Test Results
FEATURES AND BENEFITS OF SOLAR MAX RA 240 SOLAR PANEL BY OKEEFE TECHNOLOGY INC. Kelligrews, Newfoundland CONFIDENTIAL Cansolair Inc. Colliers, Newfoundland A0A 1Y0 Telephone 709-229-4387
1. Company Background
Cansolair Inc. is a Newfoundland company incorporated in 1994 by Mr. James
Meaney who is 100% owner of the Company. It was incorporated for the purpose
of producing a solar panel heating unit, which Mr. Meaney had developed.
The company has operated out of a small facility located in the community
of Colliers, Newfoundland. In this facility Mr. Meaney has developed the
product through the stages of a working model to a fully completed prototype.
He has produced 10 units in this facility. Customers for this product include
the residential housing market in Newfoundland and elsewhere and the company
proposes to start with this market and build up production levels to meet
demands as they develop. The company is seeking to penetrate the mass market
through sales to major home improvement outlets such as Home Hardware, ACE
hardware and Canadian Tire. Five units have been installed in various residences
in and around Colliers, NF and two sales have been made in St. John’s.
2. Technology used in Solar Panel
Cansolair Inc. has developed a forced convection solar heating unit called
the Model R.A. 240 SOLAR MAX. This unit is mounted on the exterior wall
of a dwelling and it captures solar energy through an array of tubes, which
heat up air forced through the unit with an electric fan. The fan removes
cool air from the dwelling, forces it through the solar panel and returns
heated air into the dwelling. During sunlight periods in Newfoundland the
unit returns warm air at the rate of 180 cfm indicating that a room of 200
square feet (1600 cubic feet) can have a complete air change in nine minutes.
A dwelling of 1000 square feet can have a complete air change in 45 minutes.
Working experience indicates that a comfortable room temperature can be
maintained in a 1000 square foot dwelling with 15 minutes of sunlight per
hour.
There are many solar energy products on the market, most of which use either water to transfer the heat or solar cells designed to capture the solar energy and convert it to electricity. Both of these systems are considerably more costly compared to this solar panel both for initial purchase and for installation. Passive solar collection is the closest technology to this product and this requires initial design and construction and is not generally an economical retrofit project. All of these units will be attractive to the majority of consumers only if the economics of the installation can be justified in terms of reduced electrical or oil supplied energy. It is becoming clear that increased use of oil-based energy will be discouraged and countries including Canada and the United States will be seeking to increase the use of alternative energy sources such as solar power. Based on an initial review of the Patent database for units of this nature there does not appear to be any competing patent filed nor does the current technology appear to conflict with current patents. There were a total of 226 patents reviewed to arrive at this conclusion. The company plans to file for patent protection on this innovation. A number of these units have been built and have been installed in various residential environments all with a good measure of success. A small number of the units have also been sold. The company feels that it has a product that will have mass appeal. The company’s marketing plan anticipates sales to national hardware outlets in Canada and in the United States as its prime distribution mechanism.
3. Features
The Cansolair Model R.A. 240 SOLAR MAX. consists of a four by seven solar
collector (28 Square feet, or 2.6 square meters). Solar Max 240 has 15 vertical
columns of cylindrical shape, making the actual surface exposed to the sun
greater than 2.6 square meters. The same cylindrical shape allows the Solar
Max to receive solar radiation for a longer period due to the angle of incidence
of the sun hitting the solar panel. Peak BTU performance was observed during
the noon hour period in October 2001 wherein the temp rise was 50 to 54F
degrees resulting in a 9000 to 9720 Btu or 2636 to 2847 Watts. Peak BTU
performance will actually increase in colder weather due to the rise in
temperature between input and output temperature and a lower angle of incidence.
Model R.A. 240 SOLAR MAX. has a quick response rate of 8 minutes from the
appearance of sun to “cut-in” based on 100 degree F output temperature.
Solar Max 240 uses the most conductive black paint available for solar collectors.
The Model R.A. 240 SOLAR MAX.uses a lexan outer cover which allows sunlight in and is resistant to the elements. In a test set-up the Model R.A. 240 SOLAR MAX. produced 4 gallons of hot water (120 Degrees) in 15 minutes, a rate of 16 gallons per hour or about 8000 BTU’s. Note that this was a test of the unit’s ability to produce energy. The unit does not heat hot water. The Model R.A. 240 SOLAR MAX. is lightweight (approximately 70 pounds) and can easily be handled by one person. Installation of the Model R.A. 240 SOLAR MAX. is simple and it looks great! Model R.A. 240 SOLAR MAX. does not contain water and there is nothing to freeze in winter. There is also no plumbing required to install the unit.
4. Benefits
Heat of up to 10,000 BTU (or more), when the sun is out provides a warm
flow of air to heat your house. This is like having 3Kw of heat circulating
in your home which will feel warmer than a typical 3KW electric heater.
An electric heater does not cause the air to flow. Solar Heat is environmentally
friendly and does not produce any emissions into the atmosphere. Solar Heat
is available when the sun is out and there is no cost of consumption. Solar
Heat will not increase in costs resulting in no unknown negative impacts
on your budget. The Costs of the Model R.A. 240 SOLAR MAX. are all the costs
you will incur to generate supplementary heat for your home. You will not
have to do any further work, such as cutting wood, in order to realize savings
on your heating bill. Install the Model R.A. 240 SOLAR MAX. and sit back
and enjoy the heat and the savings. Economic payback is estimated to be
eight years or less.
5. Test Results
Formal test results for the unit are pending the completion of a series
of tests at a national testing laboratory. The Company has completed its
own informal tests which are shown in summary form below.
Model R.A. 240 SOLAR MAX.
TEMPERATURE TEST RESULTSNovember 1, 2001 In Degrees Farenheit.
Model R.A. 240 SOLAR MAX.TEMPERATURE RESULTS
November 2, 2001 In Degrees Farenheit
Model R.A. 240 SOLAR MAX. TEMPERATURE TESTS TRANSFER OF HEAT TO WATER
October 25, 2001
6. Conclusions
The overall capacity of this unit is close to 10,000 Btu peak. It appears
to operate more quickly than indicated in the theoretical average calculations
shown above and an average of about 7000 Btu over the eight-hour sunlight
period would be a reasonable
Please contact us or your nearest dealer for more details.