Solar assisted heat pumps

Solar Assisted Heat Pumps have the potential to provide low carbon heat for domestic hot water generation and low temperature heating. They have advantages over conventional solar thermal systems because they can generate heating and hot water during periods of low or zero solar, whist still maintain the advantage of not needing to be connected to the gas grid. They are simple in nature and can be installed in a wide range of applications. They are also currently uncommon in the UK so a thorough understanding of the operating performance and characteristics is required. This is potentially an important energy technology that can be used to reduce heating energy consumption and reduce CO2 equivalent emissions in buildings. The paper describes the technology and presents an investigation in an office application. It describes an experimental investigation of solar assisted heat pumps which gives the relative performance compared to conventional methods

Investigation of an integrated low carbon solar assisted heat pump

© 2016, International Institute of Refrigeration. All rights reserved.Solar Assisted Heat Pumps have the potential to provide low carbon heat for domestic hot water generation and low temperature heating. They have advantages over conventional solar thermal systems because they can generate heating and hot water during periods of low or zero solar, whist still maintain the advantage of not needing to be connected to the gas grid. They are simple in nature and can be installed in a wide range of applications. They are also currently uncommon in the UK so a thorough understanding of the operating performance and characteristics is required. This is potentially an important energy technology that can be used to reduce heating energy consumption and reduce CO2 equivalent emissions in buildings. The paper describes the technology and presents an investigation in an office application. It describes an experimental investigation of solar assisted heat pumps which gives the relative performance compared to conventional methods

An analysis of volunteer water quality data

Center for Water and the Environmen

Flood forecasting for the Buffalo Bayou using CRWR-PrePro and HEC-HMS

Center for Water and the Environmen

Investigation of a Solar Assisted Heating System

Low emissivity transpired solar collectors (low-ε TSCs) consist of metal solar absorber, collector plates, with a spectrally sensitive surface, perforated with holes. Ambient air is drawn through the holes and heated by convection from the solar collector plate, increasing the air temperature by up to 25 K. The heated air can be used for e.g. space heating or pre-heating hot water, in buildings. The performance of low-ε TSCs combined with heat pumps in various configurations, to deliver heat to buildings, has been investigated using computational models and compared with conventional heating systems to determine the potential energy, carbon and cost savings available. The results showed that using low-ε TSCs incorporated into a heat pump based ventilation air system produced annual savings in energy, CO2e and costs of up to 14%, compared to similar systems where the TSC was not used. The greatest savings were achieved when using an exhaust air heat pump. Recommendations for further development of this novel technology are also presented

A prototype toolset for the ArcGIS Hydro Data Model

Center for Research in Water Resource

Study of novel solar assisted heating system

The potential for energy, carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) and cost savings when using low emissivity (low-ε) transpired solar collectors (TSCs), combined with heat pumps in a range of configurations, has been investigated using computer modelling. Low-ε TSCs consist of metal solar collector plates with a spectrally sensitive surface, perforated with holes. Ambient air is drawn through the holes and heated by convection from the solar collector plate, increasing the air temperature by up to 25 K. The heated air can be used for e.g. space heating, or pre-heating water in buildings. The models developed have been used to compare the performance of low-ε TSC/heat pump heating systems in small and large buildings, at a range of locations. The model results showed savings in energy, CO2e and costs of up to 16.4% when using low-ε TSCs combined with an exhaust air heat pump compared with using the exhaust air heat pump alone. Practical application: If the UK is to meet its target of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, it will be necessary to adopt low or zero carbon heating technologies. The novel low emissivity transpired solar collector device investigated can contribute to this. Its advantages include: (i) utilising solar radiation; (ii) readily integrated with existing heating systems e.g. heat pumps; (iii) significant energy, CO2e emissions and cost savings; (iv) low cost device; (v) minimal energy input i.e. one small fan; (vi) can be retrofitted to existing buildings; (vii) its benefits were applicable at all of the (wide range of) locations tested

Assessment of hydrologic alteration software

Center for Water and the Environmen

An algorithm to delineate coastal watersheds for TMDL development

Center for Research in Water Resource