 |
Foster Farms SSP with alligator
raising pens in background. |
Solar Energy Savings for Business
This Shallow Solar Pond (SSP) system installed at Foster Alligator Farms is
an excellent example of our design, consultation, and involvement in solar applications
for commercial/industrial use. It is a high volume solar water heating system
designed to provide large quantities of hot water for commercial and industrial
use. The SSP is a modular, site built system, that will heat water to over 140°F.
The design is modified to produce the temperature needed for the application
in order to keep the system cost as low as possible. The beauty of the system
is that the tank and collector are one thereby resulting in a very low installed
cost.
The heart of the SSP is a reinforced rubber type bag that is typically
8" wide by 200' in length. Two bags are installed side by side either
on the ground with a concrete curb around the perimeter or on a roof with
a light weight fiberglass curb. The thickness of the bag is varied to obtain
the desired temperature and it is either glazed or unglazed also depending
on the temperature needed. When the water is pumped out of the SSP's, it
is fed through a pressurizing pump to reach system pressure.
Shallow solar ponds are being used to heat water for schools, hospitals,
laundries, industrial processes and for agricultural purposes - and they
have been used as far north as Michigan.
Shallow solar ponds are not high tech systems. They aren't glamorous.
There is no gleaming metal, no glass, no tracking of the sun. But they
are designed to provide the water temperature that is actually needed or
to preheat for a boiler. They are but one of the leading solar technologies that SDI has utilized to meet the needs of it's commercial/industrial customers.
If your business, farm, plant, or operation
needs hot water savings, we will be glad to meet and discuss your needs.
|
