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Mark Polarolo

ITT-Tech Albany Capstone Project

Solar Heat Collector

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The Project

  • Solar heat collector for forced air.

The Client:

  • Adam Salzer
    • Excavator
    • Contractor
    • Fabricator
    • Enjoys working in his barn all year round.

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Clients Need

  • Free heat for his barn during the day in order to be able to comfortably enjoy the inside after he comes home from work.

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  • After the sun sets the client will be using a wood burning fireplace to maintain a comfortable work temperature

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  • Future plan of building an additional 4 panels on the front of the western side of the barn

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Barn Layout

  • 21' X 14' Interior with 9' ceilings
  • Slab floor
  • Fully Insulated
  • Main entry door on south side of barn
    • right next to the door is the first location of the solar collector.

Rendered with AutoDESK Revit

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The South View Solar Location

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Future Locations on West Wall

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South Wall Solar Heat Collector Specs:

  • 4'W X 6'H

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  • Wooden exterior with a clear glass face

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  • Intake ports on bottom with a 4 inch fan, and exhaust ports on top

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  • Made with as much reused material from previous projects in order to save on cost

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  • Sheet metal from an old shed to absorb heat.

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Heat Transfer Layout

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  • cool air enters collector from barn floor.

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  • The air is heated inside the collector.

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  • Warm air then is pushed into the barn from the top of the collector.

Adobe Photoshop

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The Resulting Design

A fan at the bottom of the panel will be connected to a thermostat.

Rendered in 3D Studio Max

Once a set temperature is reached, the fan will turn on resulting in the warm air being pushed out of the panel into the barn.

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Interior Sheet Metal Designs

3 total layers of sheet metal. One the full width of the collector and 2 cascading above to absorb and radiate the heat inside the panel

Rendered with Autodesk Inventor

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The Building Process

MATERIALS:

  • 1/4" THREADED ROD*
  • 2-1/2" WOODEN SPACERS*
  • 3 LAYERS OF SHEET METAL*
  • 1/4" FOIL FACED INSULATION
  • 1/8" THICK GLASS
  • 5/4: WOOD BOARDS*
  • NUT SPACERS*
  • SILICONE

*Material has been reused from previous buildings/projects

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Solar Heat Collector Construction

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Solar Heat Collector Cont.

Sheet Metal

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The Result

  • An actual solar heat collector created for my client.
  • He is still waiting to get paint so the shell of the collector can match the exterior of the barn.