Vac tube failure

Ron Huber_2

are you using this system for DHW only? I have decided that 30 tubes on an 80 gallon tank is undersized and am considering adding 20 more of just going to flat plates.

Derheatmeister

Vac tube failures! HM

Is anyone seeing premature failures on vacuum tube collectors?

I just looked at a system that is only 7 years old and most of the tubes are ether broke or there is water in them !

The Exchanger(manifolds) are corroded and also leaking!


System is at 10000 feet (Montezuma Colorado)

These are 60 tubes(3 X 20 Thermomax Tubes)

They are installed at 55 deg.(40 + 15 for Space Heat)

Storage is plenty( sized for the Array)

system was cleaned and Glycol's at -30 F

Yearly Maintained.

Stecca TR 301 Controller.

Does High altitude/Low temps kill these Tubes?
I've seen windows lose there seal at Altitude!

Although these tubes have a thermostat that is supposed to protect the tubes,can stagnating kill these tubes?

I seen some Viessmann tubes do weird things too, they did warranty them !(Same Tube better exchanger)

This is a shame, all this work and embodied energy for only 7 years of operation!

Back to what works (Flat plates)??

What is everyone else seeing?

Any remarks/comments/advise are greatly appreciated!

Thanks Richard from Heatmeister.

Ron Huber_2

bad batch

We had tubes on two systems (one tube on one and two on the other) go bad. Of the three tubes two actually blew out the bottom of the tube, one looked like someone took a glass cutter to it. The one thing all three had in common was that it looked like something blew out on the backside of the absorber, towards the top, had a white powder residue that was very visible once you looked on the back. All these tubes were from around August of last year and did not show up until early this summer, none of these systems stagnated.

Paul B_5

I've Run my Bank of 60 thermomax tubes for 8 years now with no issues at all. Pump is PV powered . Storage is undersized (120 Gal) need about 40 more> so they run hot. Angle is 54 degrees for my 44 deg N. latitude. Paul.

Derheatmeister

DHW is on the Priority .

After that is satisfied it goes into the heating system and if that is satisfied it has a dump load.

Metro Man

Dare Heat Mistro

I dare you to come from the dark side Miester Mon. Flat plate drain back no worries, no dumping at any altitude. Me thinks the E-man is in your ear. Quit drinking the Kool-aid he's feeding you.

All kidding aside.... anyone know of a test for vacume for these tubes? Often wondered other than moisture or if they're warming up how one could tell.

Metro Man

hot_rod

Or how to know

if the fluid has been properly added and maintained in the copper absorber tube inside? Not much output if the "special sauce" isn't in there

hr

Simply Rad_4

tube failures

Out of 90 tubes I had 8 fail in the first year and a half, I am in steamboat and the systems are installed from 7000-8400'. I have gone back to flat plates not only for this reason, but also because of all the tests and performance materials I have read. Metro I am becoming more and more open to drain back. Nobody ever talks about the noise of the fill and drain especially at the begining and end of the day?

Jeffrey

Metro Man

Boat man

I was just up there. Thought I was in Seattle!

If you size pump and pipe the correct size, insulate the pipes, noise is cut to a min.

New construction we run plumbing strategically.

Metro Man.

Derheatmeister

Drainbacks.

Jeffrey und Metroman I think I'll see you end of the Month in Mohab then we can talk over some tequila about die drain -en sie back of the system

The more i see the failures of the Vac tubes. the more i am leaning towards Flatplates and maybe even Drainbacks.

Der Meister of heat und Solar

Metro Man

German Tequila?

Is that what your bringing? Is that a worm or mini braut en de butom!

E-man is bringing corn something or other. Must be a midwest thing.

Sounds like Moab then Re-hab!

Metro Man

Derheatmeister

Do not understand!