SOLR 220 Solar Thermal Systems

Solar Thermal Systems teaches skills and knowledge needed for working with open-loop and closed-loop system configurations and situations. It emphasizes connection, programming, and troubleshooting problems system wide, supporting the knowledge needed for the NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) test for certified solar thermal system installer. It covers collectors, open-loop thermal systems, closed-loop thermal systems, output measurement, solar collector specifications, pumps, solar storage tanks, air vent and vacuum valves, check valves, system charging, freeze protection, analog controllers, draindown system operation, and overall system operation and performance.

Credits

2 Credits

Semester Contact Hours Lecture

15

Semester Contact Hours Lab

30

Prerequisite

Instructor Permission

SOLR 220Solar Thermal Systems

Please note: This is not a course syllabus. A course syllabus is unique to a particular section of a course by instructor. This curriculum guide provides general information about a course.

I. General Information

Department

Trade & Industry

II. Course Specification

Course Type

Program Requirement

Credit Hours Narrative

2 Credits

Semester Contact Hours Lecture

15

Semester Contact Hours Lab

30

Prerequisite Narrative

Instructor Permission

Grading Method

Letter grade

Repeatable

N

III. Catalog Course Description

Solar Thermal Systems teaches skills and knowledge needed for working with open-loop and closed-loop system configurations and situations. It emphasizes connection, programming, and troubleshooting problems system wide, supporting the knowledge needed for the NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) test for certified solar thermal system installer. It covers collectors, open-loop thermal systems, closed-loop thermal systems, output measurement, solar collector specifications, pumps, solar storage tanks, air vent and vacuum valves, check valves, system charging, freeze protection, analog controllers, draindown system operation, and overall system operation and performance.

IV. Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, a student will be able to:

• Describe the Types of Copper Tubing Used in Solar Thermal Systems
• Describe How Copper Tubing Is Specified
• Describe How to Select Copper Tubing for a Solar Thermal System
• Describe How to Identify Copper Tubing Stock
• Describe How to Cut and Prepare Copper Tubing
• Describe the Types of Fittings Used in Solar Thermal Systems
• Describe How to Install Threaded Fittings in Solar Thermal Components
• Describe the Processes of Brazing and Soldering
• Describe How to Solder Copper Tubing and Fittings
• Describe the Types of Mounting Hardware Used for Copper Tubing
• Describe How to Install Brackets and Hangers to Mount Copper Tubing
• Describe the Types of Insulation Used in Solar Thermal Systems
• Describe Where Insulation Should Be Applied to Solar Thermal Systems
• Describe How to Install Insulation in Solar Thermal Systems
• Describe the Effect of Expansion on Copper Tubing
• Describe How to Size Copper Tubing Length for a Solar Thermal System
• Describe the Type of Plastic Pipe Used in Solar Thermal Systems
• Describe How Plastic Pipe Is Specified
• Describe How to Select Plastic Pipe for a Solar Thermal System
• Describe How to Identify Plastic Pipe Stock
• Describe How to Cut and Prepare Plastic Pipe
• Describe the Types of Plastic Pipe Fittings Used in Solar Thermal Systems
• Describe How to Install Threaded Plastic Pipe Fittings in Solar Thermal Components
• Describe How to Assemble and Glue Plastic Pipe and Fittings
• Describe the Types of Array Mounting Methods
• Describe the Methods of Securing Collector Arrays to Structures
• Describe Methods of Weather Sealing Collector Roof Penetrations
• Describe How to Mount a Solar Storage Tank
• Describe How to Mount Solar Thermal Fluid Components
• Explain How to Mount Electrical Components in a Solar Thermal System
• Explain How to Select Electrical Conductors for a Solar Thermal System
• Describe How to Install Conductors in a Solar Thermal System
• Describe the Guidelines for Labeling Solar Thermal System Components
• Explain How to Perform an Initial Startup on a Solar Thermal System
• Describe the Construction of a Flat Plate Solar Collector
• Describe the Operation of a Flat-Plate Solar Collector
• Describe the Characteristics of a Heat Transfer Fluid
• Define Solar Collector Efficiency
• Describe the Thermal Characteristics of a Solar Collector
• Describe the Solar Collector Safety Rules
• Describe How to Manually Operate a Solar Thermal System
• Explain How Solar Collectors Are Rated
• Explain How Solar Collectors Are Specified
• Describe How to Connect and Operate an AC Solar Circulator Pump
• Describe the Operation of Flat-Plate Heat Exchangers
• Describe How to Connect a Solar Thermal Heat Exchanger
• Describe the Construction of a Solar Storage Tank
• Describe the Operation of a Digital Differential Controller
• Describe How to Connect and Operate a Digital Differential Controller
• Describe the Operation of a Residential Drainback Solar Thermal System
• Describe How to Program and Operate a Drainback Solar Thermal System
• Describe the Fluid Used in a Drainback Solar Thermal System
• Describe How to Fill a Drainback Solar Thermal System
• Describe the Causes of Drainback Solar Thermal System Faults
• Describe How to Troubleshoot a Drainback Solar Thermal System
• Describe the Operation of a Residential Pressurized Closed-Loop Solar Thermal System
• Describe How to Program and Operate a Pressurized Closed-Loop Solar Thermal System
• Describe How to Determine the Water/Glycol Mixture for a Pressurized Solar Thermal System
• Describe How to Fill and Charge a Pressurized Closed-Loop Solar Thermal System
• Describe the Causes of Pressurized Closed-Loop Solar Thermal System Faults
• Describe How to Troubleshoot a Pressurized Closed-Loop Solar Thermal System
• Describe the Construction of a Flat Plate Solar Collector
• Describe the Operation of a Flat-Plate Solar Collector
• Define Solar Collector Efficiency
• Describe the Thermal Characteristics of a Solar Collector
• Describe the Solar Collector Safety Rules
• Describe How to Manually Operate an Open Loop Solar Thermal System
• Explain How Solar Collectors Are Rated
• Explain How Solar Collectors Are Specified
• Describe the Operation of an AC Solar Circulator Pump
• Describe the Operation of a PV-Powered DC Pump
• Describe the Construction of an Open-Loop Solar Storage Tank
• Describe How a Conventional Water Heater Tank Can Be Modified for Use as an Open-Loop
• Describe the Operation of an Air Vent Valve
• Describe the Operation of a Vacuum Breaker Valve
• Describe the Operation of Check Valves Used in Solar Thermal Systems
• Describe the Operation of Solenoid Valves Used in Solar Thermal Systems
• Describe the Operation of a Motorized Ball Valve Used in Solar Thermal Systems
• Describe How to Test a Motorized Ball Valve in a Solar Thermal System
• Demonstrative Outcomes:
• Select Copper Tubing for a Solar Thermal System
• Identify Copper Tubing Stock Given a Specification
• Cut and Prepare Copper Tubing
• Identify Fitting Types Given a Sample
• Install Threaded Fittings in Solar Thermal Components
• Solder Copper Tubing and Fittings
• Install Brackets and Hangers to Mount Copper Tubing for a Solar Thermal System
• Install Insulation in Solar Thermal Systems
• Size Copper Tubing Lengths for a Solar Thermal System
• Select Plastic Pipe for a Solar Thermal System
• Identify Plastic Pipe Stock Given a Specification
• Cut and Prepare Plastic Pipe
• Identify Plastic Pipe Fitting Types Given a Sample
• Install Threaded Plastic Pipe Fittings in Solar Thermal Components
• Assemble and Glue Plastic Pipe and Fittings
• Install a Solar Thermal Fluid Subsystem
• Select Electrical Conductors for a Solar Thermal System
• Install the Electrical Subsystem of a Solar Thermal System
• Select Appropriate Labels for Solar Thermal System Components
• Perform an Initial Startup on a Solar Thermal System
• Manually Operate a Solar Thermal System
• Connect and Operate an AC Solar Circulator Pump
• Connect a Solar Thermal Heat Exchanger
• Connect and Operate a Digital Differential Controller
• Program and Operate a Drainback Solar Thermal System
• Fill a Drainback Solar Thermal System
• Troubleshoot a Drainback Solar Thermal System
• Program and Operate a Pressurized Closed-Loop Solar Thermal System
• Fill and Charge a Pressurized Closed-Loop Solar Thermal System
• Troubleshoot a Pressurized Closed-Loop Solar Thermal System
• Manually Operate an Open Loop Solar Thermal System
• Interpret Solar Collectors Specifications
• Connect and Operate an AC Solar Circulator Pump
• Connect and Operate a PV-Powered DC Pump
• Test an Air Vent Valve
• Test a Vacuum Breaker Valve
• Test a Motorized Ball Valve in a Solar Thermal System
• Connect and Operate a PV-Powered Open-Loop Solar Thermal System
• Connect an Open-Loop Solar Thermal System
• Troubleshoot a PV-Powered Open-Loop Solar Thermal System
• Connect and Operate a Digital Differential Controller
• Program and Operate an Automatic Draindown Solar Thermal System
• Program a Solar Thermal System's Controller to Use Optional Functions
• Troubleshoot a Draindown Solar Thermal System

V. Topical Outline (Course Content)

VI. Delivery Methodologies