Now that the system is complete the real-time data is being track and analyzed. You can see this real-time data by going to the Real-Time Data page above or by clicking here: http://solarprojectmhc.weebly.com/real-time-data.html

Bhavin is installing the solar thermal tubing which will complete the entire system.

Bhavin and the team are celebrating a successful day as the last tube is installed!

The installation of the system is now complete and has been tested with water to check for leaks. Now it is time to put the 50% water, 50% glycol solution into the system. The solution will be circulated by the pump through the entire system.

Because of the low temperatures that Medicine Hat encounters throughout the winter glycol must be added to the solution in order to prevent feezing.

The pipes in the photo on the left run from inside the plumbing lab up to the roof. Bhavin is insulating these pipes and will then connect them to the solar thermal panel. These pipes will be supported by the steel support rods that Bhavin has previously made.

In the photo on the right Bhavin and Danny are harnessed to the roof for safety. Bhavin is stabilizing Danny's ladder as he brazes the pipe to the top corner of the panel with the incoming glycol solution pipeline.

On the left, Bhavin is simulating the software with the help of MHC instructor Ron Linowski which will be used for the data logger.

On the right, Bhavin is installing and wiring the data logger to the weather station equipment.

Having the data logger set up to take data from the weather station that includes installed pyranometer, which records the intensity of the sunlight in the area, will allow Bhavin to calculate the efficiency of the thermal system depending on the intensity. 

The photo on the left shows you what the solar thermal area looked a few days after start up. The photo on the right shows you what the area looks like now, 3 weeks later.
 
The temperature differential controller that will control the pump based on the temperature difference from the collector and the storage tank temperature has been installed.

The second-priority heat exchanger, which is the copper tubing wrapped around the piping has been installed. The third-priority heat dump with radiant fins has been installed for the "dumping" of extra heat.

There is still more work to be done in the area including the installation of the expansion tanks.