SunMaxx Solar Heating System Performance

As noted in a previous post, the solar heating system has undergone some revisions. As a result of the upgrades a morning of performance measurements were collected from the SunMaxx solar heating system used to heat the pool.  Sunrise was at 7:10 AM (January 31, 2012) but the sun did not crest the mountains until about 8:00AM.  Even then the sky was overcast with high cirrus and small cumulus clouds and it was not until about 8:45 that enough sunlight penetrated the cloud cover to start the heating cycle in the solar panels.  The amount of overcast is shown below in a photograph recorded at 11:30 AM (time of reading) to visually demonstrate the amount of cloud cover. The collector temperature, pump speed (in percent of the maximum 1.5 gpm), and the temperature in and out of the heat exchanger were recorded at one minute intervals throughout the morning.  The sun would creep behind the clouds then reappear causing the pump to cycle up and down in response the the temperature fluctuations measured at the solar panels. The cycling of the pump appears to minimize coolant temperature fluctuations reaching the heat exchanger resulting from fluctuations in sunlight by slowing the flow rate when less sunlight is available for heating, note the "oc" and "s" on the graph and compare with heat exchanger temperatures.  A maximum of 127 degree coolant was produced by the panels during the measurement period, while 114 degree coolant was reaching the heat exchanger, with a maximum of 20 degrees differential across the heat exchanger.  The solar panels work well and combined with well insulated stainless steel lines which minimize heat loss across the run between the solar panels and pool house high temperatures at the heat exchanger are reached .  It is also pleasing to note that even on an overcast January morning the panels easily produce heat which can be used in the pool.

Solar collector performance

Cloud cover at 11:30 AM, panels producing 120 degree coolant and 109 degrees
at the heat exchanger.

Solar panels used to heat the pool at the Painted Pony Resort

It is Hiking day, but not This Week

The Portal Rodeo hiking club is out enjoying a hike in the Chiricahua Mountains, but finishing other work takes precedence this week at the Painted Pony Resort.  The solar collectors are up and running and producing 110 degree water.  The hot water is circulating through the heat exchangers and heating the pool.  An additional purge valve was installed to make purging trapped air at the collectors easier.  For those interested, the angle of the collectors is higher to maximize winter solar energy collection and minimize summer collection. 

I note that while much is made of solar energy as a renewable resource it is really just nuclear fusion taking place 93 million miles away.  So the new heating system might be more accurately described as fusion powered.  While the idea of fusion powered pool heating may make some uncomfortable, it does sound high powered and futuristic.

The "Green Pool" at the Painted Pony Resort

The 20' x 40' pool at the Painted Pony Resort is a favorite with the owner and he likes it heated, but heated pools requires lots of electricity and can become expensive.  An alternate route to heating the pool is using available resources to keep the water temperature at 80 degrees.  A combination of geothermal and solar heat are used to heat the pool water allowing for year round pool use.  Unfortunately the original solar system ran pool water directly through the system and the pool chemicals eventually degraded the manifolds.  The system has been replaced with one that does not circulate pool water directly but extracts solar energy by passing solar heated coolant with a heat exchanger.  Below is a photograph of the geothermal (2 heat exchangers on left) and solar (heat exchanger on right) systems installed to heat the pool.  By using natural resources the pool stays warm and minimizes electrical costs.

Plumbing for heating the pool.

One of 3 solar panels for the pool.

Twenty Four Hour Security at the Painted Pony Resort

In addition to the mantis internet technician, PPR also has 24 hour security on site.  Below are 2 photographs of  the security manits on the wall outside the guest house.  The insect dutifully watched as the door jamb was being painted.  It's head would swivel following my movements around the guest house.  I suspect it more on the look out for a meal rather than my painting.

Caulking the Vigas

As noted in an earlier post, the exterior woodwork on the bungalow is re-stained so resealing the posts and vigas rose to the top of the list.  The vigas had shrunk and pulled away from the surrounding stucco requiring resealing.  In addition the wood had split along the grain requiring additional filler. Finished off the first case of DAP ceder tan caulk Monday afternoon but still have about half a dozen vigas remaining on the bungalow that require caulk.  The results are worth the effort though, the building looks really good.

The vigas have shrunk pulling away from the stucco leaving a quarter inch gap around the beam.

Resealed vigas from the ground.

Closeup of caulking.

Don't let Twitter pass you by

It is somewhat amusing that the microblogging phenomena should have by passed Rodeo and the San Simon Valley, but it is true.  Microblogging relies on cell phone service and much of the bootheel of New Mexico is  bereft of service.  Unlike most of the planet cell phone coverage does not extend to southwestern New Mexico.  People have been writing the governor and their representatives about the lack of cell phone service and have made the argument that border security would increase with cell phone coverage, but with no results.  During the Horseshoe fire earlier this year a portable COW was brought in and it provided coverage for the valley and Chiricahua Mountains to support the fire fighters.  But the fire was contained and the COW left with the Forrest Service taking the short lived cell service with it.  But there is a remedy to the problem, your own personal cell repeater.  Wilson Electronics makes personal cell phone repeaters for both mobile and home use.  There is one onsite at the Painted Pony Resort and cell phone calls from PPR are a reality.  The only drawback is the limited number of services that are close enough to be received by the repeater.  Verizon and Alltel are the 2 services that have been successfully accessed from PPR.  AT&T does not have a tower close enough for the repeater to reach and other services have not been tested. Below is a map of cell towers from Cell Reception, notice that Rodeo and the PPR are about 30 miles from the nearest tower.  Even so with the mobile repeater from Wilson, strong signal is found throughout the valley and into Cave Creek Canyon.