ContiTech Press Releases

Hanover, September 2010Solar tank sets new standards for regeneratively supplied heat – the system boasts capacity of more than 2,200-liters and easier assembly

An important citation for a product developed jointly by FSAVE Solartechnik, Kassel, Germany, and ContiTech Elastomer Coatings, Northeim, Germany: At the recently held Intersolar trade show, the FLEXSAVE Duo solar tank was awarded an innovation prize – the Intersolar AWARD 2010 – in the solar thermics category. Equipped with a flexible water tank from Conti-Tech, the novel thermal storage lends itself ideally as non-pressurized buffer for one- and two-family homes.

To ensure an efficient and sustained supply of heat, FSAVE Solartechnik relies on technology from ContiTech. As Claudius Wilhelms, general manager at FSAVE, points out: “A flexible tank from ContiTech is used to completely line the storage vessel. In conjunction with the overall structural design it provides for the requisite flexibility and for an optimum leakproof quality.” With a capacity of 2,200 liters, the water tank offers a much greater volume on a comparable surface area than other solutions.

Alexander Papadimitriou, segment head at ContiTech Elastomer Coatings, highlights a further advantage: “The steam-impermeable material used for the water tank is very flexible and thus adapts easily to various clearances. The system thus makes it less of a problem to retrofit existing buildings with solar systems and, in this way, to sustainably improve a building’s carbon footprint.

Delivered broken down into its parts, the tank can be completely installed into any clearance in less than half a workday without any prior or special knowledge. The system’s cubic geometry makes optimum use of the space available. Installing the buffer storage thus becomes considerably less complicated, with the need for special tools and elaborate welding eliminated. Thermal insulation made of high-quality sandwich panels with 100mm polyurethane rigid foam minimizes any loss of heat. Specially developed by ContiTech specialists and FSAVE technicians, the elastomer composite material also boasts an integrated steam barrier that reliably prevents even ultrafine steam from escaping from the system.

ContiTech is also successfully active in other areas of solar energy. Solar hoses made by the Fluid Technology business unit are embedded into the profiles of solar thermal collectors and transport solar energy by means of a heat transfer medium – i.e. water or glycol mixtures – to the consumer or an intermediate storage unit. The system is suited primarily to large-area use on the roofs of halls.