Navitron SFB Series User manual

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SFB Series ~ Evacuated Tube Collector
Installation Manual
2 Lands End Way
OAK AM
Rutland
LE15 6RB
England

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Email: [e-mail]
SFB series Installation Manual
All-glass Evacuated Tubular Solar Collector with Heat Pipe
Section Contents Page/s
1. Solar Collector - weights and dimensions 3
2. Transportation and storage 3
3. Installation 4
3.1 Packing Lists 4-11
3.2 Assembly of the frame and manifold assembly 12
3.2.1 Side rail assembly 12
3.2.2 Fixing the manifold 13
3.3 Fixing the bottom rail 14
3.4 Mounting the solar collector 15
3.4.1 Pitched roof installation 15-16
3.4.2 Flat roof installation 17
3.5 Installation of the evacuated tubes 18-19
4 Lightning protection 20
5 Interconnection of multiple collectors 21
6 Plumbing layout and variations 21-23
7 Dimensions of pipe connections 23
8 eat transfer media 23
9 Precautions 24
10 Maximum working pressure 24
11 Collector pressure drop 24
12 Installation angle 24
13 Wind and snow loading 25
14 Maintenance requirements 25
14.1 Cleaning 25
14.2 Leaves 25
14.3 Broken tubes 25

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1. Solar collector – Weights and Dimensions:
Item No.
Specification
Weight
Kg
size(mm)
Qty. of solar
tu es
Diameter of
solar tu e
Length of
solar tu e
a c d e
SFB104715 10pcs Ø 47mm 1.5M 32 870 750 1660 1174 1000
SFB154715 15pcs Ø 47mm 1.5M 48 1220 1050 1660 1174 1000
SFB204715 20pcs Ø 47mm 1.5M 54 1570 1450 1660 1174 1000
SFB304715 30pcs Ø 47mm 1.5M 76 2270 2150 1660 1174 1000
SFB105818 10pcs Ø 58mm 1.8M 50 960 840 1960 1398 1200
SFB155818 15pcs Ø 58mm 1.8M 75 1360 1190 1960 1398 1200
SFB205818 20pcs Ø 58mm 1.8M 115 1760 1640 1960 1398 1200
SFB305818 30pcs Ø 58mm 1.8M 122 2560 2440 1960 1398 1200
2. Transportation and storage
The Navitron Solar Collector is packaged in boxes designed to minimi e the risk of
damage during transit. Depending on the number of tubes, the collector may be packaged
in three or four boxes, one containing the header, frame and various small components,
and the others containing the evacuated glass tubes. The boxes should be regarded as
fragile and handled accordingly. During storage, handling, and transport, the boxes should
remain hori ontal. Under no circumstances should the boxes be propped up against a wall
or stored vertically.
Avoid impacts, do not handle the boxes roughly and avoid dropping the boxes and
dropping objects onto or against the boxes.

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3. Installation
3.1 Packing List
Please check that all listed parts for the relevant collector are included
before commencing installation
SFB104715
No. Items Qty.(pcs) Qty. of spare
part Total
1
SFVB
(All-glass Evacuated Tu ular Solar Collector
with Heat Pipe,Ф47mm*1500mm)
10 - 10
2 Manifold Box 1 - 1
3 Thermal silicon grease（80g） 1 - 1
4 Decoration cover 10 1 11
5 Vertical Bar 2 - 2
6 Aluminum horizontal ar 1 - 1
7 Black nylon screw cup 10 1 11
8 Reflectors 9 - 9
9 White Nylon clips for reflectors 18 - 18
10 screw ,washer
and nut
M8×10（screw, nut, washer） 4 1 5
M6×10
(screw+ washer)
already affixed to manifold
4 1 5
M6×20 for hori ontal bar
(screw+ nut + blackcap) 2 - 2
Table 3.1

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SFB154715
No. Items Qty.(pcs) Qty. of spare
part Total
1
SFVB
(All-glass Evacuated Tu ular Solar Collector
with Heat Pipe,Ф47mm*1500mm)
15 - 15
2 Manifold Box 1 - 1
3 Thermal silicon grease（80g） 1 - 1
4 Decoration cover 15 1 16
5 Vertical Bar 2 - 2
6 Aluminum horizontal ar 1 - 1
7 Black nylon screw cup 15 1 16
8 Reflectors 14 - 14
9 White Nylon clips for reflectors 28 - 28
10 screw ,washer
and nut
M8×10（screw, nut, washer） 4 1 5
M6×10
(screw+ washer)
already affixed to manifold
4 1 5
M6×20 for hori ontal bar
(screw+ nut + blackcap) 2 - 2
Table 3.2

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SFB204715
No. Items Qty.(pcs) Qty. of spare
part Total
1
SFVB
(All-glass Evacuated Tu ular Solar Collector
with Heat Pipe,Ф47mm*1500mm)
20 - 20
2 Manifold Box 1 - 1
3 Thermal silicon grease（80g） 1 - 1
4 Decoration cover 20 1 21
5 Vertical Bar 2 - 2
6 Aluminum horizontal ar 1 - 1
7 Black nylon screw cup 20 1 21
8 Reflectors 19 - 19
9 White Nylon clips for reflectors 38 - 38
10 screw ,washer
and nut
M8×10（screw, nut, washer） 4 1 5
M6×10
(screw+ washer)
already affixed to manifold
4 1 5
M6×20 for hori ontal bar
(screw+ nut + blackcap) 2 - 2
Table 3.3

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SFB304715
No. Items Qty.(pcs) Qty. of spare
part Total
1
SFVB
(All-glass Evacuated Tu ular Solar Collector
with Heat Pipe,Ф47mm*1500mm)
30 - 30
2 Manifold Box 1 - 1
3 Thermal silicon grease（80g） 1 - 1
4 Decoration cover 30 1 31
5 Vertical Bar 3 - 3
6 Aluminum horizontal ar 1 - 1
7 Black nylon screw cup 30 1 31
8 Reflectors 29 - 29
9 White Nylon clips for reflectors 58 - 58
10 screw ,washer
and nut
M8×10（screw, nut, washer） 6 1 7
M6×10
(screw+ washer)
already affixed to manifold
6 1 7
M6×20 for hori ontal bar
(screw+ nut + blackcap) 2 - 2
Table 3.4

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SFB105818
No. Items Qty.(pcs) Qty. of spare
part Total
1
SFVB
(All-glass Evacuated Tu ular Solar Collector
with Heat Pipe,Ф58mm*1800mm)
10 - 10
2 Manifold Box 1 - 1
3 Thermal silicon grease（80g） 1 - 1
4 Decoration cover 10 1 11
5 Vertical Bar 2 - 2
6 Aluminum horizontal ar 1 - 1
7 Black nylon screw cup 10 1 11
8 Reflectors 9 - 9
9 White Nylon clips for reflectors 18 - 18
10 screw ,washer
and nut
M8×10（screw, nut, washer） 4 1 5
M6×10
(screw+ washer)
already affixed to manifold
4 1 5
M6×20 for hori ontal bar
(screw+ nut + blackcap) 2 - 2
Table 3.5

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SFB155818
No. Items Qty.(pcs) Qty. of spare
part Total
1
SFVB
(All-glass Evacuated Tu ular Solar Collector
with Heat Pipe,Ф58mm*1800mm)
15 - 15
2 Manifold Box 1 - 1
3 Thermal silicon grease（80g） 1 - 1
4 Decoration cover 15 1 16
5 Vertical Bar 2 - 2
6 Aluminum horizontal ar 1 - 1
7 Black nylon screw cup 15 1 16
8 Reflectors 14 - 14
9 White Nylon clips for reflectors 28 - 28
10 screw ,washer
and nut
M8×10（screw, nut, washer） 4 1 5
M6×10
(screw+ washer)
already affixed to manifold
4 1 5
M6×20 for hori ontal bar
(screw+ nut + blackcap) 2 - 2
Table 3.6

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SFB205818
No. Items Qty.(pcs) Qty. of spare
part Total
1
SFVB
(All-glass Evacuated Tu ular Solar Collector
with Heat Pipe,Ф58mm*1800mm)
20 - 20
2 Manifold Box 1 - 1
3 Thermal silicon grease（80g） 1 - 1
4 Decoration cover 20 1 21
5 Vertical Bar 2 - 2
6 Aluminum horizontal ar 1 - 1
7 Black nylon screw cup 20 1 21
8 Reflectors 19 - 19
9 White Nylon clips for reflectors 38 - 38
10 screw ,washer
and nut
M8×10（screw, nut, washer） 4 1 5
M6×10
(screw+ washer)
already affixed to manifold
4 1 5
M6×20 for hori ontal bar
(screw+ nut + blackcap) 2 - 2
Table 3.7

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SFB305818
No. Items Qty.(pcs) Qty. of spare
part Total
1
SFVB
(All-glass Evacuated Tu ular Solar Collector
with Heat Pipe,Ф58mm*1800mm)
30 - 30
2 Manifold Box 1 - 1
3 Thermal silicon grease（80g） 1 - 1
4 Decoration cover 30 1 31
5 Vertical Bar 3 - 3
6 Aluminum horizontal ar 1 - 1
7 Black nylon screw cup 30 1 31
8 Reflectors 29 - 29
9 White Nylon clips for reflectors 58 - 58
10 screw ,washer
and nut
M8×10（screw, nut, washer） 6 1 7
M6×10
(screw+ washer)
already affixed to manifold
6 1 7
M6×20 for hori ontal bar
(screw+ nut + blackcap) 2 - 2
Table 3.8

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3.2 Assembly of Frames and Manifold
3.2.1 Side Rails:
Arrange the 2 side rails as shown below:
Fig 3.1

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3.2.2 Fix the Manifold:
a) Put the manifold between the two turn-ups on all side rails.
Fig 3.2
b) Fix the manifold to the turn-ups on the side rails using screws provided. See the
following two pictures.

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Fig 3.4
3.3 Fix the bottom rail:
a) In order to prevent the tube cups from sliding from the rail use the M6x20 screws,
nuts and cover with the black caps.
Fig 3.5
b) Fix the bottom rail on the vertical bar using the 2x M8 x10mm screws.
Fig 3.6

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3.4 Mounting the solar collector on your pitched roof
3.4.1 Pitched roof
Mounting straps may be used to secure the collector to a pitched slate or tile roof. The
mounting straps are available as a separate item – ROOFKIT10/20 (for 10, 15 or 20 tube
collectors) or ROOFKIT30 (for 30 tube collectors). The mounting straps are made of
SUS304 grade stainless steel of 1mm thickness, which allows the straps to easily bear the
weight of the collector, but at the same time being thin enough to pass behind slates or
tiles without causing them to lift. (See figure 3.8).
.
Fig 3.7
Fig 3.8
Installation steps:
There are a number of alternative methods of fixing Navitron solar collectors to the
roof, depending on personal preference and roof structure. Please contact Navitron
for further information or installation training.
a) Select a suitable location on the roof for the collector. In the northern
hemisphere, the collector should ideally face due south, at an angle to the
ground equal to the latitude. For example, collectors located at a latitude of
50º would be mounted at an angle of 50º from the hori ontal.
b) Using the solar collector frame as a template, locate the straps inside the
'U' channel of the side collectors, choose the roof fixing points for the
straps. Remove enough roof tiles to locate the straps and screw securely
to the roof timbers.
c) Bend mounting straps according to the height of tiles and the location of
oval fixing holes in the side rails of the collector frame. Replace the roof
tiles. Fix solar collector on mounting straps. (Fig 3.9~3.12).

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Fig 3.9
Fig 3.10
Fig 3.11

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Fig 3.12
(big picture for point M)
Fig 3.13
(big picture for point N)
3.4.2 Flat roof
Navitron Ltd supply standing frames for flat roofs and ground mounted systems. Each
type of panel requires its own standing frames which are set at an angle of 40 degs.
Depending on the location of the standing frame it may be necessary to insert the tubes
before fixing the frame into position.

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3.5 Installation of tubes
a) Unscrew the black end cups from the mounting rings, and clip the rings into the
bottom rail spacing them out evenly. (See figure 3.14)
Fig 3.14
b) Apply the thermal paste provided liberally to the tip of the copper heat pipes
protruding from each evacuated tube. (See figure 3.15)
Fig 3.15
c) Lower the silver end of the evacuated tube into bottom ring from above sufficiently
far to clear the manifold, and then slide the tube upwards to locate the tip of the copper
heat pipe into the corresponding port of the manifold. If the heat pipe is difficult to locate,
check that it has not been slightly bent. If so, using thumb and forefinger straighten the tip
and try again. Repeat until all your solar tubes are in place. (See figure 3.15)

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Fig 3.16
c) Screw the black end cup into the mounting ring and tighten until hand tight.
Repeat the process until all the tubes are in place.
d) (See figure 3.16).
Fig 3.17
e) See figure 3.17 for detail of the completed collector.

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Fig 3.18
Warning:
If you assemble solar collectors under strong sunshine, or the ambient temperature is high,
DO NOT touch the two copper pipes at either end of the manifold because once tubes are
exposed under sunshine, they begin to work. The heat will be transferred to the top of
the heat pipes in seconds. Therefore the two ends of the copper pipes will be very hot
after you finished the assembly. Direct contact with the skin can cause burns! It is
recommended that the tubes are covered to prevent heating until all plumbing work is
completed.
Fig 3.19
Suggestions:
1. Avoid assembling the panel in direct sunlight. .
2. If the process has to be undertaken in direct sunlight, Navitron Ltd recommends the
tubes are covered during the assembly thus preventing thermal tracking within the
panel’s collector.
4. Lightning protection
Lighting strikes can induce high voltages into the panel’s frame which can cause
damage to sensitive electronic equipment such as the solar controller. Even
though a lightning strike close to the panel is unlikely, Navitron provide a KA12
Overvoltage protection unit which suppresses voltage surges. However, a