Optimized Dimensioning and Operation Automation for a Solar-Combi System for Indoor Space Heating. A Case Study for a School Building in Crete

This article investigates the introduction of hybrid power plants for thermal energy production for the indoor space heating loads coverage. The plant consists of flat plate solar collectors with selective coating, water tanks as thermal energy storage and a biomass heater. A new operation algorithm is applied, maximizing the exploitation of the available thermal energy storage capacity and, eventually, the thermal power production from the solar collectors. An automation system is also designed and proposed for the realization of the newly introduced algorithm. The solar-combi system is computationally simulated, using annual time series of average hourly steps. A dimensioning optimization process is proposed, using as criterion the minimization of the thermal energy production levelized cost. The overall approach is validated on a school building with 1000 m2 of covered area, located in the hinterland of the island of Crete. It is seen that, given the high available solar radiation in the specific area, the proposed solar-combi system can guarantee the 100% annual heating load coverage of the examined building, with an annual contribution from the solar collectors higher than 45%. The annually average thermal power production levelized cost is calculated at 0.15 €/kWhth.

[1]  Irene P. Koronaki,et al.  Experimental and theoretical performance evaluation of evacuated tube collectors under mediterranean climate conditions , 2018, Thermal Science and Engineering Progress.

[2]  Mingxin Lyu,et al.  Research on operation strategy and performance prediction of flat plate solar collector with dual-function for drying agricultural products , 2018, Renewable Energy.

[3]  Francesco Calise,et al.  Energy and Economic Analysis of Energy Savings Measures in a Swimming Pool Centre by Means of Dynamic Simulations , 2018, Energies.

[4]  Laurent Mora,et al.  Energy Saving Analysis of a Solar Combi-system using Detailed Control Algorithm Modeled with Modelica , 2015 .

[5]  Simon Furbo,et al.  Theoretical variations of the thermal performance of different solar collectors and solar combi systems as function of the varying yearly weather conditions in Denmark , 2009 .

[6]  Dimitris Al. Katsaprakakis,et al.  Upgrading Energy Efficiency For School BuildingsIn Greece , 2017 .

[7]  Kristina Orehounig,et al.  Comparison of solar thermal systems with storage: From building to neighbourhood scale , 2017 .

[8]  Teresa McGrath,et al.  Net energy analysis of a solar combi system with Seasonal Thermal Energy Store , 2015 .

[9]  Andrew Martin,et al.  Co-Production Performance Evaluation of a Novel Solar Combi System for Simultaneous Pure Water and Hot Water Supply in Urban Households of UAE , 2017 .

[10]  Dimitris Al. Katsaprakakis.  Comparison of swimming pools alternative passive and active heating systems based on renewable energy sources in Southern Europe , 2015 .

[11]  Ming Li,et al.  The evacuated tube solar collector assisted heat pump for heating greenhouses , 2018, Energy and Buildings.

[12]  Jianhua Fan,et al.  Testing of PCM Heat Storage Modules with Solar Collectors as Heat Source , 2016 .

[13]  Georgios Martinopoulos,et al.  Simulation of Solar Thermal Systems with Seasonal Storage Operation for Residential Scale Applications , 2017 .

[14]  Agis M. Papadopoulos,et al.  Energy and Environmental Performance of Solar Thermal Systems in Hotel Buildings , 2017 .

[15]  Jianhua Fan,et al.  Laboratory Testing of Solar Combi System with Compact Long Term PCM Heat Storage , 2016 .

[16]  H. Soltau,et al.  Testing the thermal performance of uncovered solar collectors , 1992 .

[17]  Roberto Fedrizzi,et al.  Validation of the numerical model of a turnkey solar combi+ system , 2012 .

[18]  Anthony Paul Roskilly,et al.  Feasibility study of seasonal solar thermal energy storage in domestic dwellings in the UK , 2018 .

[19]  Mehdi Khiadani,et al.  A review of latest developments, progress, and applications of heat pipe solar collectors , 2018, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews.

[20]  Yiping Wang,et al.  Building Space Heating with a Solar-Assisted Heat Pump Using Roof-Integrated Solar Collectors , 2011 .

[21]  Eleni Ampatzi,et al.  Building integration of domestic solar combi-systems: the importance of managing the distribution pipework , 2017 .

[22]  Jean-Louis Canaletti,et al.  Building-integrated solar thermal systems based on vacuum-tube technology: Critical factors focusing on life-cycle environmental profile , 2016 .

[23]  Abdul Amir H. Kadhum,et al.  Case study on solar water heating for flat plate collector , 2018, Case Studies in Thermal Engineering.

[24]  Shahjadi Hisan Farjana,et al.  Environmental Impacts of Solar-Photovoltaic and Solar-Thermal Systems with Life-Cycle Assessment , 2018, Energies.

[25]  Bengt Perers,et al.  Mathematical modelling of unglazed solar collectors under extreme operating conditions , 2015 .

[26]  Abdellah Shafieian,et al.  Theoretical and experimental analysis of thermal performance of a solar water heating system with evacuated tube heat pipe collector , 2016 .

[27]  Barat Ghobadian,et al.  Solar Thermal Power Plants: Progress and Prospects in Iran , 2015 .

[28]  Shuai Deng,et al.  Performance optimization and analysis of solar combi-system with carbon dioxide heat pump , 2013 .

[29]  Simon Furbo,et al.  Thermo-economic optimization of a hybrid solar district heating plant with flat plate collectors and parabolic trough collectors in series , 2018, Energy Conversion and Management.

[30]  R. Saidur,et al.  A review on recent development for the design and packaging of hybrid photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) solar systems , 2018, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews.

[31]  Rahman Saidur,et al.  Progress and latest developments of evacuated tube solar collectors , 2015 .

[32]  Gunter Rockendorf,et al.  Simulation and Evaluation of Solar Thermal Combi Systems with Direct Integration of Solar Heat into the Space Heating Loop , 2016 .

[33]  S. C. Kaushik,et al.  Advancement in solar photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) hybrid collector technology , 2012 .

[34]  Alistair B. Sproul,et al.  Performance characterisation and energy savings of uncovered swimming pool solar collectors under reduced flow rate conditions , 2012 .

[35]  Omar Behar,et al.  Solar thermal power plants – A review of configurations and performance comparison , 2018, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews.

[36]  Alo Allik,et al.  Increasing Solar Energy Usage for Dwelling Heating, Using Solar Collectors and Medium Sized Vacuum Insulated Storage Tank , 2018 .

[37]  Krishna Murari Pandey,et al.  A review on analysis and development of solar flat plate collector , 2017 .

[38]  S. Jahangiri Mamouri,et al.  A modified solar desalination system using evacuated tube collector , 2016 .