EcoOnline Perf
™
Solar Pool Heating System -- Installation & User Manual
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Page 52
Gauge Pressure
Pressure Adjustment Advice
Less than:
head pr 5 kPa
Install ball valve brake (16) (see plumbing diagrams) to
increase back pressure in return line
About equal to:
Head pr 5 kPa
Pressure is ideal no action required
Greater than:
head pr 5 kPa
Excessive pressure - install extra pool returns or remove
eyeballs from returns, or install by-pass (19) with ball valve
27.3
Negative Pressure and Air Bubble Issues
If the pump height is substantial and/or you have more than one return outlet to your pool, it may be that your
pump cannot
positive pressurize
the vacuum release valve. In this case you will get undesirable constant bubbling in
the outlet to the pool as the vacuum release valve is at negative pressure and is drawing in air. If this happens you
will need to install the down draft/brake PVC ball valve (16) on the return line (see plumbing diagrams) and carry out
the following procedure:
Start the system and wait for it to settle.
1)
Constrict flow in the return line using the ball valve brake (16, see plumbing diagrams) lever handle by a
small increment.
2)
If after some time the air bubbling continues, constrict flow by another small increment.
3)
If air bubbles stop reliably at this point then the vacuum valve is now at the required positive pressure, the
pressure gauge should read a value near the
head pressure
(vertical distance from vacuum release and
pressure gauge) + a few kPa’s, this is ideal.
4)
Leave the ball valve brake at this setting/constriction permanently (remove handle).
5)
If the required constriction is greater than 50% you will need a stronger pump.
Never expose the collector array to temporary pressures greater than
16 psi (110kPa).
Note: if for whatever reason water flow is fully blocked, a pump with a 15 meter head
pressure will generate 150kPa at ground level, 100kPa at 5m and 50kPa at 10m.
It’s important OKU panels are run at near zero pressure up on the roof, however pressure
±
5kPa are also acceptable. Larger pressure may limit collector lifetimes.
Why?
Plastic longevity is strongly dependent on pressure fluctuations and temperatures.
Use the below procedure for solving air bubbling issues, DO NOT remove or drop the
level of the vacuum release valve or increase pump strength. The vacuum release valve
MUST be mounted as specified to ensure collectors are not pressure worked.
