LEBANON, Tenn. - Lochinvar Corp., a leading manufacturer of high-efficiency boilers, water heaters, and pool heaters based in Lebanon, Tenn., and TiSUN, a global leader and specialist in solar heating technology headquartered in Austria, have joined forces to bring new solar thermal systems to the commercial market in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. According to the companies, this collaboration provides mechanical and plumbing design engineers and contractors the opportunity to offer their customers advanced renewable energy solutions.

The Lochinvar/TiSUN product offering includes solar thermal panels specifically engineered and designed for commercial use, solar thermal storage tanks, pumping stations used to control and move the solar energy throughout the system, as well as an array of system accessories.

The line includes two options for solar thermal panels. The Commercial Solar Flat Panel Collector (SCH models) is a high-efficiency solar thermal panel featuring PVD coating, a laser-welded absorber and a serpentine heat coil design, which allows for optimum heat transfer in a forced circulation solar system. This single-piece collector is designed for both on-roof and freestanding installations and is available in sizes ranging from 65 to 130 square feet, which offers reduced installation costs in commercial applications where multiple panels would traditionally be used, said the companies.

The other solar thermal panel option is the Light Duty Commercial Solar Collector. Designed to withstand harsh outdoor conditions and provide years of service under the sun, the Light Duty Commercial Solar Collectors are easy to install in either a vertical (SLV models) or horizontal (SLH models) position, the companies said. Like the SCH models, these collectors also feature a serpentine heat transfer system and a laser-welded absorber with PVD coating.

The Lochinvar/TiSUN Commercial Solar Pump Station is an all-in-one solar pumping package, complete with a differential solar control that offers eight different system capabilities and Btu metering. Available in three sizes, the pump station is designed to provide adequate flow through up to 1,000 square feet of collector area. The unit features a variable speed pump, flow meter, air separator, flush and fill valves, safety group and EPP two-piece installation.

The Commercial Solar Pump Station constantly monitors the collector and tank temperature; as the tank temperature cools below set-point and the difference between the two temperatures reaches a field adjustable differential-point, the control starts the circulation pump. If the variable speed pump feature is utilized, the differential control adjusts the speed of the pump to achieve the highest temperature difference between the collector and the tank. This large temperature difference harvests the solar heat in the most efficient manner possible, said the companies.

When the constant flow feature is used, the pump operates at a steady speed until the tank reaches its desired temperature or there is no longer a sufficient difference between the collector and the tank temperature to heat the tank.

The Lochinvar/TiSUN line also includes solar thermal system accessories, including control valves, automatic air vents, and flush and fill pumps.

“This partnership between Lochinvar and TiSUN is a natural fit, and we feel confident and well-prepared as we enter the expanding North American solar thermal market with this new-found synergy,” said Bill Vallett, president of Lochinvar Corp. “By harnessing TiSUN’s two decades of experience in the solar market and combining that expertise with Lochinvar’s position as a leading innovator within the heating industry, this advanced line is being brought to market by two manufacturers known throughout the world for superior quality, energy-efficient products.”

For more information, visit www.lochinvar.com.

Publication date:10/04/2010