From shed |
I plan to turn the shed into a regular storage shed now which requires covering the skylights to make the space useful. I'd rather not waste the solar potential of this building.
The construction of the roof is 2 x 6 inch rafters 24 inches on center. I would like to use the space between each rafter as a solar water heater. I found a plan for a solar water heater on the Internet at :
http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/WaterHeating/MSClosedLoop.pdf.
The plan appears to come from the Maine Solar Energy Association(http://www.mainesolar.org/). I think it can be adapted to my use.
From shed |
To use this building as a storage shed and solar water heater I'm going to have to move it. The first task will be to get the stuff that has accumulated out of it. And figure out the best way to move it half a mile across the fields.
Questions I have currently include:
1. Can a system like this produce hot water in a Minnesota winter?
2. Can the pro-sky roofing material withstand enough heat?
3. Does the pro-sky material allow enough solar energy through to heat water?
4. The plan has 1/2 inch copper pipes spaced six inches apart. Heat transfer plates available for in floor heat applications, which I'm planning to paint black and use as heat collectors are only four inches wide per pipe. Will it affect the function of the heater much if I place the pipes 4 inches apart instead of six?
5. The design of my building does not allow for space to fill the system using gravity - what is the best way to allow for pumping water into the system?
6. What's the best way to move this shed?