Application of reliability, maintainability, and availability engineering to solar heating and cooling systems

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:5717548

Chopra, P. S.; Wolosewicz, R. M.

The reliability of solar hot-water and heating systems is compared with that of conventional systems using block diagrams, failure modes and effects analysis, and fault trees. Although stand-alone solar-energy systems are not as reliable as conventional systems, the RMA of the combined solar and conventional system can be made comparable to currently available heating and hot-water systems. An availability matrix is presented that can be used to develop maintenance schedules that do not decrease the system's availability. Field data presented on operating solar heating and cooling systems indicate that these systems experience four major generic problems: freezing, leakage, controls, and collectors.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 5717548
• Report Number(s): CONF-800103-3
• 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
APPLIANCES
AVAILABILITY
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DIAGRAMS
EQUIPMENT
FAILURES
FAULT TREE ANALYSIS
FREEZING
GAS APPLIANCES
HEATERS
HEATING SYSTEMS
LEAKS
MAINTENANCE
RELIABILITY
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
SOLAR WATER HEATERS
SYSTEM FAILURE ANALYSIS
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
WATER HEATERS