The STSS Energy Management Control
The Question?
How Should I put this system together and how can I control it?
There are multiple ways to put together a solar/wood/storage with backup system, and it takes time for an installer to decide which method is best. We have solved that problem. We have designed the “EMC” Control.
- This packaged control system automatically switches on the backup boiler when the heat storage tank is not warm enough to maintain room temperature.
- It isolates the fossil fuel system from the wood/solar/tank system.
- It samples the tank temperature at the end of each fossil fuel boiler cycle.
- When the wood boiler is fired or when the sun comes out, the system switches back automatically to the primary tank system.
- The amount of gas or oil is reduced because every BTU available is recovered from the tank.
- The EMC system improves solar collector efficiency and wood boiler efficiency by keeping the heat storage tank cooler and allowing the tank to store more energy.
This control is an important part of any installation that includes a boiler and heat storage.
Complete instructions and diagrams are supplied with the control.
STSS ENERGY MANAGEMENT CONTROL FOR WOOD BOILERS AND SOLAR WITH STORAGE COMBINED WITH A CONVENTIONAL BACKUP BOILER
Please read this document and the attached diagrams before installing the control.
This Energy Management Control (Switch Control ) will automatically switch on the conventional backup boiler when the heat in the storage tank has been depleted.
OBSERVATION
Make sure the present heating system is operating flawlessly.
The present system will backup the wood-fired system and/or the solar system when the homeowner is unable to fire the wood boiler or when the sun is not shining.
This method of piping and control will work with hot water baseboard, radiant floor tubing or an air handler with a duct heat exchanger . It will carry both the wood/solar heat and the backup fossil fuel heat to the living space.
When you have determined all parts of the existing systems are working, install the new combination wood/solar and fossil fuel heat.
SOME ISSUES TO CONSIDER BEFORE YOU BEGIN
- Is the existing system zoned?
- Is it zoned with zone valves or circulators?
- Is this a new home or a “like new” renovation?
- In an existing system, are you going to install new circulators, controls or zone valves?
PIPE IN THE NEW SYSTEM
There is a piping diagram provided in this package, together with an electrical diagram for the “switch over” control, that will tie the wood or solar storage in with the present backup fuel boiler.
We suggest that you use these diagrams for your installation. Don’t mix methods. Pick one of these diagrams and follow it.
Install the new wood/solar system, the heat storage tank and piping to match your chosen plan.
Refer to separate instructions for installation of the wood/solar and heat storage systems.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU FIRE THE WOOD BOILER
Refer to Plumbing Diagram.
If the wood boiler is operating when the house is calling for heat, both the C-1 and C-3 circulators move heat directly to the zone(s) in the house calling for heat. When both C-1 and C-3 circulators are pumping, heated water by-passes the heat exchangers in the tank.
If the wood boiler is not fired, C-1 circulator and the Zv-l valve begin moving heated water from the top of the tank heat exchanger to the house. Water travels bottom to top of the tank heat exchanger coils when removing heat from the tank. Water travels top to bottom of the tank heat exchanger when the wood boiler is heating the tank.
When circulator C-3 is operating by itself, heat is transferred to the tank. When C-1 is operating by itself, heat is transferred from the tank to the house.
Two flow check valves placed in the same pipe, but in opposite directions (refer to the piping diagram for this layout ), maintain a perfect balance between the flow of water from the boiler to the house regardless of how many zones are calling at the time. Without these flow check valves there would be a constant bleed-off of heat to the tank, even when all zones are calling at the same time.
MANUAL OR AUTOMATIC SWITCH OVER TO BACKUP
Two methods of backup heat are available when the wood boiler is not being fired.
The switch over can be done with a manual switch or automatically with a single room thermostat. This switch over process shuts power off to Zv-1 zone valve and C-1 circulator, and turns on the backup fossil fuel boiler.
Note: When the house cools down because the wood boiler has not been fired, and the tank heat is depleted, Stage 1 thermostats continue to call for heat and the house zones stay open. The Energy Management Control comes with a manual switch installed that will turn on the fossil fuel fired boiler.
This function can be automated by connecting a Stage 2 room thermostat to the Energy Management
Control. This second stage thermostat should be located in the main living area of the house and set a few degrees below the first stage thermostat in that room.
STRANDED WIRE AND COLOR CODES
There is nothing more time consuming than tracing down a broken solid wire inside it’s insulation. To overcome this problem, wire the Management Control with color coded #16 stranded wire. There are two benefits. It is easy to see the difference between old wiring and the new wire now being installed, and color coding helps trace out wiring errors.