Analysis and optimization of solar hot water systems

Use of a simplified method has been made to calculate the time-dependent thermal performance of various solar domestic hot water systems. to establish the value of solar hot water systems under given economic considerations a thermal analysis was carried out on three basic energy system designs, operating at several locations in the Federal Republic of Germany (F.R.G.) with various solar collectors. It is found that systems design can result in variations up to a factor of two in the per cent solar output. the location and year of operation in the F.R.G. result in variations up to 15 per cent in the solar output. A sensitivity study was also done with respect to all solar collector, systems and user parameters. From this it was found that the dominant effects on the systems performance were due to the collector-dependent parameters.