Concept
The Hot Pot installation is a pretext to show the correctness of the principle according to which water at different temperatures accrues in layers which, when not disturbed, do not mix. Hot Pot works by means of a double closed circuit: the first is made of the water in the basin which, led to the accumulators, is heated by an exchanger with the heat generated by solar panels. Heated water is pumped to the top, from which it falls down in the basin, with a waterfall effect. The second consists of the water that flows between solar collectors (from which it takes Energy and warms up) and accumulators where, again by means of the heat exchanges, it yields energy to the water from the first circuit and warms it up. The hot and lighter water remains on the surface of the accumulators and does not mix with the colder one in the lower layers, and it is in the upper part of the accumulators that the warm water feeding the waterfall is taken. Thanks to the layering, hot water can be therefore provided to supply the installation without having to wait for the whole accumulation volume to be at the right temperature. The significance of this principle in terms of energy saving can be easily understood. Hot Pot is therefore a modern ‘Leonardo style machine’ that shows that it is possible - in terms of cost-effectiveness, yet with full performance – that precious resources such as energy and water are utilized at best. A totem enriched by water moments where the most authentic beauty, represented by this significant technology largely utilized by Buderus in its everyday activity, is however included in a simple physical principle.
Project
The installation consists of 15 Logasol SKS 4.0 flat solar collectors divided into five series and two Buderus Logalux accumulators with 1000 litre capacity each, for an overall capacity of approximately 2000 litres to which the volume of water contained in the collection basin, in the connection pipes and in the water blade that makes up the waterfall must be added. The forced circulation solar circuit heats the coils of the accumulators, while a pump takes the water from the basin and, after filtering it, sends it to the lower part of the accumulators from which it is then pushed towards the waterfall effect distribution eaves located at the top of the installation. SKS 4.0 solar collectors are characterized by a sealed double glazing, filled with argon and without back ventilation openings, which gives the opportunity to achieve an extremely high solar energy conversion efficiency. The solar circuit pumping station integrates the differential heat regulation and the management of the variable flow circulator in order to optimize the contribution of solar energy. Accumulators transfer the energy taken from the solar collectors to the water that makes the waterfall effect on the collection basin. The variable flow circulator to recover the content of the collection basin gives the opportunity to calibrate the flow in order to obtain the wanted visual effect.
Buderus
Hot Pot represents the intention to explore in unusual territories, through the creative intuition of a careful and visionary designer such as Marc Sadler, the potential of Buderus solutions and systems, technologically innovative and historically in the forefront also with respect to the care for the environment and its resources. A supply of products and services which are patented, tested and certified, able to interpret the vital relationship between design and technology aimed at exploring the new opportunities for eco-sustainability. This also thanks to the knowledge acquired in more than one hundred years of experience in the industry, which makes Buderus one of the main manufacturers of complete thermotechnical systems.
