Empirically Driven Computer Simulations of Solar Thermal Systems for Space Heating and Domestic Hot Water

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Curtis Robbins ◽  
Travis Goldade ◽  
S. Kent Hoekman ◽  
Roger Jacobson ◽  
Robert Turner
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Computer Simulations ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Space Heating ◽  
Residential Setting ◽  
Hvac System ◽  
Solar Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Systems ◽  
Domestic Hot Water

The Desert Research Institute (DRI) has developed a Renewable Energy Deployment and Display Facility (REDD) which utilizes solar and wind to create a net zero energy residence for research, education, and outreach. The facility is a demonstration of the integration of many renewable energy technologies into a residential setting such that technology developers can show proof-of-concept, students and trade workers can get hands-on experience, and public organizations can see renewable energy components implemented into a residential setting. A major technological aspect of the facility is the use of solar thermal energy to provide space heating, Domestic Hot Water (DHW), and solar cooling. Data are monitored from three separate solar thermal systems, each with their own hot water storage, to evaluate optimized utilization of solar thermal energy into residential applications. The three solar thermal systems differ in their working fluids. System 1 uses a conventional mixture of glycol and water in 200 ft2 of ground mounted collector area, System 2 uses DHW in 210 ft2 of roof mounted collector area, and System 3 uses air in a 578 ft2 collector built into the roof. Each system is configured to be used for space heating and DHW. Systems 1 and 2 are built into the HVAC system of the 1200 ft2 house, and System 3 is built into the HVAC system of the 600 ft2 detached workshop. Data collected from each system provide the basis for year-long energy and economic simulations using TRNSYS for comparison. The results from the simulations are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of site-built solar air collectors, which have the advantage of using conventional materials, and avoid the issues of liquid collectors associated with boiling and freezing. This paper describes the experimental setup of the solar thermal systems, how the data are used as inputs to the computer simulations, and the configuration of the computer simulations. The REDD Facility, as well as the use of TRNSYS will continue to be used by DRI researchers to investigate not only the most feasible integration of components for a solar thermal residential system, but also as a tool to properly size and implement solar thermal systems.

scholarly journals Potential Savings in DHW Facilities through the Use of Solar Thermal Energy in the Hospitals of Extremadura (Spain)

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 2658 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gonzalo Sánchez-Barroso ◽  
Jaime González-Domínguez ◽  
Justo García-Sanz-Calcedo
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Solar Thermal Energy ◽  
Domestic Hot Water ◽  
The Public ◽  
Hospital Managers ◽  
Energy Ratios ◽  
Environmental Savings

Hospitals need to prepare large amounts of domestic hot water (DHW) to develop their healthcare activity. The aim of this work was to analyse potential savings that can be achieved by installing solar thermal energy for production of domestic hot water in the hospitals of Extremadura (Spain). For this purpose, 25 hospitals between 533 and 87,118 m2 and between 15 and 529 beds were studied, three solar factor scenarios were simulated (0.70, 0.75 and 0.80) and the necessary investment and corresponding economic and environmental savings were calculated. Better economic results and energy ratios for 70% of solar contribution were obtained. These results show an average payback of 4.74 years (SD = 0.26) reaching 4.29 kWh/€ per year (SD = 0.20). Undertaking an investment of 674,423 €, 2,895,416 kWh/year of thermal energy could be generated with which to save both 145,933 € and 638 tons of CO2 per year. It was statistically demonstrated the priority of carrying out an installation with a solar factor of 70%, investing preferably in hospitals in Cáceres over those in Badajoz, especially in the public sector with more than 300 beds. These findings will provide hospital managers with useful information to make decisions on future investments.

scholarly journals Domestic hot water consumption vs. solar thermal energy storage: The optimum size of the storage tank

2012 ◽  
Vol 97 ◽  
pp. 897-906 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.C. Rodríguez-Hidalgo ◽  
P.A. Rodríguez-Aumente ◽  
A. Lecuona ◽  
M. Legrand ◽  
R. Ventas
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Storage Tank ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Optimum Size ◽  
Solar Thermal Energy ◽  
Domestic Hot Water

Simulation Study of a Novel Solar Thermal Seasonal Heat Storage System Based on Stable Supercooled PCM for Space Heating and Domestic Hot Water Supply of Single Family Houses

2019 ◽  
Vol 887 ◽  
pp. 650-658
Author(s):  
Christoph Moser ◽  
Gerald Englmair ◽  
Hermann Schranzhofer ◽  
Andreas Heinz
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Latent Heat ◽  
Heat Supply ◽  
Heat Storage ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Space Heating ◽  
Single Family ◽  
Domestic Hot Water ◽  
Hot Water Supply

A TRNSYS model of a novel PCM heat storage, utilizing stable supercooling of Sodium Acetate Trihydrate (SAT), is presented. To achieve high solar fractions in heat supply of single family houses, the necessary integration of big water volumes is challenging. To evaluate its functionality, a system model of a solar thermal combisystem for space heating and domestic hot water supply for dynamic system simulation was built. The key component is a PCM volume for long term heat storage. While conventional heat storage concepts with SAT release the latent heat a few degrees below the melting temperature, with the concept of stable supercooling latent heat can be stored for long periods of time at ambient temperature. This allows the design of a partly loss-free storage. Solar fractions were evaluated for simulation runs with two building variations. Annual specific space heating demands of 15 and 30 kWh/(m2a) and a domestic hot water demand of a typical single family house were considered. A sensitivity analysis on solar fractions of domestic heat supply was performed by variation of the collector field and the PCM volume. While the increase of the PCM volume from 4.5 m3 to 9 m3 shows moderate effects in all simulation runs, an increase of the collector area has substantial effects on the share of solar heat on the total energy demand of the building.

Comparison of two dynamic approaches to modelling solar thermal systems for domestic hot water

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 292-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Célia Artur ◽  
Diana Neves ◽  
Boaventura C. Cuamba ◽  
António J. Leão
Keyword(s):  
Hot Water ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Thermal Systems ◽  
Domestic Hot Water

scholarly journals Software for Obtaining the Solar Coverage of a Solar Thermal Energy Installation for Domestic Hot Water Supply by Applying the f-Chart Method

Proceedings ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (23) ◽  
pp. 1449
Author(s):  
Sofía Sánchez Álvarez ◽  
Mª Pilar Castro García
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Energy Supply ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Solar Thermal Energy ◽  
Domestic Hot Water ◽  
Energy Installation ◽  
Hot Water Supply

This project presents the design of a simple software for the determination of solar coverage (f-Chart method) in domestic hot water installations. This program allows to determine in a fast and simple way, the fulfillment of the minimum needs of solar thermal energy supply according to the Technical Building Code.

scholarly journals Analysis of solar thermal systems and future development possibilities in Lithuania

Energetika ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 62 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rokas Valančius ◽  
Andrius Jurelionis ◽  
Juozas Vaičiūnas ◽  
Eugenijus Perednis ◽  
Vykintas Šuksteris
Keyword(s):  
Financial Analysis ◽  
District Heating ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Thermal Systems ◽  
Actual Performance ◽  
Domestic Hot Water ◽  
Analysis Of Alternatives ◽  
Evacuated Tube Collectors

Solar thermal systems with a total solar panel area varying from 2 to 204 m2 have been installed in Lithuania for over 20 years. The reviewed solar thermal domestic hot water systems in Lithuania produce up to 528 kWh per year per one square meter of solar collector absorber area. However, the  performance of these systems varies depending on the type of energy users, equipment and design of the  systems, as well as their maintenance. The  aim of this paper was to analyse solar thermal systems from the perspective of energy production and economic benefit as well as to outline the differences of their actual performance compared to the  numerical simulation results. A number of different solar thermal systems in Lithuania were selected for the analysis varying both in equipment used (flat type solar collectors, evacuated tube collectors) and type of energy user (domestic hot water heating, swimming pool, district heating). The  simulation software Polysun 8.1 was used for evaluation of solar thermal system performance, as well as financial analysis of alternatives of these systems. The results of the analysis showed that in the analysed cases the gap between measured and modelled data of heat energy produced by solar thermal systems was up to approximately 11%. The calculation of internal rate of return showed that a grant is required in most cases for solar thermal projects to be fully profitable.

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