DOUBLE TANK ICS SOLAR SYSTEMS

摘要

Integrated Collector Storage (ICS) systems are compact solar water heaters, simple in construction, installation and operation. They are cheaper than flat plate thermosiphonic units, but their higher thermal losses make them suitable mainly for application in locations with favorable weather conditions. Aiming to the achievement of low system height and satisfactory water temperature stratification we designed, constructed and tested new types of ICS systems with two horizontal cylindrical storage tanks, properly mounted in stationary CPC reflector troughs. The non uniform distribution of solar radiation on the two absorbing surfaces is combined with the seasonal sun elevation, resulting to an effective water heating. In this paper we present the design and performance of four experimental models of double tank ICS solar systems. The results regarding the water temperature rise inside storage tanks, the mean daily efficiency and the coefficient of thermal losses during night show the effective operation of the suggested ICS solar systems.