Combination of solar collectors and ground-source heat pump for small buildings

The combination of solar heat and ground-source heat pumps in dwellings gives opportunities for optimising the use of renewable energy sources and minimize the share of bought energy. Solar collectors in the system may give advantages for the operational conditions both for the solar collectors and for the heat pump. The aim of this project was to analyse different variables such as energy demand, building types, climate, geological conditions, system design and control. The study has been carried out with TRNSYS simulations for Swedish climate and building conditions. The results from the computer simulations so far, shows that there is an obvious risk that the use of electricity for the circulation pumps is larger than the decrease of electricity use for the heat pump and the auxiliary heater. It is most important that the system is optimised in order to restrict the total use of electricity

Simulation of a solar collector array consisting of two types of solar collectors, with and without convection barrier

AbstractThe installed area of solar collectors in solar heating fields is rapidly increasing in Denmark. In this scenario even relatively small performance improvements may lead to a large increase in the overall energy production. Both collectors with and without polymer foil, functioning as convection barrier, can be found on the Danish market. Depending on the temperature level at which the two types of collectors operate, one can perform better than the other. This project aimed to study the behavior of a 14 solar collector row made of these two different kinds of collectors, in order to optimize the composition of the row. Actual solar collectors available on the Danish market (models HT-SA and HT-A 35-10 manufactured byARCON Solar A/S) were used for this analysis. To perform the study, a simulation model in TRNSYS was developed based onthe Danish solar collector field in Braedstrup. A parametric analysis was carried out by modifying the composition of the row, in order to find both the energy and economy optimum

Performance evaluation of low concentrating photovoltaic/thermal systems: A case study from Sweden

Some of the main bottlenecks for the development and commercialization of photovoltaic/thermal hybrids are the lack of an internationally recognized standard testing procedure as well as a method to compare different hybrids with each other and with conventional alternatives. A complete methodology to characterize, simulate and evaluate concentrating photovoltaic/thermal hybrids has been proposed and exemplified in a particular case study. By using the suggested testing method, the hybrid parameters were experimentally determined. These were used in a validated simulation model that estimates the hybrid outputs in different geographic locations. Furthermore, the method includes a comparison of the hybrid performance with conventional collectors and photovoltaic modules working side-by-side. The measurements show that the hybrid electrical efficiency is 6.4% while the optical efficiency is 0.45 and the U-value 1.9 W/m(2) degrees C. These values are poor when compared with the parameters of standard PV modules and flat plate collectors. Also, the beam irradiation incident on a north south axis tracking surface is 20-40% lower than the global irradiation incident on a fixed surface at optimal tilt. There is margin of improvement for the studied hybrid but this combination makes it difficult for concentrating hybrids to compete with conventional PV modules and flat plate collectors. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved