Hydronics enable alternative energy

摘要

Hydronic heating systems are the en-abler for all alternative energy technology, John Siegenthaler, P.E., told attendees at the Solar Thermal '11 conference and show here in early December. Heat from solar collectors, geo-thermal heat pumps or pellet boilers can all be dumped into a buffer tank and efficiently distributed throughout a building via a hydronic system, said Siegenthaler of Appropriate Designs, Holland Patent, N.Y. Hydronics is the optimal system to enhance the performance of a heat source, Siegen- thaler said. It's easier to move energy through a building using a smaller ECM pump and small tubing because of the physical qualities of water. The specific heat of water — its heat capacity — is 62.4 Btu/cu.ft./1°F, which means water can absorb 3,500 times more heat than air.