Comparison of Different Polymeric Sealings for Hot Water Storages
Abstract
Solar heating systems with collector areas over 20 m2 for hot water preparation and space heating mostly require heat storages with a volume of ≥ 2 m3. Due to limited space and narrow door passages, the installation of the necessary storage volume can be difficult or impossible, especially in residential buildings. Within a research project financed by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety*, a new concept for the design of a hot water storage was developed that helps to solve that problem. Fig. 1 shows a simplified design of the concept. A frame made of steel profiles defines the geometry and takes up mechanical loads. Sandwich insulation panels made of metal sheets and polyurethane foam provide thermal insulation and dispose the surface load of the hydrostatic water pressure to the steel frame elements.