Performance Testing and Optimization of Solar Assisted Heating Systems for Multi-Family Houses

摘要

The variety of designs for solar assisted heating systems (also called solar combisystems) in multi-familyrnhouses is wide and has not been evaluated systematically. Functional insufficiencies, resulting fromrnunfavorable device combinations as well as improper control design place significant market barriers for thernapplication of this technology. Using hardware-in-the-loop tests, functional aspects of the most commonrnsystem designs are investigated and evaluated. Further dynamic system simulations on an annual basis allowrnan energetic evaluation and later a comparison of the different design options. In this contribution we presentrnthe results for the first tested solar assisted heating system. Furthermore, the study suggests the introduction ofrna novel evaluation parameter referred to as the performance factor of the central heating facility, and a novelrnreference parameter referred to as the demand-specific collector area. A newly developed benchmarkrnprocedure is comparing the central heat demand of the building to the maximum solar thermal gain of the solarrncircuit in order to calculate the maximum performance factor possible for an idealized central heating facility.rnUsing this benchmark procedure, optimization potentials are exemplarily disclosed for the tested solarrncombisystem. The results highlight a high optimization potential of the system control and the process layoutrnof central heating facilities, achievable with low cost at the same time.