Hi Chris,
We are very familiar with Reynolds collectors as we are located near their
hometown of Richmond Va.
I have serviced these systems since their installers all disappeared after
1985, with the end of the tax credits of that era.
You can flush / pressure test using 5/8 " ID automotive heater hose. These
were originally connected to the special 'Crown Top ' heat exchangers
manufactured by Reynolds. --I have several spares-- with aluminum tubing,
which can be hard to get now.. Copper piping is not recommended as copper
ions can cause pinholes in the aluminum absorber piping. At least that's
what I understood in the 80's from the engineers developing this product.
Aluminum tubing will corrode from the outside also if and when the exterior
pipe insulation fails and water is held against the piping--usually right
where it enters the roof/attic.
If the collectors were not maintained with fresh anti-freeze periodically,
or were allowed to stagnate for extended periods, it is likely they will
have pinholes, or be completely plugged with dried up Ethylene--looks like a
cigar butt.
If anyone has 4x8 collectors you might get Billy at AET to make you some
new absorbers--the 12' are difficult to ship.You could get fintube and
header material shipped and weld it yourself-----------you'll need the right
oxy/acetylene equipment, and some practice.
I have sometimes been able to repair with Kitec type pex/alum/pex copper
tube size tubing, but temperature limits are close.Do not use P/A/P near the
collector connections--Be sure the system circulates into a large enough
storage reservoir--I use several for slab heat and 1- 100sq ft array into a
160 gal storage tank of my own design, normally used for drain back systems.
No problem with the P/A/P tubing for many years now, but collector
circulating temps do not exceed 150. !
For permanent connections, use the hi temp blue silicone heater
hose--available from truck dealer parts counters. This is the material
Reynolds started using after they got away from the Aluminum compression
fittings originally used.
Since I had at one time about 100 of their 4x12 commercial collectors
removed from failed commercial projects--Our tax credit dollars at work ! --
I now occasionally fabricate new copper absorbers from AET fintube and
headers. This works well especially when I need a horizontal mount for
drainback.
The original fluid was Prestone, ethylene glycol.50/50 mix.
Take Care, and call if you'd like to discuss further--------
Ken Schaal
www.CommonWealthSolar.com
804-216-5371
----- Original Message -----
From: "Christopher Warfel" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2011 7:30 AM
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Piping Reynolds Solar Hot Water Collectors
I have come into possession of two, ~4 x12 Reynolds collectors and I need
to pressure test them. It looks like the piping to and from the collectors
was radiator hose. I have not been able to find any installation
instructions on line for the way to pipe these and was wondering if anyone
had a reference source. Thanks for any help. Chris
--
Christopher Warfel, P.E.
ENTECH Engineering, Inc.
Energy Utilization Experts
(401)466-8978
The information contained within this communication shall
be considered confidential and shall not be retransmitted
without knowledge of the sender. Please contact us if
this email reached you in error. Thank you.
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