Plumbing & Mechanical Engineer - Articles

Using hybrid PV/solar thermal systems

A CleanEnergyAuthority.com article explains the differences between two hybrid solar systems using photovoltaic cells to warm water

May 17, 2013

One takes waste heat and transfers it to a building’s water heating system and the other uses mirrors to concentrate the solar energy to one area of PV cells and a fluid heat transfer system.

Semi-finalists selected for geothermal competition

The U.S. Department of Energy selected four semi-finalists earlier this month to advance to the final round in the third annual National Geothermal Student Competition

May 17, 2013

Now in its third year, this cutting-edge effort at America’s leading research universities harnesses the excitement of geology and geoscience to explore solutions and technologies that could reduce the cost and risks of deploying geothermal energy.

Dual solar tubing with stainless-steel tubes

Flexsure’s dual solar tubing system connects supply and return lines between solar panels and a hot water storage tank.

May 17, 2013

Flexsure’s dual solar tubing system connects supply and return lines between solar panels and a hot water storage tank.

Geothermal systems ebook

The NEWS and AHRI released a 30-page ebook on helping contractors get into the growing geothermal market.

May 17, 2013

The NEWS and AHRI released a 30-page ebook on helping contractors get into the growing geothermal market.

Solar Thermal Report- Spring 2013: Solar thermal resources

Guide for installers is among the tools available to contractors and engineers.

Kelly Faloon

April 26, 2013

When we began publishing Solar Installer in 2008, our intent was to educate the readers of Plumbing & Mechanical about systems that use the renewable energy source of the sun to heat water and buildings. We

Solar Thermal Report- Spring 2013: PP-R to PEX transition

April 26, 2013

Aquatherm introduces a new polypropylene-random to PEX transition. The transitions, available in 1/2”, 3/4” and 1” sizes, are made from PP-R and brass.

Solar Thermal Report- Spring 2013: Hybrid drainback appliance

April 26, 2013

Wagner & Co. unveils its newest line of SECUSOL systems designed as standalone appliances for domestic hot water preparation.

Solar Thermal Report- Spring 2013: Setpoint control with variable-speed pump

tekmar’s Setpoint Difference Control 157 uses variable-speed pump operations to get more heat from a solar thermal system, even on less-than-ideal days.

April 26, 2013

tekmar’s Setpoint Difference Control 157 uses variable-speed pump operations to get more heat from a solar thermal system, even on less-than-ideal days.

Solar Thermal Report- Spring 2013: If I Made the Tanks, Part 1

What would an ideal pressurized thermal storage tank for a solar combisystem look like?

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

April 26, 2013

Residential solar combisystems provide domestic water heating and some percentage of space heating. Although less known than domestic hot water-only systems, combisystems can be practical and efficient if properly sized and designed.

Greenfield Industrial Projects to Grow

Service sector spurs surge in exports.

April 19, 2013

This year appears on track for a significant mix of industrial construction projects, according to Industrial Info Re-sources, an informational news source that tracks the progress of major construction on a daily basis.