THERMAL MATS FOR SPACE HEATING AND COOLING

摘要

A study is made of a single solar-powered device (e.g., a flexible plastic mat with an air space or water channel) to accomplish both direct-gain heating and space cooling or water heating. In the former operating mode, heating load reductions of 10 to 30％ can be achieved for small structures under cold, sunny midwinter weather conditions. With water flowing, cooling load reductions of 25％ are obtainable with the mats attached to only one large surface of similar structures. The mats also possess significant water heating capability which is a function of flow rate as well as solar flux. When operated simultaneously as space-cooling devices, they can serve as efficient water preheaters. For lower flow rates, temperature rises are sufficiently high for direct coupling to domestic hot water supplies.