ECO XL

High-capacity thermodynamic hot-water production

ECO XL is a next-generation thermodynamic solar heat-pump system developed for high-volume commercial and industrial hot-water production.

Designed for buildings and organisations with substantial daily hot-water requirements, the system is suitable for hotels, hospitals, schools, sports facilities, apartment buildings and industrial applications.

ECO XL is available with storage capacities from 1,000 to 6,000 litres and configurations using 6, 12, 16, 28 or 40 thermodynamic solar panels.

The system can produce hot water at temperatures of up to 55°C, 24 hours a day—even during cloudy weather or at night.

Designed for demanding applications

ECO XL provides an efficient and scalable alternative to conventional commercial water-heating systems.

Typical applications include:

• Hotels and guest accommodation
• Hospitals and care facilities
• Schools and universities
• Gyms and sports centres
• Apartment and condominium developments
• Restaurants and catering facilities
• Factories and industrial processes
• Other high-demand hot-water installations

Each system is configured around the building’s expected demand, available installation space and existing energy infrastructure.

Flexible capacities and configurations

ECO XL is available with storage capacities ranging from 1,000 to 6,000 litres.

Depending on the application, the system can incorporate one or two AISI 316 stainless-steel storage cylinders. An optional water-to-water heat exchanger can also be specified when integration with a boiler or another heat source is required.

Available panel configurations include:

• 6 thermodynamic solar panels
• 12 thermodynamic solar panels
• 16 thermodynamic solar panels
• 28 thermodynamic solar panels
• 40 thermodynamic solar panels

Multiple ECO XL systems can be connected together where a project requires still greater storage or recovery capacity.

Thermodynamic solar technology

The thermodynamic solar panels absorb energy from solar radiation, wind, rain and the surrounding air.

Unlike conventional glazed solar collectors, the panels do not depend solely upon direct sunshine. They can continue collecting environmental heat during overcast conditions and at night, providing dependable performance throughout the year.

Their high heat-collection performance also means that ECO XL can require less panel area than some traditional solar-thermal systems serving a comparable hot-water demand.

How ECO XL works

Refrigerant circulates through a closed-loop circuit connecting the thermodynamic solar panels to the indoor thermodynamic block.

As the refrigerant passes through the outdoor panels, it absorbs environmental heat and evaporates. It then travels to the compressor, where its pressure and temperature increase.

The heated refrigerant enters a heat exchanger, transferring its collected energy into the stored water.

After releasing its heat, the refrigerant passes through an expansion valve. Its pressure and temperature fall before it returns to the outdoor panels, where the cycle begins again.

Efficient system design

The ECO XL equipment is designed to avoid many of the energy-consuming components associated with conventional air-source systems.

Its advantages include:

• No ventilation ducts
• No fans
• No energy-consuming defrost cycles
• High-efficiency, low-consumption compressor
• No requirement for separate support equipment
• Straightforward architectural integration
• No excess heat-dissipation requirement on hot days

This helps reduce electrical consumption while keeping the overall system comparatively simple.

Commercial hot water up to 55°C

ECO XL can produce stored hot water at temperatures of up to 55°C throughout the day and across changing weather conditions.

This makes it particularly suitable for organisations where hot-water availability is operationally important and demand cannot be limited to periods of direct sunshine.

Its scalable storage and panel configurations allow the system to be matched to expected occupancy, usage patterns and peak demand.

Robust stainless-steel storage

ECO XL can be supplied with one or two AISI 316 stainless-steel cylinders.

Stainless-steel construction provides strength, hygiene and corrosion resistance for demanding commercial installations. An optional heat exchanger enables the stored water to be supported by or integrated with another heat source where required by the project design.

Available options include:

• One or two storage cylinders
• Capacities from 1,000 to 6,000 litres
• AISI 316 stainless-steel construction
• Optional water-to-water heat exchanger
• Boiler or supplementary heat-source integration

Low maintenance requirements

The thermodynamic solar panels contain no glass or other fragile collector materials and have no moving parts.

Routine maintenance requirements are therefore extremely low. The principal scheduled requirement is normally inspection of the storage cylinder’s sacrificial anode, where fitted.

The panels are designed to maintain their collection performance over time without requiring regular cleaning.

Lightweight and versatile panels

The thermodynamic solar panels are lightweight, discreet and flexible in their positioning.

They can be installed horizontally on suitable roofs, walls, flat roofs or supporting structures. Their relatively low weight and simple construction can make architectural integration easier than with traditional glazed solar collectors.

Key panel advantages include:

• Lightweight construction
• Flexible installation locations
• No fragile glazing
• No routine cleaning
• No overheating concerns
• Effective operation in varied weather
• Discreet architectural integration

Reduced hot-water costs

Commercial hot-water production can represent a significant proportion of a building’s total energy demand.

By collecting much of the required heat from the surrounding environment, ECO XL can substantially reduce dependence on conventional electric, gas or oil-fired water heating.

The potential result is lower operating expenditure, reduced associated carbon emissions and a faster return on investment—particularly in buildings with high and consistent hot-water demand.

A scalable solution for larger projects

Every large hot-water installation has its own demand profile. Occupancy, peak usage, storage requirements, incoming-water temperature and available plant space all affect the appropriate system design.

ECO XL’s range of cylinder capacities and panel configurations allows it to be tailored to individual projects. Multiple systems can also be combined when demand exceeds the capacity of a single installation.

A detailed system assessment should be completed to establish the appropriate storage volume, heat-recovery capacity, panel quantity and integration requirements.