Heat Transfer, a designer and manufacturer of heating and hot water systems, says that its Phoenix Solar water heater has captured the number-three spot on BUILDER magazine's list of readers' top 10 favorite products of 2008.
The product is the first solar water heater to combine domestic hot water storage with a 97% efficient, gas-fired backup in one unit, the company notes. Phoenix meets the hot water demands of residential and commercial solar thermal systems.
The sealed-combustion, direct-vent product features side tappings in the jacket to permit auxiliary connections to a hydro-air system for space heating. A pump circulates the heated water from the unit to a heat exchanger in the ductwork to provide heat for the living space. The unit can also power hydronic radiant floor heating as well as snow-melting systems.
The Phoenix Solar incorporates a dedicated solar heat exchanger at the base of the unit for transferring heat from solar panels to the water in its 80- or 119-gallon storage tank. Made of 316L stainless steel, the corrosion-resistant tank requires no anode rods.
SOURCE: Heat Transfer
