Rheem
Solar Water Heaters
Models,
features, specificiations
Rheem solar water heaters are designed as active and passive
water heating systems that are using slim solar panels, tanks and
accessories, to heat the water directly or indirectly utilizing the
free, renewable sun's energy.
Solar heating systems by Rheem
are Energy Star qualified; they are in
the
top 25% for efficiency, which allows you to save 15-40% on your utility
bills, based on your water heating system.
Model
Types
Rheem
water heating systems that are using sun's free energy are designed as
solar active systems, SolPak, or
systems that are using the forced circulation,
and passive Solaraide.
Active Rheem solar heating is using a circulating pump to move
water or
solar fluid through the system and that means it uses more energy for
pumps and controllers.
Passive Rheem solar heating doesn't use any mechanical
device to run the water/fluid through the system; it uses the gravity.
Rheem
Solar - Solpak Active System
SolPak active solar water heating systems
can be found as the 80-gallon and
119-gallon systems both using HE tanks, and both having the high
energy factor (2,5
for RS80-48BP model and EF 3 for RS120-64BP unit) making
both solar units Energy Star qualified.
Rheem
Solpak active
system is using the closed loop glycol design where
circulation is forced and accomplished by the pump and sensors. Solar
fluid
is non-toxic, food grade liquid, used to transfer the heat
from the solar collector to the water inside the water tank, while
providing the freeze protection to the heating system.
Rheem Solpak system is consisted of the
following components:
-
Double, flat plate, solar collector system, with two
sizes; 3' x 8' and 4' x 8', painted in black. -
Solaraide
high efficiency water storage tank with the double wall heat exchanger
made of copper, wrap around the tank. Tank is high efficiency as it
is thickly insulated to keep the stored heat longer. One 4.5 kW, 230 V
heating element is used as the backup solution. -
Multi-speed pump for heat transfer.
-
Thermal expansion tank.
-
Controllers, mixing valve, 4 gallons of
glycol solution.
Tilt mount kit and 18 AGW sensor wire are sold separately.
Rheem provides warranty of 6 years for solar collectors, 10
years
limited on the tank, and 2 years for the pump and control.
There is another Solpak
active system with the tank sizes of 85 and 105 gallons that
is using Marathon electric water
heaters for
hot water storage. When comparing these
two systems you will see that Marathon water heater is actually made of
strong, polybutene material that is resistant on corrosion and due to
its lightweight construction is easier to install.
But, the warranty for the Marathon tank is shorter by one year
and this
system is not Energy Star rated.
Rheem
Solar - Solaraide Passive System
Solaraide
is the Rheem solar passive water heating system that doesn't require
pump or
controllers. These systems are known as thermosiphon systems, where
solar tank is installed right above the solar collector. They are
constructed and installed as one unit, and based on your water heating
needs you can find two configurations available: RS47-21BP
model
with the 47-gallon and RS80-42BP with the 80-gallon storage tank, both
working in the closed loop system.
This Rheem solar passive
system is using another storage water tank where water is heated
indirectly.
Both configurations are consisted of:
-
Tank with the electric heating element as the backup.
-
Flat-plate type solar collector. One solar collector
is used for 47-gallon
model and providing EF of 1.3. Model RS80-42BP is using two
panels and its
EF is 1.5. -
Installation kit (flat roof mounting rack is sold
separately). -
Heat transfer fluid.
All these elements, from solar passive system have 5
years Rheem limited warranty.
(Photo credit to Rheem)
