Thermal solar heat - Free energy right above you

At its peak, 80% of thermal solar energy can be converted into usable heat. In conjunction with the quick direct storage of the heat in the REM hot water storage tank, the enormously high thermal efficiency of the flat thermal solar panels guarantees a high energy yield even with relatively short solar radiation.

It was against the background of these requirements that the REM Solaris was developed and a completely innovative thermal solar system created. If the thermal solar heat is not consumed immediately, it can be stored in the REM solar storage tank to be used several hours or even a day later.

Condensing Boiler and thermal solar energy - The ideal combination

By using free thermal solar energy and a condensing boiler for heating and hot water, you can reduce your ongoing energy costs to a relatively low level in the long term. The consumption of additionally required fossil fuel is reduced to a minimum by using a condensing boiler for oil or gas.

REM Solaris is based on a storage tank concept which is fundamentally different from conventional systems. The storage tank water is supplied directly and without a heat exchanger to the thermal solar panels, heated and then stratified into the storage tank.

The heat is not stored in the domestic water, as is often the case, but in the separate unpressurised storage tank water. This ensures that the efficiency of the solar thermal panels and the overall use of the system are again considerably increased.

The Solaris just-in-time principle

The solar thermal panels are only filled if there is enough heat from the sun and if the storage tank system can absorb heat. In this case, both pumps on the regulation and pump unit (RPS) switch on quickly and fill the solar panels with storage tank water.

After the filling process: which takes less than a minute, the pump switches off and the water circulation is maintained by the remaining frequency inverter driven pump - this pump varies the flow rate through the panels so that the optimum flow rate is passing through the panel at all times.

Sanicube Solaris - The perfect stratified storage tank

The storage tank container in the REM Sanicube Solaris is made of solid plastic with a double shell. The space between the inside and outside container has excellent foam heat insulation.

In the inside, depending on the design, there are two to four heat exchangers made of stainless steel corrugated pipe. The 500 litre tank is filled up once with unpressurised tap water without additives. The Sanicube Solaris is divided into two main areas: The top one, always the warm part - the process water area and the lower colder part - the thermal solar area.

The right temperature in each stratification

In thermal solar systems it is important that the heat storage tank has the best possible pronounced temperature stratification behaviour. Temperature stratification is therefore possible since hot water is lighter than cold water and rises upwards. In the top part of the storage tank the process water is heated. This is where high temperatures are in control to ensure that there is always enough hot water available.

The water is stored in the lower part of the storage tank and is supplied to thermal solar operation directly to the solar panels. The colder the water which flows through the solar panels is, the more efficiently they operate.

This is how we take everything out

The cold fresh water is fed into the deepest point of the storage tank container in the stainless steel heat exchanger. From there, it is taken upwards through the stainless steel corrugated pipe acting as a heat exchanger and heated according to the instantaneous water heater principle. This ensures that the temperature in the lowest part of the storage tank, from where the thermal solar panels are supplied with water, is cooled to the maximum.

This type of water conduction generates stable, strong and definite temperature stratification in the storage tank. The low heat conductivity of the plastic container wall favours and stabilises the stratification behaviour. Unlike metal storage tanks, practically no heat is conducted downwards in the tank wall.

As a result of its structure, the REM Sanicube Solaris is optimal from a water hygiene perspective.

Domestic water is exclusively located in one pipe avoiding the production of deposits such as sludge and rust, which can occur in other containers. In addition, the water that is stored first is also the first to be removed, working on the first-in, first-out principle.

The outstanding water hygiene advantages of this type of hot water storage tank were confirmed by extensive research carried out by the Hygiene Institute of Tübingen University.

The domestic hot water heat exchanger held within the thermal store is connected to the incoming mains cold water system, when the hot outlet is opened mains cold water is drawn through the heat exchanger which heats the cold water to the stored temperature and therefore delivers mains pressure and mains quality hot water out of the draw off point.

As the water that comes out of the hot draw off point is the heated mains water, the quality of the water is high, unlike traditional cylinders that have a large volume of stagnant water which is a natural breeding ground for bacteria and germs. A short term draw off rate of 35 l/min of hot water can be drawn off which is equivalent to five showers draw off at the same time.

Legionella bacteria 

There are approximately 35 types of legionella. At least 17 of these are pathogenic, with the most common being:

• Pontiac fever - Flu-like symptoms which improve after a few days
• Legionnaire's disease - Severe bacterial lung infection, which is fatal in 15 to 20% of cases

The combined thermal solar system utilises a water hygiene process that significantly eliminates the risk associated with stagnant water and these bacteria.

Always ready - The thermal solar system

The Solaris high-performance thermal solar panels convert almost all of the shortwave solar radiation into heat through their highly selective coating. As soon as the temperature of the water contained in the thermal solar panel in the solar zone exceeds a predetermined value, the digital Solaris control starts the charging process.

Suitable for any roof

Since all buildings are different, there are various installation options for fitting the REM flat thermal solar panels onto the roof. The solar panels can be fitted onto the tiles on top of the roof, integrated within the roof or mounted onto specially-made frames for a flat roof. The three different thermal solar panel sizes mean there is flexibility in adapting to different roof characteristics.

To view the technical data please click on this link REM Solaris Technical Data

It should be noted that if a pressurised thermal solar system is fitted then the anti-freeze that must be fitted with these systems has a life span, as the UV light decays the thermal properties of the anti-freeze. This means that regular maintenance of pressurised panels is necessary with replacement of the anti-freeze required periodically.

In times when the usage of the thermal solar panel is less than the solar yield, pressurised systems will also require an over pressurisation protection system. This can particularly occur if the property is unoccupied for a period of time over a high solar yield period i.e. summer holidays.

If the pressure safety valve has discharged, again a costly service visit is required to refill and recharge the solar system.

These maintenance issues do not occur with the REM thermal solar energy system as the panel is unpressurised and not filled when freezing occurs, the solar panel will only fill if solar yield can be withdrawn from the panel to the store, which means the panel cannot freeze nor boil.

Since the system is unpressurised, components which would otherwise be required are not necessary, such as the expansion tank, pressure relief valve, pressure gauge and heat exchanger. Not only does this reduce the cost of the initial investment, it also increases operational safety.