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Slate Thermal Mass for Heat Storage - Design Details for Passive Solar Heating Systems
- POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about the use of slate as thermal mass for storing solar heat in passive solar design
Thermal mass effects of slate:
This article discusses the properties of slate as a medium for thermal mass in passive solar heating system design and greenhouse or sunspace thermal mass material.
Our page top photograph shows a ceramic tile floor installed in Buenos Aires, Argentina. 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.
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Active Solar Heat Storage Using Rock Bed Storage Systems
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The question-and-answer article below paraphrases, quotes-from, updates, and comments an original article from Solar Age Magazine and written by Steven Bliss.
Thermal Properties of Slate for Solar Heat Storage and Radiant Heated Solar Floors
Question: how to install slate for use as thermal mass for sunspace or greenhouse passive solar heat storage
A client of mine has a unique storage material to use in his solarium - 30 one-inch thick slate pool table tops.
Will the thermal expansion and contraction affect the thermal bond to the concrete slab below?
Should we buffer the joints between the slabs of slate to prevent damage to the edges? - Tom Deal, alternative energy consultant, San Francisco CA
Answer:
Slate's coefficient of expansion is 0.0000058, meaning that for every foot of length slate will expand 0.0000058 feet, or about 0.00007 inches for every degree Farenheit of temperature rise.
A 60 degF temperature rise will cause an 8-foot long slate slab to increase in length by 0.0336 inches - roughly 1/32 inch.
If the sunspace experiences wider swings in temperature, the expansion and contraction of the slate will of course be greater.
Kevin Callahan at the National Concrete Masonry Association recommended using Type M mortar, which has a higher compressive strength than mortar normally used for concrete blocks. He commented, though, that the mortar might not bond very well to the slate, which does not have a very porous surface.
Bedding the slate in mortar should, however, create a fine thermal bond.
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 HEAT TEMPERATURE CONTROL / MIXING VALVES
- RADIANT HEAT TEMPERATURE NIGHT SETBACK
- RADIANT SLAB FLOORING CHOICES
- RADIANT SLAB TROUBLESHOOTING
- 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
- TRUSS UPLIFT, ROOF
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 by an expanded/updated online version of this article.
- Q&A on Slate as Thermal Mass for Solar 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.
Readers should also
see BLOCKBED RADIANT FLOORS - SOLAR DESIGN for an alternative to block bed solar heat storage
For supporting heat storage design details
see FLOOR, CONCRETE SLAB CHOICES and PASSIVE SOLAR FLOOR TILES, PHASE CHANGE.
Also see PASSIVE SOLAR FLOOR TILES, PHASE CHANGE
And at FLOOR CHOICES OVER CONCRETE SLABS we illustrate a floor slab (with incomplete under-slab insulation) that provides thermal mass helping to stabilize temperatures in a cabin in torthern Minnesota.
...
Continue reading at THERMAL MASS in BUILDINGS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.
Or see these
Recommended Articles
- THERMAL IMAGING, THERMOGRAPHY
- THERMAL MASS in BUILDINGS
- THERMAL MASS FLOOR SLABS
- THERMAL MASS in UPSTAIRS
- THERMAL MASS WALL DESIGN
- THERMAL MASS in HOMES - STUDY
- THERMAL MASS TRADEOFFS, HEATING vs COOLING
- THERMAL TRACKING & HEAT LOSS
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SLATE THERMAL MASS for SOLAR HEAT STORAGE at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.
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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. "Established in 1954, the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is the nation's leading association of solar professionals & advocates. Our mission is to inspire an era of energy innovation and speed the transition to a sustainable energy economy. We advance education, research and policy. Leading for more than 50 years. ASES leads national efforts to increase the use of solar energy, energy efficiency and other sustainable technologies in the U.S. We publish the award-winning SOLAR TODAY magazine, organize and present the ASES National Solar Conference and lead the ASES National Solar Tour – the largest grassroots solar event in the world."
- "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
- 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
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- 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 .
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