solar control units: elegant, clearly laid out, versatile · ... solar control units are not only...

Solar thermal

The times when solar control units were enclosed in simple industrial boxes are long gone. Desi-gner housings and displays that show the user

the most important data for his system have been standard for a long time. The new Quad Solar from the Spanish company Sonder Regulación S.A. is such a device. “It is a mini solar controller to be installed, for example, in the kitchen, because it looks like a nice room thermostat, not like an industrial control unit”, says Albert Gaju of Sonder. The Quad Solar measures only 76 x 76 x 32 mm. It is available in versions for 24 VAC, 230 VAC with PTC2000 temperature sensors and in a 230 VAC version with PT1000 sensors.

In addition to the small Quad Solar, Sonder has also expanded the Allegro family (see table on page 56). The Allegro 500 is a dual-circuit controller for so-lar hot water installations; the Allegro 533 with its three outputs also provides the option for solar space heating. With the Allegro 576, Sonder has also launched a multifunction controller for apartment buildings. “We made the first controller specifically designed for vertical buildings”, says Gaju. A maxi-mum of 6 apartments by level can be supplied with solar heat by means of this control unit. Sonder has extended the temperature range of its PTC2000 sen-sors to up to 200 °C, and for the first time also offers

HBX from Canada integrates its control units into the compact solar station SolarBloc (on the left). Graphic: HBX

Production at Charmeg (background) Photo: Charmeg

Solar control units: elegant, clearly laid out, versatileNowadays, solar control units are not only there to

make sure that the solar heat gets from the collector to

the reservoir. Importance is also attached to their

design, and they have displays with a clear layout

which make life easier for the installer and

keep the end customer

informed about his

system.

Solar ControllerSSolar thermal

Sun & Wind Energy 2/200952

53

all models for PT1000 sensors. What is also new is the plug connection for sec-tion wire 2.5 mm2, which replaces the fixed connections to pcbs, and the LCD display equipped with pictograms.

Apart from the control units, the Spanish company has also developed a heat meter, which is installed in the same small box as the Quad Solar. A ra-diation and temperature sensor has also recently been added to the product range. Versions with SD memory for the data logger and for remote management are currently being worked on.

SD card for data logging

Data logging by means of an SD card has already been realized by the German company Steca GmbH for its TR 0502 (see S&WE 2/2008, page 74). The new controller TR 0603mc also has an SD card slot. In addition, it is equipped with a special data bus. “This ensures com-munication between the control unit and further Steca modules, such as the heat-ing circuit controller, the fresh water controller and additional extension units”, reports Stefan Oswald, Sales Manager for solar thermal products. The TR 0603mc is equipped with an addi-tional “direct sensor” input for the com-bined measurement of temperature and flow rate. Furthermore, Steca has devel-oped the easy-to-use evaluation and analysis software TS Analyzer 1, which is made available to the customers free of charge.

The company Sorel Mikroelektronik GmbH from Germany wants to extend the graphic evaluation options, to im-prove remote administration with a log-ging function via the Ethernet interface and to realize the control of energy- saving pumps. In the future, 14 menu languages will be available. “We are going to present our innovations at the ISH 2009”, says Sorel staff member Hyun-Il Kim.

The company Watts Industries Deutschland GmbH, a subsidiary of the American Watts Water Technologies Inc., will introduce the new LCD Plus for solar hot water installations to the market in 2009, another unit that provides data logging by means of an SD card. The de-vice has six inputs, five of which are for temperature sensors. There is also the option of connecting a pressure sensor here. The sixth input can be used either for a volume flow transmitter or a vortex flow sensor. Two of the three outputs are pump connections. “Both outputs allow rotation speed control to be performed, and they are suitable optionally for ei-ther standard or high-efficiency pumps”, says Product Manager Udo Link. By means of the third output, the LCD Plus can activate a valve or a further pump.

Brand-new sensors

Not only Steca and Watts have equipped their control units with inputs for direct digital sensors (vortex flow sensor, ab-breviated VFS). The market leader, Ger-man company Resol GmbH, presented the first solar station with direct digital sensors, the Flowcon D, almost two years ago at the ISH in Frankfurt. The primary advantage of the VFS is that it allows heat metering to be accomplished. But the sensors are also available with com-bined pressure and temperature mea-surement, which will allow new control functions to be realized in the future (see box on page 59).


The Quad Solar from the Spanish company Sonder presents the most important opera-ting data to the user of the installation in a small and attractive casing. Photo: Sonder

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Solar thermal


Solar ControllerS

the activation of the new energy-saving pumps, which save a lot of electricity thanks to an EC motor. Since the beginning of 2008, the government in Germany has paid a bonus for solar installations that are equipped with such high-efficiency pumps in the so-lar circuit. Apart from Resol, Watts and Technische Alternative, the company Prozeda GmbH from Germany has also launched a controller for high- efficiency pumps, the SR HE-M200. And the company Esaa Böhringer GmbH, also from Germany, has pro-vided the new Comfort series of its Sonja controller with a PWM output 0 to 10 V for energy-saving pumps. The new series has a graphic display, which shows the selected hydraulic system. A further innovation is the auto-adaptive control, for which a patent is pend-ing. “The temperature that is measured in the collec-tor is usually not the same as the temperature of the heat carrier. Due to this measurement error, the solar circuit pump lags behind, and the heat yield is reduced”, explains Managing Director Volker Böhringer. “The new method determines the actual temperature of the fluid during operation and auto-matically adjusts the conditions for switching on and off. The time of pump operation is reduced and the heat yield increased.”

System controllers: everything from one unit

There is an unbroken trend towards controllers that perform more and more tasks in one unit. Not only Sonder has launched a multifunction control unit. At Prozeda, the Solareg Master is in the pipeline, a con-trol system for intermediate to complex installations. “The Master will have a modular design, with one control unit and up to three power units”, says Sales Manager Alexander Kern. By means of the separation

Solareg MasterSystem controller with se-parate control and power units from Prozeda

Chillii System ControllerSystem controller for systems including solar cooling from Solarnext

Sol 3-1Controller for solar hot water installations from KT-Elektronik

TR 0603mcTriple circuit controller with new data bus from Steca

Trovis 5571-SolarSystem controller from KT-Elektronik

LCD plusA circuit controller from Watts

Allegro 576Multifunction controller from Sonder for solar installations in apartment buildings

ZPRSimple temperature diffe-rence control device from KT-Elektronik

ES 5911 STriple circuit controller from Tem

Merlin5064System controller from Elster Kromschröder

New solar controllers

All photos provided by the manufacturers

For the digital solar station, Resol has developed the controller Deltasol D, which the company sells on-ly as a component of solar stations and not as a sep-arate control unit. As the controller of the Flowcon D HE, the Deltasol D is also capable of activating high-efficiency pumps. In addition to that, Resol has im-proved the data logging. “We have equipped our da-ta logger DL2 with a LAN port, an SD card slot and a remote query function via PC or router”, says Technical Director Gerald Neuse.

Not only in Germany, but in Austria as well, sen-sors have been one of the most important topics over the last few months in the solar controller sector. “In 2008, we focussed exclusively on sensors”, says Kurt Fichtenbauer, the Managing Director of the Austrian company Technische Alternative GmbH. The new sen-sors measure wind, rain, humidity, the dew point, the pressure difference and the volume flow. In recent years, Technische Alternative has increasingly turned away from pure solar technology and towards the full range of building technology. Consequently, the com-pany is currently also developing sensors for O2 and CO2 as well as a filling level sensor. Also new: “The DL connection, which was originally designed for data logging, is now a real microbus for logging data from a wide variety of sensors and processed signals. De-pending on the control unit, it allows from six to six-teen additional signals to be imported”, reports Fich-tenbauer. “And the analogue outputs 0 to 10 V are now suitable for rotation speed control of the latest pump generation due to the switchover to pulse width modulation (PWM).”

Control of energy saving pumps

In recent months, many controller manufacturers have focused not only on direct sensors but also on

good reasons for choosing the DeltaSol® E

Solar thermal controller with:· 30 pre-programmed systems· Up to 5 programmable channels· Internal calorimeter· Weather-compensated heating circuit (extendable to 4)· User-friendly operation

www.resol.com

55

http://www.resol.de

Solar thermal


Solar ControllerS

Type of controller Number of inputs Number of outputs Display Own consumption [W] Number of predefined hydraulic schemes

Speed control of solar circuit pump

Heat volume metre Integrated data logger

Interfaces Remote data transmission

Gross list price [¤]

Controllers for solar systems for domestic hot water

Charmeg, Greece Integra 3P 3 2 LED 3 2 no no no no no 133.50

Dolder, Switzerland Sora-WL 5 1 LCD 6 1.7 to 2.1 1 optional yes no no no 273.60

Elster Kromschröder, Germany

Lago SD1 3 1 LCD 3 2 no n/a no no no 198.90

Hanazeder, Austria FP-1 5 1 LCD 6 ~ 2 freely programmable yes yes yes RS232 yes 180.00 22

HBX, Canada Sol-0100 2 1 LCD 6 n/a n/a yes n/a yes yes yes n/a

KT-Elektronik, Germany Sol 3-1 2 1 LCD 7 0.7 1 optional 17 no pluggable memory module

RS232, RS485 optional

yes 20 167.00

IMC, Germany Basis-10 3 2 LCD < 4 at customer’s request optional no no RS232 optional optional n/a

Prozeda, Germany SR HE-M200 3 1 LCD 7 0.5 1 yes no no no no n/a

Resol, Germany Deltasol BS 4 2 LCD 5 ~ 2 2 yes yes no 18 Resol VBus yes 318.90

Sonder, Spain Quad Solar 2 1 LCD 1.6 3 optional no partial no no 155.00

Sorel, Germany TDC2 3 2 LCD and LED 5 2 2 yes yes yes USB or Ethernet optional

optional n/a

Steca, Germany TR 0301sc 3 1 animated LCD 5 ≤ 1.0 1 yes no yes no no n/a

Technische Alternative, Austria

ESR21 3 1 LCD 1 4 10 yes yes no DL- Bus yes 128.00 to 143.00

Tem, Switzerland ES 5911 S 5 3 LCD 5 n/a 9 yes yes no eBus yes n/a

Watts, USA LCD plus 6 3 LCD 5 n/a 6 yes yes no SD card optional n/a

Controllers for solar systems for domestic hot water and solar space heating

Charmeg, Greece Cicada MVC 4 3 LED 3 7 no no no RS232 yes 142.00

Dolder, Switzerland Sora-WX 8 6 1 LCD 5 max. 3.8 19 13 yes yes yes no no 460.30


Merlin5064V3 13 11 LCD 10 11 no no external CAN, eBus yes 650.00

Hanazeder, Austria FP-3 9 3 LCD 2 to 3 freely programmable yes yes yes RS232 yes 274.00 22

HBX, Canada Eco-01000 6 14 LCD 6 n/a n/a no n/a yes yes yes n/a

KT-Elektronik, Germany Sol 3-7 9 7 LCD 7 0.9 74 optional 17 yes pluggable memory module


yes 19 417.00

IMC, Germany Basis-20.6 6 3 LCD 6 < 4 at customer’s request optional yes yes RS232 optional n/a

Resol, Germany Deltasol BS Plus 4 2 LCD 5 ~ 2 9 yes yes no 18 Resol VBus yes 389.10

Sonder, Spain Allegro 533 3 3 LCD 5 2.9 7 optional yes partial no no 185.00


optional n/a

Steca, Germany TR 0603mc 7 2 4 animated LCD 5 ≤ 2.0 40 yes yes yes RS232, RS485, SD card, TPC1 Bus

yes n/a


UVR61-3 6 1 to 3 LCD 6 2 44 14 yes yes no DL- Bus yes 177.00 to 248.00

Tekmar, Canada Tekmar 157 3 2 LCD 6 3 4 yes yes no n/a no n/a

Tem, Switzerland PS 5512 SZ 7 5 LCD n/a 85 yes yes no eBus yes n/a

Multi-functional controllers

Charmeg, Greece Ultra 4 3 LCD 6 4 12 no no no RS485 optional yes 225.00 2

Dolder, Switzerland Sora-W 9 3 1 LCD 5 max. 3.8 17 13 yes yes yes no no 364.00


Merlin I/O5064V4 13 11 LCD 10 11 no no no/external CAN, eBus yes 810.00

Hanazeder, Austria FP-10 17 10 LCD 6 2 to 6 freely programmable yes yes yes RS232 yes 734.00 11

KT-Elektronik, Germany Trovis 5571-Solar 17 16 LCD 5 1.6 104 yes yes pluggable memory module

RS232, RS485, Mod-bus, M-BUS

yes 1940.00

Prozeda, Germany SC 600 27 expandable up to 81

18 expandable up to 54

Touchscreen 9 3 to 5 at customer’s request yes yes yes SPI, USB Micro SD yes n/a

Resol, Germany Deltasol E 12 7 LCD 5 ~ 4 30 15 yes yes no 18 Resol VBus yes 560.50

Solarnext, Germany Chillii System Con-troller

60 70 Touchscreen 6 14 user-definable 16 yes yes yes Ethernet, CAN-Bus optional n/a

Sonder, Spain Allegro 576 8 7 LCD 3.2 19 optional yes partial no no 460.00


optional n/a

Steca, Germany TR 0704 7 3 4 4 LCD ≤ 3.0 74 yes yes yes RS232, IS-Bus yes n/a


UVR1611 16 11 to 14 LCD 6 3 freely programmable yes yes no DL-Bus, CAN-BUS yes 500.00 8

Tekmar, Canada Tekmar 363 4 5 LCD 6 n/a 1 20 yes no no n/a no n/a

Tem, Switzerland PM 2975 OGZ 12 15 LCD 5 n/a n/a n/a no no eBus yes n/a

Overview of solar controllers

From the simple control device for a solar hot water installation up to system controllers for complex heating systems, solar cooling or building automation, the solar controller market offers a wealth of models for every purpose. Source: Manufacturers‘ information as of December 2008

Sun & Wind Energy 2/2009 57

Type of controller Number of inputs Number of outputs Display Own consumption [W] Number of predefined hydraulic schemes

Speed control of solar circuit pump

Heat volume metre Integrated data logger

Interfaces Remote data transmission

Gross list price [¤]

Controllers for solar systems for domestic hot water

Charmeg, Greece Integra 3P 3 2 LED 3 2 no no no no no 133.50

Dolder, Switzerland Sora-WL 5 1 LCD 6 1.7 to 2.1 1 optional yes no no no 273.60


Lago SD1 3 1 LCD 3 2 no n/a no no no 198.90

Hanazeder, Austria FP-1 5 1 LCD 6 ~ 2 freely programmable yes yes yes RS232 yes 180.00 22

HBX, Canada Sol-0100 2 1 LCD 6 n/a n/a yes n/a yes yes yes n/a

KT-Elektronik, Germany Sol 3-1 2 1 LCD 7 0.7 1 optional 17 no pluggable memory module


yes 20 167.00

IMC, Germany Basis-10 3 2 LCD < 4 at customer’s request optional no no RS232 optional optional n/a

Prozeda, Germany SR HE-M200 3 1 LCD 7 0.5 1 yes no no no no n/a

Resol, Germany Deltasol BS 4 2 LCD 5 ~ 2 2 yes yes no 18 Resol VBus yes 318.90

Sonder, Spain Quad Solar 2 1 LCD 1.6 3 optional no partial no no 155.00


optional n/a

Steca, Germany TR 0301sc 3 1 animated LCD 5 ≤ 1.0 1 yes no yes no no n/a


ESR21 3 1 LCD 1 4 10 yes yes no DL- Bus yes 128.00 to 143.00

Tem, Switzerland ES 5911 S 5 3 LCD 5 n/a 9 yes yes no eBus yes n/a

Watts, USA LCD plus 6 3 LCD 5 n/a 6 yes yes no SD card optional n/a

Controllers for solar systems for domestic hot water and solar space heating

Charmeg, Greece Cicada MVC 4 3 LED 3 7 no no no RS232 yes 142.00

Dolder, Switzerland Sora-WX 8 6 1 LCD 5 max. 3.8 19 13 yes yes yes no no 460.30


Merlin5064V3 13 11 LCD 10 11 no no external CAN, eBus yes 650.00

Hanazeder, Austria FP-3 9 3 LCD 2 to 3 freely programmable yes yes yes RS232 yes 274.00 22

HBX, Canada Eco-01000 6 14 LCD 6 n/a n/a no n/a yes yes yes n/a

KT-Elektronik, Germany Sol 3-7 9 7 LCD 7 0.9 74 optional 17 yes pluggable memory module


yes 19 417.00

IMC, Germany Basis-20.6 6 3 LCD 6 < 4 at customer’s request optional yes yes RS232 optional n/a

Resol, Germany Deltasol BS Plus 4 2 LCD 5 ~ 2 9 yes yes no 18 Resol VBus yes 389.10

Sonder, Spain Allegro 533 3 3 LCD 5 2.9 7 optional yes partial no no 185.00


optional n/a

Steca, Germany TR 0603mc 7 2 4 animated LCD 5 ≤ 2.0 40 yes yes yes RS232, RS485, SD card, TPC1 Bus

yes n/a


UVR61-3 6 1 to 3 LCD 6 2 44 14 yes yes no DL- Bus yes 177.00 to 248.00

Tekmar, Canada Tekmar 157 3 2 LCD 6 3 4 yes yes no n/a no n/a

Tem, Switzerland PS 5512 SZ 7 5 LCD n/a 85 yes yes no eBus yes n/a

Multi-functional controllers

Charmeg, Greece Ultra 4 3 LCD 6 4 12 no no no RS485 optional yes 225.00 2

Dolder, Switzerland Sora-W 9 3 1 LCD 5 max. 3.8 17 13 yes yes yes no no 364.00


Merlin I/O5064V4 13 11 LCD 10 11 no no no/external CAN, eBus yes 810.00

Hanazeder, Austria FP-10 17 10 LCD 6 2 to 6 freely programmable yes yes yes RS232 yes 734.00 11

KT-Elektronik, Germany Trovis 5571-Solar 17 16 LCD 5 1.6 104 yes yes pluggable memory module

RS232, RS485, Mod-bus, M-BUS

yes 1940.00

Prozeda, Germany SC 600 27 expandable up to 81

18 expandable up to 54

Touchscreen 9 3 to 5 at customer’s request yes yes yes SPI, USB Micro SD yes n/a

Resol, Germany Deltasol E 12 7 LCD 5 ~ 4 30 15 yes yes no 18 Resol VBus yes 560.50

Solarnext, Germany Chillii System Con-troller

60 70 Touchscreen 6 14 user-definable 16 yes yes yes Ethernet, CAN-Bus optional n/a

Sonder, Spain Allegro 576 8 7 LCD 3.2 19 optional yes partial no no 460.00


optional n/a

Steca, Germany TR 0704 7 3 4 4 LCD ≤ 3.0 74 yes yes yes RS232, IS-Bus yes n/a


UVR1611 16 11 to 14 LCD 6 3 freely programmable yes yes no DL-Bus, CAN-BUS yes 500.00 8

Tekmar, Canada Tekmar 363 4 5 LCD 6 n/a 1 20 yes no no n/a no n/a

Tem, Switzerland PM 2975 OGZ 12 15 LCD 5 n/a n/a n/a no no eBus yes n/a

1 additional output 0 - 10 VDC optional; 2 with RS4853 inter-face 260; 3 expandable up to 23; 4 expandable up to 16; 5 display of hydraulic schemes and background illuminated; 6 background illuminated; 7 with pictograms; 8 without accessories; 9 hydraulic schemes on request; 10 4 basic schemes with 10 programmes; 11 including sensor package; 12 more on request; 13 can be combined with extension functions; 14 44 basic schemes with 620 programmes; 15 expandable; 16 combination user-definable from 12 basic components (solar, reservoir, heat generator, cooling unit, recooling system, etc.) ; 17 available from mid-2009; 18 suitable for external connection via interface; 19 also via SMS by means of modem module; 20 incorporating solar storage tank

Solar thermal


into an operation component and a connection com-ponent, Prozeda wants to achieve optimal handling as well as optimal cabling of the overall system. With three of the power units, which con-

tain the inputs and outputs, the impressive number of 54 outputs and 81 inputs will be available. The Solareg Master is designed to control facilities that consist of heating systems with several mixed cir-cuits, solar installations with one or two collector ar-rays and several reservoirs, or facilities that are

equipped with heat pumps and systems for fresh water heating. The user is not required to perform any programming. “The customer can either fall back on existing regulation schemes, or – if desired, and if the corresponding quantity is purchased – we can realize customer-specific functions for him”, explains Kern. The control unit of the Master is equipped with a touch screen.

The company Elster Kromschröder GmbH from Germany has extended the capabilities of its system controller Merlin by adding solar functions. The Merlin system can control the entire range of heating technology: mixed heating circuits, swimming pools, various types of heat generators including pellet-fired boilers and heat generator cascades. The version Merlin I/O5064V4 even allows a heat pump to be in-tegrated.

The Berlin-based company KT-Elektronik GmbH is a newcomer in the field of solar control systems. With

17 inputs and 16 outputs, its controller Trovis 5571 offers a wide range of options. Since 2005, the freely programmable device has been sold for applications such as the control of boiler systems, heat exchanger sequential circuits or ventilating systems. “In 2008, we developed a new solar application for the Trovis”, says KT-Elektronik staff member Pablo Sanz. Apart from that, KT-Elektronik also offers the simple tem-perature difference control system ZPR, equipped with two inputs and one output and designed for top hat rail mounting. The desired temperature difference and the maximum or set temperature, respectively, can be adjusted at the control unit.

The solar controller family is complemented by two new models: the single circuit controller Sol3-1 for solar hot water systems, and the Sol3-7, which has nine inputs and seven outputs and thus offers a wide range of potential applications that exceeds that of a simple heating support system. It additionally al-lows a heating circuit to be controlled that is equipped with a mixer control system for adjusting the supply flow temperature according to outside and room tem-peratures. For the purpose of auxiliary heating, the controller can activate not only a boiler, but also an electrical device or a district heating system.

A special solar installation controller has been developed by the company Solarnext AG from Rimsting, Germany – a control system for solar heat-ing and cooling. The market launch is envisaged for 2009. “Our Chillii System Controller is a true system controller that controls everything from heat and cold generation to their distribution”, says Technical Director Uli Jakob.

The Austrian company Hanazeder electronic GmbH offers a whole new family of controllers, com-prising five types from the single circuit controller FP1 up to the FP10 with ten outputs. All the devices allow pump rotation speed to be controlled. The FP1 is equipped with four sensor inputs, the FP10 with 15. The user can choose between the sensor types NTC3kOhm, KTY81-110 and PT1000. Furthermore, the small controllers (FP1, FP2 and FP3) have one dig-ital input, the larger ones (FP6 and FP10) have two. The installer can carry out parameterization either di-rectly on the device itself or on a PC. For this purpose, he can connect the solar controller to the computer via a null modem cable, an analogue or GSM modem. In this way, he can also read the integrated data log-ger. “Remote maintenance is possible as well”, re-ports Georg Priewasser of Hanazeder. Gradual boiler activation can also be realized, and, from the three-circuit system upwards, even mixer circuit control based on the outside temperature. For mixer circuit control, a room temperature controller and a room sensor are optional.

Yet another new solar controller comes from Switzerland. The company Tem AG from Chur has launched the ES 5911 S, which has one output more than the type ES 5910 presented in the previous year. In addition, the device has a function that prevents the thermal overload of the collector or the reservoir. “As soon as a predefined temperature is reached in

The Deltasol D from Resol is a spe-cial controller for the solar station Flowcon D, which is equipped with direct sensors. The station’s design has received the IF Product Design Award. Photo: Resol

Solar ControllerS

http://www.ta.co.at

Sun & Wind Energy 2/2009 59

The measurement of the volume flow is accomplished using the vortex principle without any moving parts. If a fluid flows against a body, a vortex forms downstream of that body, and vortex frequency is a measure of flow velocity. This method is well suited to mixtures of glycol and water, since it is almost completely independent of the viscosity, the temperature and the pressure of the medium. Graphic: Grundfos

Know the yield

w w w . s t e c a . c o m

PV O

FF G

RID

PV G

RID

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Simple as that.TR 0603mc*

Analysis Software TS Analyzer 1

* One PC and the system controller TR 0603mc with SD-card will do to control your solar energy system!

Steca TR 0603mc saves ope-rating data and balance values directly on SD-card, TS Analyzer 1 visualizes the system results.

Steca_SunWindEnergy_6_08_71x297_1 1 11.11.2008 10:39:14

which sensor type is connected. This sim-plifies parameterization, eliminates po-tential error sources and will allow self-adaptive control systems to be realized in the future. Verdirk: “Heating systems are becoming more and more compli-cated. Therefore, plug-and-play systems should be the aim.” With the help of the VFS the control strategy can be opti-mized. “It would be possible to rapidly achieve a usable temperature level at first, but then to adjust the controller for maximum performance instead of tem-perature difference control”, says Verdirk. � Jens-Peter�Meyer

Further information:Grundfos Sensors A/S: www.grundfos.com/directsensors

Depending on the application, Grundfos offers a series of direct sensors. The model VFS 1-12 QT has been designed especially for low-flow solar installations; it can measure the flow down to a rate of 1 litre per minute. Photo: Grundfos

“It is our goal that function control and energy balancing by means of our sensors be-come the standard in solar technology – on the mass market, and not just for large-scale solar installations”, says Michael Verdirk, Sales Manager OEM at the Danish company Grundfos Sensors A/S from Bjerringbro. Just over a year ago, Grundfos presented a new gen-eration of sensors, the so-called direct sensors, which measure the vortex flow (VFS), pressure difference (DPS) or the pressure (RPS) directly in the fluid, and the temperature at the same time.

The sensors provide new possibili-ties of function control. This is important, since faults in the system, or even instal-lation errors, are frequently not detected because the boiler supplies enough heat all the time. In addition, the amount of heat can be calculated from the volume flow and the temperature, so that the sensor allows the yield of the solar in-stallation to be measured. “The photo-voltaic sector has taught us how impor-tant it is to visualize yield”, says Verdirk. “Now, manufacturers and installation companies can indicate flawless function in displays for solar thermal installations as well, and thus guarantee a certain yield of solar heat.”

Furthermore, the sensors transmit a code to the control unit, so that it knows

http://www.stecasolar.com


the collector or in the reservoir, a valve or a pump can be switched on to prevent the impending overheat-ing. The hot medium is then cooled down, for exam-ple by means of a fan. We have developed this func-

tion especially for the countries of Southern E urope”, explains Managing Director Hans Saba. In addition to that, Tem has developed a central operating device for the complete heat-ing system. Various controller components, such as the boiler controller, the heating circuit zone controller and the solar controller are merged into a central operating device, with which the entire heating system can be pro-grammed and supervised.

Compact units

In 2007, Tem presented a solar circuit pump with an integrated control system. Compact solutions are al-so being developed in Canada. Tamas Hydronic Systems Inc. offers solar blocs, which combine all the components of the solar station in a very confined space. The corresponding control devices are pro-duced by HBX Control Systems Inc., which also has its headquarters in Calgary. From the single circuit controller Sol-0100 to the multifunctional unit Eco-01000 with 14 outputs, HBX produces the entire range of solar controllers. The company Tekmar Con-trol Systems Ltd. is also based in Canada. It has launched the two models Tekmar 156 and 157 (see S&WE 2/2008, page 74). The Tekmar 157 provides the option of switching the solar pump on and off,

Hanazeder has brought a whole family of new controllers onto the market. Photo: Hanazeder

Tekmar 363Multifunction controller Photo: Tekmar

and also offers variable speed with four modes of op-eration: external heat exchanger pump, supplemen-tal heat pump, heat dump pump, and booster pump for drain back applications. The rotation speed con-trol is of advantage in the case of low solar irradiation and reduces the electricity consumption of the pump during the time when it is running at a low speed.

A new controller has also been presented by the company Charmeg Theodorou V. – Igoumenidis G. C.o. from Greece. The version E of the three-circuit controller Ultra can be connected to the computer di-rectly or via a router. Data transmission via internet is also possible. Charmeg has built an innovative fea-ture into all of its control units, the so-called “probe sharing”. “Using this method, one or more control-lers of the same or different types can share the same temperature sensor”, explains Vasilios Theodorou. Thereby, the number of sensors and connection cables can be reduced, and thus the time needed for installation can be shortened.

The development of solar controllers is proceed-ing at a fast pace and there is no end in sight for a long time yet. What are the tasks for the future? The controllers will have better capabilities for controlling the functions of solar installations than they do today. They will send error messages, especially for larger systems, directly to the service provider via internet or SMS. And their parameterization will be simplified further in order to allow the installer to adjust the so-lar heat installation correctly, so that it can provide as high a solar yield as possible for the customer.

Jens-Peter Meyer

Further information:Dolder Electronic AG: www.dolder-electronic.ch Charmeg Theodorou V. – Igoumenidis G. C.o.: www.charmeg.grEsaa Böhringer GmbH: www.esaa.deHanazeder electronic GmbH: www.hanazeder.atHBX Control Systems Inc.: www.hbxcontrols.comIMC Solar: www.imc-solar.deKT - Elektronik GmbH: www.kt-elektronik.deElster GmbH (Kromschröder): www.kromschroeder.deProzeda GmbH: www.prozeda.deResol GmbH: www.resol.deSolarnext AG: www.solarnext.deSonder Regulación S.A.: www.sonder.esSorel Mikroelektronik GmbH: www.sorel.deSteca GmbH: www.steca.deTamas Hydronic Systems Inc.: www.tamashydronic.comTechnische Alternative GmbH: www.ta.co.atTekmar Control Systems Ltd.: www.tekmarcontrols.com Tem AG: www.tem.chWatts Industries Deutschland GmbH: www.wattsindustries.com

Solar thermal Solar ControllerS

With a critical eye, the employee checks the machine’s work. Photo: Charmeg

internationalinformativeindependent

internationalinformativeindependent

SUN & WIND ENERGY 4/2009 will be published in April 2009 and informs about 25,000 professionals worldwide on the top themes in the sector.

Your contact persons: Christian Krosse Yvonne Müller Tobias Fedeler

Phone: +49 521 595 581 Phone: +49 521 595 575 Phone: +49 521 595 583

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Advertising deadline : 13th March 2009

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Anzeige_BlueTec_en_pfade.pdf 05.01.2008 18:52:48

9,50 € • International issue

ISSN 1861-2741 74714 www.sunwindenergy.com

World map of solar thermal industry



6/20

08

6/20

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PHOTOVOLTAICSChecking cells during production

TECHNOLOGYInverters: progress in detail

SOLAR THERMALHeating in hotels: investment for the future

WIND ENERGY

Booming market in France

THE MAGAZINE for Renewable Energies

thermal industryEco pioneers in Scandinavia

COUNTRY SPECIALEco pioneers in Eco pioneers in ScandinaviaScandinavia

COUNTRY SPECIAL

Highlights of S&WE 4/2009Photovoltaics„ New developments in thin fi lm

„ Does certifi cation guarantee quality?

„ Storage technologies: an overview

Solar thermal„ Pumping stations

„ Solar thermal in Australia

„ Dream Team: heat pumps and collectors

Wind energy„ Building up a supply chain in the US

„ Wind power market in North America

Biomass„ Pellet markets worldwide

Country specials„ Renewables in Portugal

„ Czech Republic catching up in renewables

Don’t miss your opportunity to reach the fast-growing renewable energy market. SUN & WIND ENERGY truly is “The guidepost of the renewable energy community”. Point out the way to your company! Call today to secure your successful advert in the next issue of SUN & WIND ENERGY. Let us talk about your individual advertising campaign.

International issue





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