SOLAR SYSTEMS

Let your facade work for you!

 
Until now, facade elements were barely used in energy generation, since commercially available solar systems are designed for roof mounting. These standard roof-mounted collectors are often expensive and it is difficult or even impossible to integrate them into the facade.
To this end, the WAF aluminium solar facade offers a high-class and aesthetically pleasing solution which we have developed based on our technical competence, our long-term experience and our proven quality standards. Its individual adaptation to the external walls allows for the best possible integration. The choice of coating and design variations guarantees individual design flexibility. Using aluminium as material ensures an extremely long life cycle and excellent sustainability.

 Solar products

The WAF Solar facade combines energy generation with thermal insulation and is low maintenance due to its simple structure. These qualities make the WAF solar facade a high quality and cost efficient product. The solar system works on the same principle as conventional solar thermal collectors. A heat transfer medium, in general a water-glycol mixture, passes through the solar circuit behind the facade elements. Thanks to a selective solar varnish coating, solar energy is optimally converted into thermal energy. During this process, optimum conversion is particularly important as the heat is transferred directly to the heat transfer medium that passes through the pipes attached to the absorber. Finally, the generated energy is transferred to the heat transfer system by a heat exchanger.
WAF's Solar Balcony is a special version of the Solar Thermal Facade. With this design, the facade elements are directly integrated into the front of the balcony. All pipes are placed behind special cover plates. In this way, the visual appearance of the front of the balcony is not compromised. Moreover, the attic and the back wall as well as balcony supports are available in matching designs and can be integrated into WAF's Solar Thermal Facade. Functionality and Surface Technology don't differ from the Solar Facade.

Advantages of solar products

Advantages

  • Combination of facade cladding with solar energy generation
  • Suitable for new constructions and refurbishment of existing structures
  • Adaptable thickness of the thermal insulation
  • Washable
  • Weather resistant thanks to the aluminium
  • Easy assembly
  • Light weight
  • Architecturally attractive design
  • Long life cycle
  • Easy architectural integration into the external envelope
  • Patented system

Structure / technical data

The structure of a solar facade is different from conventional, uncovered solar systems, mainly because of the connection between the lamella and the pipe. The metal sheet and the copper pipe are laser-welded to the lamella, which ensures optimum heat transfer. Furthermore, the pipe is pressed into the metal sheet and flatted on one side. This results in a larger direct transfer surface.
The insulation of the WAF solar facade mainly consists of a PUR insulation board (l=0,03W/mK), which minimises convective heat losses through the back panel. In order to avoid air pockets between the pipe and the insulation, PU foam is used for filling possible cavities. In addition, 50mm of mineral wool are used for insulating, among others, the collecting pipes. The coating of the lamella consists of a special solar varnish with a very good degree of absorption (black: 86%) and emission (black: 36%). At the same time, this solar varnish is extremely weather resistant. The individual lamellae are connected via the WAF click system, allowing for easy self assembly
The power range of the WAF solar facade lies within that of low-temperature heat transformation systems. In order to guarantee the facade's highest degree of efficiency, the temperature should be between 35°C and 45°C. In this range of temperature, preheating of drinking water, energy provision for low temperature heating or low temperature process heat can be provided. WAF-PDF-Download Technical-data-sheet-facade-EN (PDF)

Application possibilities of the WAF solar facade

The temperature requirements for heating a swimming pool are optimally met by the WAF solar facade. As temperatures of approximately 20°C above the surrounding temperature are required in this area, solar warmth can be exploited to a high degree of efficiency. The simple structure of a swimming pool heating system goes hand in hand with cost advantages. Since the system is operated without pressure, there is no need for components such as pressure relief valves and expansion tanks. However, it is necessary to filter the water used in the swimming pool; otherwise the heat exchanger might clog up
This area presents a good possibility to employ the WAF solar facade for the use of solar thermal energy. By properly adjusting the dimensions of the collectors, it is possible to ensure that hot water is supplied nearly completely without making use of additional external energy during the summer. In order to guarantee the hot water supply, the collector must have the capacity to generate a water temperature of at least 45°C, which requires an absorber temperature of 50 to 60°C. A WAF solar facade of only 10 to 20 m² can cover already 45 to 55% of the hot water demand of a single-family house (200 liters / 45°C).  
 
This type of space heating combines the existing heating system with a WAF solar facade, which is acting as a support. A conventional heating system (oil, gas, pellets) covers the basic consumption of the building, but the solar facade provides the thermal store with heat depending on the levels of solar irradiation. This system helps to decrease the operating periods of the heating system, which results in a reduction of the heating medium used and, subsequently, in a cost reduction. During the summer and on nice days in spring and autumn, the WAF solar facade takes over the hot water supply. The use of a WAF solar facade is especially recommended in combination with a low-temperature heating system.    
In the field of generating process heat, the WAF solar facade meets the requirements of supplying energy for low-temperature processes. Currently, possible areas of application are the food and beverages industries, the textile industry, the chemicals industry and simple washing processes. The WAF solar facade is able to generate the necessary process temperatures of 30 to a maximum of 60°C. Due to an optimized storage of thermal energy, longer lasting bad weather periods do not represent much of a problem. Energy for low-temperature processes is required especially for industrial processes, such as: