Well its forty below and we don't give a #@%### , if you are from Western Canada you will know the song.

But amazing as it seems the sun has lots of potential energy ... just not a lot of hours of sunshine..

For you engineering types

Project Objectives

This project set out to determine if the panels could produce heat in cold climates and if so, how much? The project also attempted to develop a heating system for a building that could be totally solar powered and be independent of grid power.

The technical uncertainties were as follows:

• Will the panel produce any net heat in a climate where the temperature can drop to -40º C
• Which operating fluid is most suitable to use in sub-zero temperatures
• Will the panel act in a negative fashion to refrigerate on clear nights
• Can a system be devised that would not require any connection to a power grid

Background work completed

The operating fluid must be able to tolerate sub-zero temperatures without freezing. Windshield washer fluid, RV antifreeze and ethylene glycol are possible candidates. However since RV antifreeze and windshield washer fluids contain ethanol which presents a fire hazard, ethylene glycol was chosen in spite of its relatively high cost.

The system was set up with the panel facing due south and tilted at an angle of 45 degrees.

Note the snow and ice on the above picture. At the time of this photo, the outdoor temperature was -15º C and the fluid supply temperature was 40º C.

The fluid was pumped indoors to the fan coil unit.