ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF SOLAR HEATING

Advacements in solar swimming pool heating systems.

SAVING THE PLANET. With Environmental issues a concern on everyones minds. Swimming pool heating contributes to one of the highest consumers of natural gas, propane and oil in a residential application with most heaters ranging in size from 250,000 to 400,000 BTUs.

Recent serges in natural, environmentally friendly heat sources are making there way to the forefront of the heating industries. Leading the advances is solar energy. Many states are offering tax credits or rebates towards the purchase and installation of solar heating systems.

The solar pool heating market has grown to $100,000,000 per year but growth has been slow. The industry has been plagued by design. Traditional solar heating systems for the swimming pool industry require large roof top areas for installation limiting the market place to favorable sites, the finish installation is usually unsightly, large black mats strapped to roof tops and prone to leaks. The industry hasnt changed in years. That is until now.

Unique Energy Systems Incorporated of London Ontario Canada has developed a state of the art solar heating system. The ground breaking technology has given the industry a face lift. Nine years of research and development have formed to combine the lightest, most compact, efficient and durable solar heat unit to reach the swimming pool industry in years.

Known as the Heat Wave the panel measures only four feet in width by six feet in length by six inches deep. The weight of the Heat Wave is less than one hundred pounds. The Heat Waves heat manifold system are protected by a insulated woven mat fiberglass shell and UV coated polycarbonate lens, the shells aerodynamic design permits wind flow to pass cleanly around the unit reducing the risk of damage during high wind conditions.

Inside the unit the technology continues, the Heat Wave contains over two hundred square feet of heating surface pack into its twenty four square foot area, the use of 1,920 aluminum fins provide rapid heat transfer.

The water flow through the unit is controlled by a water management system which automatically regulates the rate of flow providing the optimum operating range for peek performance.

One of the greatest benefits of the Heat Wave is its ability to maintain and even gain temperature during overcast conditions and night time operation, Unique Energy System has developed a heat recovery system which provides the induction of discharged heat from the pool pumps motor (between a 120 - 150 degrees F.) directly into the unit allowing for heat transfer to the manifold with out the presence of sunlight.

All these features combine to make one powerful heat generating system; one Heat Wave panel will heat a swimming pool up to 20x40.

The two greatest benefits of the Heat Wave are its flexibility and its cost. The Heat Waves compact design allows the installations to be simple. The Heat Wave can be installed virtually anywhere, from a roof top of a house, pool house shed or garage or in a back yard on its free standing pedestal. Installations are simple and normally only take a few hours. The Heat Waves retail price is comparable to that of a gas heater and in most case lower then traditional solar panels.

A spokesman for the company stated that the most commonly asked question is how does a unit so small generate so much heat." The answer is simple. In principal the system is similar to a car sitting in the sun with the windows up; now turn the heater on (the heat recovery system). Because the manifold system is complete enclosed the internal temperature is much higher then the external air temperature which will produces far greater heat transfer to the manifold, in addition to that the amount of heating surface (200 sq. feet) is similar to five 4x10 traditional panels.

The company is currently developing a method of applying the incredible heating properties of the Heat Wave into heating applications for domestic hot water and structural heating, the out come looks positive and company spokesman expect the new line of heaters to reach the market in the fall of 2004.

The company is currently setting up a world wide distribution and dealer network to provide direct contact with the consumer and provide professional installation of there products. For information about the Heat Wave visit there website at www.unique-energy.com