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Active Solar Rock-bed Heat Storage Design Details: Active Solar Energy Systems
- POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about use rock or stone beds for storing solar heat
Active solar heating system design options:
This article discusses the design specifications for rock-bed heat storage systems and floor designs for heat storage and heat retrieval such as n radiant heated floor active solar applications.
We discuss design rules of thumb for rock-bed floor airflow, air inlets and air outlets.
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Active Solar Heat Storage Using Rock Bed Storage Systems
Accompanying text is reprinted/adapted/excerpted with permission from Solar Age Magazine - editor Steven Bliss. Our page top photograph shows a ceramic tile floor installed in Buenos Aires. Using ceramic tile finish flooring over a rock bed heat storage system is one method of design for a solar-heated radiant heat floor system.
The question-and-answer article below paraphrases, quotes-from, updates, and comments an original article from Solar Age Magazine and written by Steven Bliss.
Rock-bed or Stone-Bed Design for Solar Heat Storage and Radiant Heated Solar Floors
Question: Where can I find information on rock-bed or stone-bed heat storage system design?
I'm curious about rock-bed heat storage systems such as those used with active or even passive solar heating systems for homes. Have any tests been done to determine the optimum size of the rocks (or stones) for these heat storage systems? How can I assure good circulation of the air through the heat-storing stone?
Where can I find information on rock-bed heat storage design? - Kenneth Leifheit, Batavia IL
Answer: rock sizes, rock size consistency, air inlet and outlet specifications for rock bed heat storage systems:
Proper rock sizes and rock size consistency for heat storage systems
Rocks used in a rock-bed heat storage system can be anywhere from 1/2 to 6-inches in diameter. The standard stone size seem sto be 3/4" to 1 1/2" in size.
It is not a good idea to mix widely divergent rock sizes. The largest rocks (or stones) should be no more than twice the smallest rocks. Holding to this rule may require some screening after the rocks are delivered.
Relationship of rock or stone size to heat storage system operation
Large rocks in a heat storage system heat up slowly and cool off slowly.
Small rocks both heat up and cool off more rapidly.
Air resistance and rock size in heat storage systems
The smaller the rocks in your heat storage system design, the greater will be the resistance to the flow of air, meaning that a larger, more powerful fan is required unless the air path is very short.
Air inlets and outlets design for rock-bed heat storage systems
Air inlets and outlets for a stone-bed heat storage system must be designed to channel the air so that it wends its way through the rocks. This can be done by placing the air inlet to the rock bed heat storage system higher than the air outlet, forcing the warm air to "drop".
Alternatively you can build vertical baffles within the rock bed.
Avoid Air Flow Short Circuits in Rock Bed Heat Storage Systems
A sand-covered sheet of polyethylene plastic on top of the rocks will prevent an air gap from forming should any rock settling occur. This detail is important because an air gap over the rocks will "short circuit" the airflow that should be moving through the rock-bed and thus reduce its ability to both store and return heat to the building.
For an alternative design approach to storing heat in solar heating designs
see BLOCKBED RADIANT FLOORS - SOLAR DESIGN, and
for solar designs that combine greenhouse solar heat gain and trombe wall designs
see GREENHOUSE DESIGN for SOLAR HEATING.
For more on radiant slab floors see "Radiant Floors", Solar Age 5/82, and the following articles online:
RADIANT HEAT
RADIANT HEAT FLOOR MISTAKES
RADIANT HEAT TEMPERATURES
RADIANT SLAB FLOORING CHOICES
RADIANT SLAB TUBING & FLUID CHOICES
Other articles you'll want to see on passive solar floors, ceilings, and walls, include
- FLOOR, CONCRETE SLAB CHOICES
- SLAB INSULATION, RADIANT / PASSIVE SOLAR
- THERMAL MASS in BUILDINGS
- PASSIVE SOLAR PERFORMANCE PROBE - a case study of a home using a rockbed storage system
The question-and-answer article above, quotes-from, updates, and comments an original article from Solar Age Magazine and written by Steven Bliss.
The link to the original Q&A article in PDF form immediately below is preceded (above) by an expanded/updated online version of this article.
- Q&A on Rock-bed Floor Design Specifications for Heat Storage- PDF version, use your browser's back button to return to this page. Original article, Solar Age Magazine, November, 1985, adapted and updated for InspectAPedia.com December 2010.
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Continue reading at SLATE THERMAL MASS for SOLAR HEAT STORAGE or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.
Or see these
Recommended Articles
- BLOCKBED RADIANT FLOORS - SOLAR DESIGN for an alternative to block bed solar heat storage,
- FLOOR, CONCRETE SLAB CHOICES for supporting heat storage design details
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ROCK-BED SOLAR HEAT STORAGE DESIGN at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.
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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to SOLAR ENERGY
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Citations & References
In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.
- Solar Age Magazine was the official publication of the American Solar Energy Society. The contemporary solar energy magazine associated with the Society is Solar Today.
- "Passive Principles: Rockbeds", Solar Age Magazine, March 1982 - sizing and design of rock bed heat storage systems
- "Building it Right", Solar Age Magazine, June 1982, practical design guidelines for rock bed heat storage systems
- Steve Bliss's Building Advisor at buildingadvisor.com helps homeowners & contractors plan & complete successful building & remodeling projects: buying land, site work, building design, cost estimating, materials & components, & project management through complete construction. Email: info@buildingadvisor.com
Steven Bliss served as editorial director and co-publisher of The Journal of Light Construction for 16 years and previously as building technology editor for Progressive Builder and Solar Age magazines. He worked in the building trades as a carpenter and design/build contractor for more than ten years and holds a masters degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Excerpts from his recent book, Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, Wiley (November 18, 2005) ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, appear throughout this website, with permission and courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Best Practices Guide is available from the publisher, J. Wiley & Sons, and also at Amazon.com - Ar-Lite Panelcraft, Inc., 13030 Wayne Rd., Livonia MI 48150
- Colloidal Materials, Inc., PO Box 696, Andover MA 01810
- Pennwalt Corp., King of Prussia, PA 19406
- PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN HANDBOOK VOLUME I [PDF], the Passive Solar Handbook Introduction to Passive Solar Concepts, in a version used by the U.S. Air Force
- In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
CONTINUE READING or RECOMMENDED ARTICLES.
- Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: info@carsondunlop.com. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The HOME REFERENCE BOOK - the Encyclopedia of Homes and to use illustrations from The ILLUSTRATED HOME .
Carson Dunlop Associates provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material. In gratitude we provide links to tsome Carson Dunlop Associates products and services.
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