HEAT TRANSFER PRODUCT RELEASE: For more information, contact: John O'Reilly LNC Communications LLC 815.469.9100, ext. 302; John@LNCmail.com Phoenix Solar: First Solar Storage Tank with Integral, Gas-Fired Backup, Offering 97% Thermal Efficiency EAST FREETOWN, MASSACHUSETTS (JULY 24, 2007) - The new PHOENIX SOLAR WATER HEATER (photo right) from Heat Transfer is the first solar water heater to combine domestic hot-water storage with a 97%-efficient, gas-fired backup - all in one unit - to meet the hot-water demands of residential and commercial solar thermal systems. What also makes the sealed-combustion, direct-vent Phoenix Solar exceptional is its ability to deliver both space heating and domestic hot water in a single, energy-saving package. Side tappings in the jacket permit auxiliary connections to a hydro-air system for space heating. Here, a pump circulates the heated water from the Phoenix Solar to a heat exchanger in the ductwork to provide heat for the living space. The unit can also power hydronic radiant floor heating and snow-melting systems. "The dual capability of the Phoenix should be a major attraction to home and building owners and managers looking to cut energy consumption," comments Heat Transfer chief executive officer Dave Davis. "It not only transfers all the energy the sun provides, but it also includes an ultra-high-efficiency backup when the sun's not enough. "With one purchase, consumers can get a high-efficiency domestic hot water system and a high-efficiency space heating system that will more than pay for itself over time." The Phoenix Solar incorporates a dedicated solar heat exchanger at the base of the unit, for transferring heat from solar panels to the water in its 80- or 119-gallon storage tank. Made of 316L stainless steel, the corrosion resistant tank requires no anode rods. During periods when solar power cannot meet demand, the Phoenix Solar uses the latest in modulating and condensing (MOD-CON) technology to pick up the slack. Two components are key to this secondary heat source: - High-grade, gas-fired, modulating burner features all-stainless steel construction and a spark ignition system. The burner assembly, located at the front-middle exterior of the unit, is a streamlined version of the one used on Heat Transfer's popular Munchkin condensing boilers. This fully modulating, ultra-low-NOx burner is load-matching, limiting its firing to current demand and saving substantial amounts of energy in the process. As demand for hot water rises, the unit's fan accelerates. As demand decreases, so does fan speed. This is in sharp contrast to a conventional burner, which fires to the maximum, regardless of demand. Operating with either natural gas or liquid propane, and with BTU per hour inputs from 44,000 to 199,000, the Phoenix Solar burner is enclosed in a handsome black plastic cover that is readily removable for easy serviceability. - Corrosion-resistant, combustion heat exchanger: Made of cupronickel and stainless steel, the heat exchanger's large surface area is designed to extract all the latent energy from the combustion process, as well as from the by-products of that process. This, in turn, is what drives the unit's ultra-high thermal efficiency rating. "Phoenix Solar condensing water heaters extract so much latent heat, the resulting low exhaust temperatures permit venting with plastic pipe," says Davis. Venting up to 85 feet (intake and exhaust piping combined) is permitted with 2-inch or 3-inch Schedule 40 or Schedule 80 PVC piping or CPVC solid core pipe, depending upon the model. This venting requires zero clearance to combustibles, further enhancing installation flexibility. With a diameter of 23 inches or 27 inches, depending upon the model, the six-foot-tall Phoenix Solar commands a relatively small footprint, enabling it to squeeze into tight spaces. Its lightweight construction, including a rustproof, dent-resistant plastic jacket, makes it easy to maneuver into those confined areas. Other important features include: - two inches of non-CFC polyurethane foam insulation, helping to keep tank heat loss to less than a half-degree per hour; - self-diagnostic electronic control with a digital readout for tracking water temperature, set point and differential settings. HEAT TRANSFER: Founded in 1974 by Raymond B. Davis, Heat Transfer is a designer and manufacturer of advanced heating and hot water systems. Product categories include high efficiency boilers and advanced boiler control systems, high efficiency gas-fired water heaters, oil-fired and electric water heaters, indirect water heaters, and marine and pool heaters. For more information about these products, visit Heat Transfer at www.htproducts.com. Or call toll-free: 800-323-9651 (508-763-8071 if calling from Massachusetts). For editorial assistance, contact John O'Reilly c/o LNC Communications: 815-469-9100 or John@LNCmail.com To download a hi-res .tif file of the images shown in this press release and others, use this link: http://www.LNCmail.com/pr/ht0701-phoenixsolar.html PHOTO CAPTION: 1) ILLUSTRATION SHOWS LOCATION OF SOLAR HEAT EXCHANGER (BOTTOM) AND BACKUP HEAT EXCHANGER (TOP) IN THE NEW PHOENIX SOLAR. HEAT TRANSFER PRESS RELEASE: WWW.HTPRODUCTS.COM HEAT TRANSFER 120 Braley Road, East Freetown, MA 02717-0429 Telephone 800-323-9651 or 508-763-8071 Fax 508-763-4909 Visit us on line at www.htproducts.com