Pauls Blog: Resolving lightning strikes and airlocks in the Isle of Sark

I was called out to Sark to resolve a life threatening emergency, no heating. During the week 18 inches of snow had fallen on Sark and lightning storms hit Clos Bourel, an energy project that has been running for 13 years and E-Si's offical R+D centre (renewables Research and Development). At the same time as 2 out of 3 controllers being taken out an airlock had developed leaving the two flats and main house without heating. First available boat I was able to get on was 8am Wed, with no hope of a day return to weather. I stayed on until Friday as the only other boat back was thurs at 11am. All resolved. Next job, hot water and battery upgrades.

Filled system, dearators whizzed out the air like a dream, switched on controls, more air out dearators, switched heat pump heat came through, switched parallel oil boiler all coming through, all circuits operating perfectly every flow massively hot, no air locks. Wonderful.

The excellent Spirovent dearator! We have and Mitsibushi ASHP and Worcester Bosch condensing oil boiler in parallel the oil boiler for backup in extreme cold weather only each with a Spirovent dearator.

The 28mm version of the Spirovent on the ASHP.

Paul commissioning the ASHP.

The scaffold ready for wind turbine erection.

Sarks main form of transport.

Further air eradication techniques. Watch the bubbles! Flush system with fresh water.

Simple but effective, look for bubbles and dirty water turning clear.

Bypass valve pushes water to heating system and back to purge outlet.

Leaving Sark harbour.

The magnificent Sark cliffs from the boat.

Leaving Sark with Jersey several miles in the background.

Arriving back at St Peter Port.