Technical Description

Solectair Heating Mode:

Throughout the year, the sun heats the roof of your home and therefore also the air between the ceiling and roof.

During autumn, winter and spring, dependent on the amount of sunshine, roof colour and roof type, an abundant supply of useful warm air is created in your roof space during the day. (Similar to the warmth that will build up inside your car on a cool but sunny day)

The patented Solectair microprocessor control system is connected to sensors in the house and roof. When the roof air temperature is warmer than air in the house and other parameters are met, the HTS fan will automatically transfer the warm solar heated air through a filter, ducting and vents into the house.

The Solectair controller automatically regulates the operation to maximise this store of free solar energy to heat your home.

The thermal mass of the building i.e. the walls, floor and contents etc. will absorb the warmth from the solar heated air ducted to the house interior and re-radiate it into the living areas overnight.

This raises the living and sleeping space ambient temperature to an appreciably more comfortable level. In many cases, the use of Solectair will almost totally alleviate the need to use conventional heating in autumn and spring with a reduced need for conventional heating during winter.

The Building Code of Australia requires Australian homes to be more sustainable or energy efficient.

Legislation in NSW, effective from 1 July 2005 and announced likely to be applicable in WA called Basix, requires new and renovated homes to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 25%. NSW Basix GHG emission reduction increased to 40% from 1 July 2006 (please refer to www.basix.nsw.gov.au) and WA, SA and Vic legislation is expected to be similar. Solectair have submitted information to Basix NSW and WA for consideration as an approved GHG reduction system – in the meantime however, request for an "alternative assessment" should receive GHG % credit from an independent assessor.

Solectair Series II controller

Further analysis of university test data by Phil Calais, the original university researcher, has revealed that savings of around 30% to 50% of annual heating costs can be achieved. This can equate to a reduction in green house gas emissions of up to 3/4 tonne per 14 square house per annum.
With around 2 million suitable houses in Australia alone, this could mean a reduction of over 1,000,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas per annum if there was a 100% take up.

The illustration shows a Solectair Solar Ducted Heating System
installed as part of a ducted evaporative airconditioning system.

Running Costs

Date	Energy Collected kW	Electric Bar Heater Cost	Reverse Cycle Airconditioner on Heating Cost	Gas Heater Cost	Solectair HTS Electricity Cost
24 Sep. 2002	26.2	$3.65	$1.46	$1.99	$0.39

Running costs of the Solectair system are extremely low when compared to other forms of heating, and for the test house with 7 outlets please refer to the table alongside for a daily comparison.

House Suitability: Our tests confirm that most homes are suitable (please check with your dealer) however, for good performance the preferred home for Solectair Solar Heating would have: Any roof cladding other than white tiles. (darker colours work better) A large part of the roof exposed to the sun (minimal shading – e.g. trees) Good quality insulation on the ceiling and no insulation/membrane directly under the roof cladding. A level ceiling with an unventilated ceiling void for most of the home. Some brick/masonry construction as this increases thermal mass to store solar heat.

 

 

How to Maximise Heating Performance:

1. Because Solectair utilises the available daytime solar energy, it is preferable to transfer as much of this free heat into the thermal mass of the house as is comfortably possible. This is achieved by setting the controller to its maximum setting.
   
   Due to the higher levels of solar heat often available up to around the middle of autumn and after mid spring, the maximum setting may need to be reduced so as not to become too hot in the house, if occupied during the day. Some daytime discomfort can be offset by warmer night time temperatures.
   
   
2. To allow the warm air entering the house to be increased further in temperature (by passing back into the roof space via the ceiling return air vent for reheating) and prevent entry of cooler outside air, keep external doors and windows closed during the day.
   
   
3. To warm rooms not fitted with outlet vents, e.g. bathrooms & laundry, leave their internal doors open during the day.
   
   
4. To prevent heat loss after sundown, close curtains & blinds, also bathroom & laundry doors.

 

Limitations of Solectair Solar Heating:

Solectair is not designed to be the primary source of home heating, but rather a “set and forget” heating system that will provide years of low cost heating and reduce the need to use expensive conventional heating systems.

We recommend these conventional systems be retained to use on those days that have little or no sunshine and Solectair may not operate. (e.g. heavily overcast, raining.)

Solectair will switch on and run automatically when the sun has heated the roof space to approximately 20 deg.C or higher and is 5 deg.C warmer than the temperature in your home at the wall controller.

Solectair will turn off automatically when the inside temperature setting is reached or the suns rays are not adequately heating the roof space. (e.g. heavy cloud or the sun has gone down and residual stored roof space heat has been transferred to the living space)

 

Night-Air Cooling Mode:

Solectair Plus - Series III Controller Incorporating – Solar Heating and Night-Air Cooling :

The advanced Solectair Plus - Series III controller/kit which will provide both solar heating and night air cooling; is awaiting delivery and orders can now be taken. – (not for use with evaporative air conditioners.)

Ducted Airconditioning or Ducted Gas Furnace application:
(please have your technician check compatibility of Solectair Plus for your unit with Airgroup)

The controls have options of:

• Automatic solar heating (as explained elsewhere)
  
• Automatic heating - solar and airconditioning or gas furnace (solar is utilised where possible)
  
• Heat Boost – where a timed reverse cycle A/C or gas heat boost can be obtained.
  
• Full reverse cycle A/C or gas heating – no solar.
  
• Fresh air - 100% fresh outside air – not temperature controlled.
  
• Nightcool – 100% fresh outside air – automatic temperature controlled.

 

During summer, Solectair Plus utilises an outside air temperature sensor to compare this temperature with the inside house temperature.
In the evening and night time, when it becomes cooler outside than in the house, the Solectair controller will automatically activate the airconditioner or gas furnace fan so that it draws in cool outside air
Stand Alone Solectair System:
In the evening and night time, when it becomes cooler outside than in the house, the Solectair controller will automatically activate the unit fan to extract warm air at ceiling level and draw in cool outside air through partially open windows and/or doors.

Conversely to the heating mode, the thermal mass of the building gives off heat to the cool night air.

This will lower the ambient indoor temperature to an appreciably more comfortable level and reduce the need to have or run conventional air-conditioning.

System Options

Solectair system is designed to be:

• Installed with a new ducted air conditioner or gas heater.
  
  
• Added to any existing ducted evaporative or refrigerated air conditioner or ducted gas heater.
  
  
• Installed "Stand - Alone" with ducting, filter, controls & vents to supplement non ducted heating or cooling systems like room and split air conditioners, gas and wood fires etc. or for applications where no heating or cooling system is installed.

System Size:

• The Solectair system can be varied to suit the number of rooms/outlets as required, however optimum performance is achieved with an outlet in each living/sleeping area. (no outlets in wet areas).

 

Capital Cost:

The Solectair system while sophisticated is relatively inexpensive. The Series II system comprises a microprocessor controller, temperature sensors, fan/s, inlet & outlet ducting and filter (removable for cleaning). The kit price is approximately $1,100 plus installation. (In the Stand-Alone version, additional ducting, fittings and vents would be required.) The Solectair Plus - Series III system comprises a microprocessor controller, temperature sensors and additional components as required.

Retail cost will vary by system specifications and region.

 

Kits:

Convert your Evaporative Cooler for Solar Heating:

Modular "DIY" kits are now available for the handyman, to enable the installation of a Series II heating system to almost any brand of existing ducted evaporative air conditioner. This will convert it to provide economical solar home heating by utilising the already installed ducting and vents.
The kit price is approximately $1,100.

 

Convert your Ducted Refrigerated Airconditioner or Gas Furnace for Solar Heating and Night Air Cooling. (Electrician or controls technician may be required)

For the Solectair Plus - Series III system, only the microprocessor controller and sensors is required from Solectair as it is connected to the existing fan (where possible – please check suitability with Airgroup and your airconditioning contractor), ducting and vents. Basic additional off the shelf dampers, filter and ducting can be obtained from most airconditioning suppliers.

 

Stand Alone Solar Heating System:

Also these kits can be used as a stand alone heating system that can then be upgraded at any time in the future to include additional rooms and/or an evaporative cooler, while still retaining the original components. (Other variations are possible)

Installation Guide (263Kb)