Real Time Experimental Performance Assessment of a Photovoltaic Thermal System Cascaded with Flat Plate and Heat Pipe Evacuated Tube Collector

In response to the global quest for a sustainable and environmentally friendly source of energy most scientists' discretion is solar energy, especially solar thermal. However, successful deployment of solar thermal technologies such as solar assisted process heating (SAPH) systems in medium- to large-scale industries is still in quandary due to their inefficacy in raising ample temperatures. Cascaded SAPH system, which is essentially a series combination of two same or different types of thermal collectors, may provide a worthwhile solution to this problem. In this article, performance assessment and comparison of two cascaded SAPH systems have been presented: photovoltaic thermal (PVT) cascaded with flat-plate collector (PVT-FPC) and PVT coupled with heat-pipe evacuated tube collector (PVT-HPETC). Simulation models have been presented for individual FPC, HPETC and PVT as well as PVT cascaded with FPC and HPETC systems in TRNSYS and validated through outdoor experimentation. Both the first and the second laws of thermodynamics have been employed to reveal veritable performance of the systems. Results show that PVT-HPETC delivers better performance with 1625 W thermal energy, 81% energy efficiency and 13.22% exergy efficiency. It cuts 1.37 kg of CO2 on an hourly basis. Cascaded systems can be effective in sustaining industrial process heat requirements.

Investigating the Effect of Changing Ratios and Flowrates on Photovoltaic Thermal and Evacuated Tube Collector Array Performance for Different Building Types

Photovoltaic thermal and/or evacuated tube collectors on building roofs can be effectively used to reduce fossil fuel use for heating and reliance on the electrical grid. To evaluate the potential of this reduction, a set of models were created for rooftop photovoltaic thermal and evacuated tube collector energy production, both thermal and electricity, and tested using a series of potential layouts. Five collector area ratios, two layout options, and three working fluid flowrates were investigated using five reference buildings as case studies. From these case studies it was determined that in Toronto’s climate, the exclusive use of photovoltaic thermal collectors produces the most total energy, while using only evacuated tube collectors maximally offsets greenhouse gasses. The results suggest that district heating would be highly effective to reduce the carbon footprint of city cores like the Toronto 2030 District.

Investigating the Effect of Changing Ratios and Flowrates on Photovoltaic Thermal and Evacuated Tube Collector Array Performance for Different Building Types

Photovoltaic thermal and/or evacuated tube collectors on building roofs can be effectively used to reduce fossil fuel use for heating and reliance on the electrical grid. To evaluate the potential of this reduction, a set of models were created for rooftop photovoltaic thermal and evacuated tube collector energy production, both thermal and electricity, and tested using a series of potential layouts. Five collector area ratios, two layout options, and three working fluid flowrates were investigated using five reference buildings as case studies. From these case studies it was determined that in Toronto’s climate, the exclusive use of photovoltaic thermal collectors produces the most total energy, while using only evacuated tube collectors maximally offsets greenhouse gasses. The results suggest that district heating would be highly effective to reduce the carbon footprint of city cores like the Toronto 2030 District.

Evaluating the Performance of Two Solar Domestic Hot Water Systems of the Archetype Sustainable Houses

This thesis is focused on the performance of the two SDHW systems of the sustainable Archetype houses in Vaughan, Ontario with daily hot water consumption of 225 litres. The first system consists of a flat plate solar thermal collector in conjunction with a gas boiler and a DWHR. The second SDHW system consists of an evacuated tube collector, an electric tank and a DWHR. The experimental results showed that the DWHRs were capable of an annual heat recovery of 789 kWh. The flat plate and evacuated tube collectors had an annual thermal energy output of 2038 kWh and 1383 kWh. The systems were also modeled in TRNSYS and validated with the experimental results. The simulated results showed that Edmonton has the highest annual energy consumption of 3763.4 kWh and 2852.9 kWh by gas boiler and electric tank and that the solar thermal collectors and DWHRs are most beneficial in Edmonton.

Evaluating the Performance of Two Solar Domestic Hot Water Systems of the Archetype Sustainable Houses

This thesis is focused on the performance of the two SDHW systems of the sustainable Archetype houses in Vaughan, Ontario with daily hot water consumption of 225 litres. The first system consists of a flat plate solar thermal collector in conjunction with a gas boiler and a DWHR. The second SDHW system consists of an evacuated tube collector, an electric tank and a DWHR. The experimental results showed that the DWHRs were capable of an annual heat recovery of 789 kWh. The flat plate and evacuated tube collectors had an annual thermal energy output of 2038 kWh and 1383 kWh. The systems were also modeled in TRNSYS and validated with the experimental results. The simulated results showed that Edmonton has the highest annual energy consumption of 3763.4 kWh and 2852.9 kWh by gas boiler and electric tank and that the solar thermal collectors and DWHRs are most beneficial in Edmonton.