The long-term accumulation of solar collectors and the subsequent use of the heat

Abstract

The aim of the thesis is the design and evaluation of the long-term accumulation of solar collectors and the subsequent use of the heat. The basic principles of the use of solar energy are introduced in the theoretical part as well as the list of available heat pumps, solar collectors moreover options for the accumulation of heat are evaluated. In the practical part the system of a long-term heat accumulation for a partially restored family house is designed, where accumulation into water or gravel are the two presented options. Solar energy is collected by solar collectors and accumulated in the long term storage. The system involves water to water or ground to water heat pump that reduces the temperature of the reservoir in order to increase the temperature difference of the system. Both options require a large volume of heat collecting, including large surface of solar collectors. Because of the high cost and spatial requirements the system shows to be hardly realistic in practice. For this reason an alternative solution of a family house heating system more suitable from the economic point of view is described. As a result it was proved that system of the long-term accumulation is not an appropriate solution for heating system of family houses and it is used in places with enough space for the accumulation such as high capacity trays or flooded mines. For existing family houses (partly insulated and with a heat source such as natural gas) the usage of the heat pump eventually supported by solar collectors appears as the most sensible solution. Such solution shows a return of investment from 14 to 25 years, and contributes to sustainable development and to reduction of non-renewable primary energy