. The SHEM32 controller is set to prevent the pump from activating when the temperature in the collector drops below 50°F. This provides an additional measure of protection against freezing. Our controller is also passcode protected to prevent accidental adjustments of the temperature settings.
What's included
- SHEM80DB Solar Thermal Tank
- Pre-Wired SHEM32 Controller
- 5' 110v cord
- Female plug in for pump
- 1k & 10k Thermistors
- Wall anchors and screws
- Pre-Soldered & Insulated Flowmeter and Temperature Dial Assemblies
- BlueWhite F-45500LB-12 flowmeter Data-Manual
- Allows the flowmeter to double as a tank sightglass
- Pipe clamps to secure flowmeter to tank.
- Dial thermometer measures the solar return
- Sweat unions allow for easy installation and servicing
- Wilo Star Pump with 5' cord and plug
- Bolt flange connections and ball valves for easy pump servicing
- Pump model and quantity dependent on system head height
- T&P Valve
- Drain Valve
- Pipe insulation sticker kit
- Insulating R5 blanket
- 3/4" MNPT heat exchanger threads
Pricing
The Simple Drainback system starts at $2,200 (MSRP). To assure customer sastisfaction we cannot accept online orders for systems at this time. Please Contact Us for assistance with ordering a system.
How Does It Work?
 •The sun heats the solar collector on the roof.
•The temperature sensors read that the collector is a higher temperature than the water in the storage tank.
•The controller turns on the pump sending solar water from the storage tank to the collector to pick up the extra heat and return it to the tank.
•As long as the temperature in the collectors remains higher than the tank temperature, the system continues to run until the set maximum tank temperature is achieved; Then the pump shuts off and the solar water drains back to the tank.
•The cold domestic water is plumbed through a copper heat exchanger submerged in the tank. When hot water is turned on in the building, the cold domestic water is drawn through the heat exchanger and picks up the stored heat in the tank and comes out hot.
•If the solar collectors are still hot as the temperature in the tank drops, the solar water is pumped back up to the collectors, where it is once again heated by the sun.
•In freezing climates, the solar water will remain in the tank until the collector temperatures achieve levels above the tank temperature. As the collector temperature falls toward freezing, the system turns off and the water drains back to the tank leaving the collectors and pipes completely empty.
The Data
Click here to download graph.
Equipment
• SHEM 80E tank
• LF1170 Mixing Valve
• HOBO Energy Logger Pro
• 2 12-bit thermistors
• Minol Minomess 130 Volumetric Flow Meter
Setup
One temperature probe was stuck through the T&P valve hole in the top of the tank to monitor the tank temperature. The second one was inserted through the wall of a pex tube to monitor the water temperature coming out of the heat exchanger. The mixing valve temperature was set to around 110- 113°F.
Results
The test again produced around 61 gallons of hot water. This is very similar to trial number 1 which produced 58 gallons. The discrepancy could be caused by differing flows because of the lack of a flow meter plumbed into the system. A flow meter will be plumbed into the system for subsequent tests. This test also shows that at an average flow rate of 1.38 GPM, the average temperature difference between the tank temperature and the temperature coming out of the heat exchanger is around .94°F.
Conclusion
The tank produced 61 gallons of 110°F water starting from 161°F. The average temperature difference between the tank temperature and the water coming out is .94°F. Text-Data
Interested in the 80DB with additional potable water storage?
If you're looking for a radiant heating solution, this would be an ideal application for your solar hot water system. An accurate diagram for installing a system with backup water storage is available here.
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