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

Conference · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 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 Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-99-GO10337
• OSTI ID: 860938
• Report Number(s): NREL/CP-550-37105; TRN: US200524%%383
• Resource Relation: Related Information: Presented at the 2004 DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program Review Meeting, 25-28 October 2004, Denver, Colorado. Also included in the proceedings available on CD-ROM (DOE/GO-102005-2067; NREL/CD-520-37140)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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