Optimal control studies of solar heating systems

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5320640· OSTI ID:5320640

Winn, C B

In the past few years fuel prices have seen steady increases. Also, the supply of fuel has been on the decline. Because of these two problems there has been an increase in the number of solar heated buildings. Since conventional fuel prices are increasing and as a solar heating system represents a high capital cost it is desirable to obtain the maximum performance from a solar heating system. The control scheme that is used in a solar heated building has an effect on the performance of the solar system. The best control scheme possible would, of course, be desired. This report deals with the control problems of a solar heated building. The first of these problems is to control the inside temperature of the building and to minimize the fuel consumption. This problem applies to both solar and conventionally heated buildings. The second problem considered is to control the collector fluid flow to maximize the difference between the useful energy collected and the energy required to pump the fluid. The third problem is to control the enclosure temperature of a building which has two sources of heat, one solar and the other conventional.

• Research Organization: Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins (USA). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
• DOE Contract Number: AS02-77CS34519
• OSTI ID: 5320640
• Report Number(s): COO-4519-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
OPTIMAL CONTROL
BUILDINGS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
ERRORS
FLOW REGULATORS
SOLAR SPACE HEATING
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
WEATHER
CONTROL
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
HEATING
HEATING SYSTEMS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR HEATING
SPACE HEATING
140901* - Solar Thermal Utilization- Space Heating & Cooling