Solar Air Heating Systems

Backpass Solar Air Heating Collector System

Solar air heating made simple. By far, backpass solar air heating systems are the simplest and least costly avenue for non-residential fresh air heating.

MatrixAir Backpass solar air heating collector

Using conventional exterior cladding, Matrix has designed and optimized this low cost, unglazed, backpass solar air heating system for façade-mounted industrial, commercial, agricultural or institutional applications.

The MatrixAir™ Backpass solar air heating system is comprised of a series of vertical individual air channels, known as modules, each measuring about one foot in width and a plenum located along the top of the collector’s channels. A sectional plate within the plenum converts these channels into series of unique collector areas for maximum heat gain and optimal air flow. As the air moves at high velocity through the series of channels behind the exterior cladding heat is removed from the back of the absorber plate and enters the plenum located at the top of the collector. Looking from the outside the wall appears to be uniform exterior metal cladding belying the numerous, independently-optimized solar modules within!

The following graph taken from recent Bodycote testing at Canada's National Solar Test Facility in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada indicates the increase in air temperature over ambient temperatures for a MatrixAir™ Backpass solar air heating collector incorporating the equivalent of two 16 ft (4.9 m) modules.

MatrixAir Backpass solar air heating performance

Unlike previous backpass solar air heating systems or glazed systems with lower operating efficiencies our backpass solar air collector has demonstrated a 60% operating efficiency with significantly higher energy output and temperature gains exceeding 23°C over ambient temperatures. Our backpass solar air heater is designed to provide a nominal flow of 75 CFM per foot (or 120 l/s per meter) of collector width of preheated ventilation or make-up air.

MatrixAir™ Backpass Solar Air Heating System Sizing Guidelines

MatrixAirBackpass solar air heating systems are designed to be sized according to the amount of heated fresh air required by a building.  As well the amount of heated fresh air that may be delivered by the system may also be calculated.  Typically, each foot of width of MatrixAir™ Backpass solar air collector will deliver between 35 – 90 CFM (or 120 l/s per meter of width) of preheated ventilation or make-up air.

Depending upon the total air flow the backpass solar air heating system is expected to provide the maximum collector height should not exceed 30 ft (9.1 m) and be at least 10 ft (3.1 m) high. Generally speaking, the longer the pass of the air flow within the collector the better. 

Refer to our Solar Air Heating Sizing Guidelines for more information.

 

 

 

MatrixAir™ Backpass (BP) Solar Air Heating System- Patent pending
The information contained herein is subject to change without notice.

 

 
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