News — Ethylene Glycol
Why Every Commercial Solar Thermal System Owner Should Use a Refractometer
Posted by Charlie Downs on
Solar thermal systems are designed to deliver decades of efficient heating performance. Whether the system heats domestic hot water, supports radiant floor heating, warms a swimming pool, or supplements industrial process heat, the success of the installation depends heavily on one often-overlooked factor: the condition and concentration of the heat transfer fluid.
Most closed-loop solar thermal systems rely on a glycol-based heat transfer fluid, commonly propylene glycol, to protect collectors and piping from freezing while efficiently carrying heat from the solar collectors to storage tanks or heat exchangers. While the solar collectors themselves may receive the attention, the fluid circulating through the system is the true lifeblood of the operation.
This is where a refractometer becomes one of the most valuable maintenance tools a solar system owner, contractor, or facility manager can own.