Annual-cycle thermal energy storage for a community solar system: details of a sensitivity analysis

Technical Report · Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5170051· OSTI ID:5170051

Baylin, F; Monte, R; Sillman, S

This report presents results and conclusions of a simulation and sensitivity analysis of community-sized, annual-cycle thermal-energy-storage (ACTES) solar energy systems. The analysis which is based on an hourly simulation is used to (1) size systems in 10 locations, (2) identify critical design parameters, and (3) provide a basic conceptual approach for future studies and designs. This research is a forerunner to an economic analysis of this particular system (based on large constructed tanks) and a general analysis of the value of ACTES technologies for solar applications. A total of 440 systems were sized for 10 locations in the United States. Three different building types and four different community sizes were modeled. All designs used each of two collector types at each of two different tilt angles. Two linear relationships were derived which simplify system sizing. The average ambient temperature is used to determine average yearly collector efficiency. This parameter combined with estimates of space/DHW loads, storage/distribution losses, and total yearly insolation per square meter allows estimation of collector area. Storage size can be estimated from the winter net load which is based on space and DHW loads, storage and distribution losses, and collector solar heat gain for the winter months.

• Research Organization: Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-77CH00178
• OSTI ID: 5170051
• Report Number(s): SERI/TR-721-575
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140901 -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Space Heating & Cooling
140907 -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Water Heating
142000* -- Solar Energy-- Heat Storage-- (1980-)
25 ENERGY STORAGE
250600 -- Energy Storage-- Thermal
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
ANNUAL ENERGY STORAGE
APPLIANCES
BUILDINGS
COMMUNITIES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATION
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CONTAINERS
DATA
DATA FORMS
DESIGN
DISTRICT HEATING
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENERGY LOSSES
ENERGY STORAGE
EQUIPMENT
EVACUATED COLLECTORS
EVACUATED TUBE COLLECTORS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FLAT PLATE COLLECTORS
GRAPHS
HEAT LOSSES
HEATERS
HEATING
HEATING LOAD
HEATING SYSTEMS
INFORMATION
INSOLATION
LOAD MANAGEMENT
LOSSES
NUMERICAL DATA
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
SEASONAL VARIATION
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
SIMULATION
SIZE
SOLAR
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR HEATING
SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
SOLAR SPACE HEATING
SOLAR WATER HEATERS
SOLAR WATER HEATING
SPACE HEATING
STORAGE
STRATIFICATION
TANKS
THEORETICAL DATA
THERMAL EFFICIENCY
THERMAL INSULATION
WATER HEATERS