Cold-Climate Solar Domestic Hot Water Systems: Cost/Benefit Analysis and Opportunities for Improvement

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2005

OSTI ID:860938

Burch, J; Hillman, T; Salasovich, J

To determine potential for reduction in the cost of saved energy (COSE) for cold-climate solar domestic hot water (SDHW) systems, COSE was computed for three types of cold climate water heating systems. For each system, a series of cost-saving measures was considered: (1) balance of systems (BOS): tank, heat exchanger, and piping-valving measures; and (2) four alternative lower-cost collectors. Given all beneficial BOS measures in place, >50% reduction of COSE was achievable only with selective polymer collectors at half today's selective collector cost. In all three system types, today's metal-glass selective collector achieved the same COSE as the hypothesized non-selective polymer collector.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-99GO10337
• OSTI ID: 860938
• Report Number(s): NREL/CP-550-37105
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
BALANCE OF SYSTEMS (BOS)
Buildings
CLIMATES
COLD CLIMATE
COST OF SAVED ENERGY (COSE)
GEOTHERMAL HOT-WATER SYSTEMS
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEATING SYSTEMS
HOT WATER
METAL GLASS SELECTIVE COLLECTOR
POLYMERS
PV
SOLAR DOMESTIC HOT WATER (SDHW)
SOLAR ENERGY
Solar Energy - Thermal
WATER HEATING