Completion of HYBRID Heating for Swimming Pool.

Paul "in the trenches" studying the new innovative high temperature pipework design by E-Si

We designed a way of getting hi-temp solar heat from 100m away to a pool house for hot water and central heating in a one-piece pipe, comprising of stainless steel, 22mm thick insulation, in a water-proof and vermin-proof duct. This is the connecting chamber for the 2 x flows and 2 x returns, each pipe a diameter of 25mm, before it goes into the pool house.

We had to strip down the modulating pump as water had through the factory seal into the electronics and it was tripping out the elecs. Dave, tech geek, put it back together after drying it out with a hairdryer and all is now fine.

We discovered the pump has got more brain cells than its installers and more computing power than first man's spaceship on the moon!

Paul lays his hand on the pipe, which we had waited for weeks - in the end we sent Craig to France to collect it ourselves.

400 metres of 90mm duct.

The Duct with pipe stuffed in it, snakes under the first greenhouse on its way to the second - the 'solar collection' greenhouse.

It was Jamie's job to connect two lengths (50+10m) here to extend to where the kit sat.

To the ASHP/Solar heating hybrid source.

Pauls Blog: Heat Pump / Solar Energy Solutions

I did some heat calcs for a new home/extension in Jersey today. The results and solutions will be of interest to many.

The Design Heat Loss @ -1C outside and 21C inside = 12.7kW. Allow for Hot Water at the same time, add 3kW = 15.7kW

Allow for Secondary Hot Water circulation at the same time, add 2kW = 17.7kW. There are several heating alternatives, depending on requirements. 1. Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) boreholes. 2. GSHP slinkies. 3. GSHP ground panels. 4. Air Source Heat Pump(s).The IVT GSHP comes with ‘direct electric’ backup built into the machine in case of high loss in cold weather or failure of the heat pump and requirement for extra hot water. The Mitsubishi  ASHP are ‘modulating’ as standard, which give flexibility in design and come in 5, 8.5 and 14kW variations. The IVT heat pumps come in outputs 9, 11, 13, 17kW and are ‘on-off’ types, so rely on the direct electric immersion for design flexibility.

Completion of 1kW Pv installation at Le Clos Bourel, Sark.

The newly completed 1kW installation, there will be a concrete plinth poured later under the panels around the blocks. This method enable our 'Away Team' to achieve a quick install, allowing the local maintenance team to complete the building works later.

 Fionn and Connor, 'Renewable Energy Engineers', make final electrical connections having completed the mechanics, showing how important it is to be multi-disciplinary.

Fionn and Connor complete the mechanical installation of the BP Solar grid tie installation in Clos Bourel, Sark. This is a unique install, see next photos and Situation Reports.

The Grid Tie Inverter produced 420W at 5.15pm as last wire was attached, with some shadow from a nearby apple tree. In full sun the output will be around 900 to 1000 watts.

The latest newsletter from Sark Electricity. Very positive, but very interesting the tone that really oil is becoming a big issue. Why does the e in their logo look like ours?!!!

The digital thermostat showing the Air Source Heat Pump heated hot water temperature of 54C.

Air Source Heat Pump 4th May 2011. I remember changing this over in the cold windy winter on my own!!! (Paul Fletcher, author).

Over time the terminal on this battery corroded. Today I repaired it by cutting away the lead around the screw threaded stub and reconnected it.

The battery room of Clos Bourel, 24 x 2V BP Solar battery cells, making 48V DC, feeding a 230V AC output Trace Inverter.

The Trace inverter output from the batteries peaked at 17A under observation. The assistance from the Trace ('grid-tied') SMA Sunny Boy greatly assisted the battery powered inverter under great load, and maintained good stability.

The normal 'base load' of Clos Bourel, 2A at 230V AC, demonstrating a constant input of at least 460W of Renewables are required to power the property in the summer. All other Renewables and the batteries are required to overcome the peaks (17A at 230V AC = 3.9kW). The main Trace Inverter is rated 4.5kW. This does not include the ASHP which at max will consume 3.5kW (we have tested batteries and 4.5kW inverter under load and its good). And at min will be 1kW input, intermittent. The next stage is to introduce a 1kW wind turbine to deal with the ASHP load specifically.

The beautiful and awe inspiring walk from the top of Sark down the hill to the Harbour.

CEO of E-Si and the Captain of the Sark boat (see in bridge) leaves the harbour.

Fionn the thoughtful on his way through the paradise of the channel islands. After a good days work in Sark back to Guernsey.

Approaching St Peter Port.

Luminaire, Torteval.

Photos from the final works at 'Luminaire' in Torteval, Guernsey.  The system will be commissioned tomorrow!

Liam completing hydronics at Luminaire, Torteval, commissioning tomorrow.

Fionn putting finishing touches to electrics over the top of Ground Source Heat Pump.

The Ghost in the Machine - the Niko Home Automation system box.

"The neatest Niko lighting control box I've ever seen" says E-Si CEO.

Daniel's magnificent house. A feat of modern, energy efficient, ecological architecture and mechanical and electrical installation. Heating and power went on today, client moves in tomorrow night! Hurrah!!!

Luminaire will be added to the Projects page at e-si.com very soon for more.

Jacks Blog: Le Clos Bourel and Sark away day.

I recently visited E-Si's R&D site, the Clos Bourel Energy Project in Sark to help build an alluminium frame for some Solar Photovoltaics.  Although it's not out of the norm to find me occasionaly on site, I am mostly always at the E-Si offices, so it was exciting as well as educational and interesting for me to take to the tools and best of all visit a small beautiful island as a bonus!

The jobs in hand for the day were constructing the frame for the Pv's and erect two wind turbines.

The team arrive on Sark and await the tractor coach to pick us up.

Renewable Energy Engineer Dave preparing the 1st Wind Turbine.

REE Fionn sorting cables for connection of turbine.

And the first one is up.

Fionn preparing the second.

Paul begins work on the frame.

Myself bolting the frame to the temporary concrete blocks.  The eventual plan is to have a concrete plinth poured later under the panels around the blocks.

 Solar panels by BP

The team discussing the next stage.

Panels already previosly installed on site by E-Si.

Back home to a much larger island.

Very enjoyable day and quite "Sark burnt" at the end of it.  Works to complete installation of turbines and panels are still required, expect some more bloggage on this soon.

Jack