Potential application of solar thermal systems for hot water production in Hong Kong

This paper presents the evaluation results of conventional solar water heater (SWH) systems and solar assisted heat pump (SAHP) systems for hot water production in Hong Kong. An economic comparison and global warming impact analysis are conducted among the two kinds of solar thermal systems and traditional water heating systems (i.e. electric water heaters and towngas water heaters). The economic comparison results show that solar thermal systems have greater economic benefits than traditional water heating systems. In addition, conventional SWH systems are comparable with the SAHP systems when solar fractions are above 50%. Besides, analysis on the sensitivity of the total equivalent warming impact (TEWI) indicates that the towngas boosted SWH system has the greatest potential in greenhouse gas emission reduction with various solar collector areas and the electricity boosted SWH system has the comparative TEWI with the SAHP systems if its solar fraction is above 50%. As for SAHP systems, the solar assisted air source heat pump (SA-ASHP) system has the least global warming impact. Based on all investigation results, suggestions are given on the selection of solar thermal systems for applications in Hong Kong.     

A comparative study of solar assisted heat pump systems for canadian locations

The feasibility of solar assisted heat pump systems for space heating and domestic hot water preheating in Canada is examined by simulating the performance of these systems on a computer using the program WATSUN. Simulations are carried out using meteorological data for seven representative Canadian cities, two different building types, and six types of system configurations. For the solar assisted heat pump system, twenty year life cycle cost comparisons are made with two reference systems, namely a conventional resistance heating system and an air-to-air heat pump system, based on current economic parameters and projected escalation scenarios for electricity rates.Results of the study show that the solar assisted heat pump systems conserve significant amounts of energy over resistance heating and heat pump systems. On the life cycle unit cost basis, solar assisted heat pump systems costs are relatively insensitive to location, but the dependence on building types is substantial with multiplex dwellings showing the least cost. Liquid based dual source solar assisted heat pump systems are found to be cost effective over resistance heating (but not over an air-to-air heat pump system) at some of the locations for multiplex units. They are not cost effective for single family dwellings at the present time.     

Domestic space-heating and solar energy in Ireland

Five systems which use solar energy to heat houses are discussed and evaluated for thermal performance and cost-effectiveness by the use of a computer simulation model based on a typical Irish house. It is shown that such systems are currently unviable when compared with systems using oil, gas and off-peak electricity. the most economic solar system is that which uses rock as storage medium. Further, it is demonstrated that thermal performance is relatively insensitive to changes in storage volume.     

Optimization of a community solar heating system with a heat pump and seasonal storage

The optimization of a district solar heating system with an electric-driven heat pump and seasonal heat storage is discussed. The optimization process comprises thermal, economic and system control analyses. Thermal and economic optima have been derived for collector area and storage volume simultaneously. The effects of different collector types and building loads are also investigated. Summertime charging of the storage by off-peak electricity has been applied to avoid severe peaking of auxiliary in the winter and to reduce the yearly energy cost. The thermal co-storage of electric energy is emphasized with systems which fail to supply heat for the heat pump during the winter heating season.‡ It has been found that system cost-effectiveness is only slightly affected as storage volume is increased beyond the optimum size. Large variations in the optima for different system configurations were found. The minimum cost of heat supplied in an optimal 500-unit community with 90% solar fraction was estimated at 8.9 ¢ kWh⁻¹.     

Optimization study on a solar-assisted air source heat pump system with energy storage based on the economics method

Currently, hybrid renewable energy systems with thermal energy storage have various advantages and are widely used. This paper investigated the performance of a solar-assisted air source heat pump system with energy storage (SASHPS-ES) in Beijing, China, and proposed an optimal operation mode based on economic evaluation. The results indicate that with the optimal heat storage ratio of 50%, the rated capacity of the air source heat pump (ASHP) of the SASHPS-ES system can be reduced by 16.7%, decreasing its annual total cost by 26.5% under a peak-valley electricity price policy. The price of 620¥/m² is critical for the solar collectors. The economics of SASHPS-ES is better than that of an air source heat pump system with energy storage (ASHPS-ES) when the price of the selected solar collector units is less than this critical price (without subsidies from the government). In the current local market, the promotion of SASHPS-ES systems and other solar energy applications requires government subsidies for a period of time. The results can guide the utilization and popularity of SASHPS-ES in China.     

Modeling and application of direct-expansion solar-assisted heat pump for water heating in subtropical Hong Kong

Direct hot water production consumes about 4% of the total energy use in Hong Kong, and about 20% when considering only the domestic sector. For water heating the energy sources are mostly town gas, liquefied petroleum gas and electricity. The use of heat pump or solar water heating, particularly the solar-assisted heat pump options, is not popular. In this paper, the potential application of a unitary type direct-expansion solar-assisted heat pump (DX-SAHP) system was examined. A numerical model of the DX-SAHP system was first introduced. From the simulation results with the use of the Typical Meteorological Year (TMY) weather data of Hong Kong, the system was found achieving a year-average coefficient of performance (COP) of 6.46, which is much better than the conventional heat pump system performance. The potential use of DX-SAHP therefore deserves further evaluation.     

Financial incentives for the adoption of solar energy design: Peak-load pricing of back-up systems

Most solar energy systems for the space conditioning of buildings require a full sized back-up system for long periods of cloudy weather. If gas or electricity is a source of energy for that back-up system, not only does the building owner have to provide both a solar energy system and a back-up system, but the utility company has to build and maintain full sizedfacilities to provide for the demand by the back-up system during peak load conditions.

One method to limit capacity design of utilities is to design a peak-load pricing scheme which would tend to flatten the utilities' load curve. The scheme could also provide incentives for the installation of solar energy design that would use electricity or gas as back-up systems during off-peak hours only. Indeed, the success of the diffusion of solar energy construction into widespread usage may depend upon such financial incentives to the consumer.     

Exergetic performance evaluation of heat pump systems having various heat sources

In this study heat pump systems having different heat sources were investigated experimentally. Solar‐assisted heat pump (SAHP), ground source heat pump (GSHP) and air source heat pump (ASHP) systems for domestic heating were tested. Additionally, their combination systems, such as solar‐assisted‐ground source heat pump (SAGSHP), solar‐assisted‐air source heat pump (SAASHP) and ground–air source heat pump (GSASHP) were tested. All the heat pump systems were designed and constructed in a test room with 60 m² floor area in Firat University, Elazig (38.41°N, 39.14°E), Turkey. In evaluating the efficiency of heat pump systems, the most commonly used measure is the energy or the first law efficiency, which is modified to a coefficient of performance for heat pump systems. However, for indicating the possibilities for thermodynamic improvement, inadequate energy analysis and exergy analysis are needed. This study presents an exergetic evaluation of SAHP, GSHP and ASHP and their combination systems. The exergy losses in each of the components of the heat pump systems are determined for average values of experimentally measured parameters. Exergy efficiency in each of the components of the heat pump systems is also determined to assess their performances. The coefficient of performance (COP) of the SAHP, GSHP and ASHP were obtained as 2.95, 2.44 and 2.33, whereas the exergy losses of the refrigerant subsystems were found to be 1.342, 1.705 and 1.942 kW, respectively. The COP of SAGSHP, SAASHP and GSASHP as multiple source heat pump systems were also determined to be 3.36, 2.90 and 2.14, whereas the exergy losses of the refrigerant subsystems were approximately 2.13, 2.996 and 3.113 kW, respectively. In addition, multiple source heat pump systems were compared with single source heat pump systems on the basis of the COP. Exergetic performance coefficient (EPC) is introduced and is applied to the heat pump systems having various heat sources. The results imply that the functional forms of the EPC and first law efficiency are different. Results show that Ex_loss,total becomes a minimum value when EPC has a maximum value. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Heating Characteristics and Economic Analysis of a Controllable On-Demand Heating System Based on Off-Peak Electricity Energy Storage

The working principle of a controllable on-demand heating system based on off-peak electricity energy storage(COHSBOEES) is as follows: the cheap off-peak electricity energy is converted into heat energy for storage in the evening, and the heat energy can be extracted on demand for heating during daytime peak or flat electricity periods. This technology can promote the smooth operation of the power grid, solve the problem of peak regulation for the electrical network, and promote renewable energy consumption. Based on the controllable on-demand heating strategy, a COHSBOEES for a heating area of 1000 m^2 was designed and built. Variations in the energy consumption and operating cost of the COHSBOEES in different heating situations were analyzed. The results showed that, off-peak electricity energy storage for heating was energy saving in comparison with central heating when the heating intensity of the COHSBOEES was 70 W/m^2 and the on-demand heating rate was less than 73.0%, and the off-peak electricity energy storage for heating was energy saving at any on-demand heating rate when the COHSBOEES had a heating intensity of 50 W/m^2. After the COHSBOEES has been running for three complete heating seasons, when the off-peak electricity price was 0.25 yuan/kW·h, the energy consumption cost of the COHSBOEES can be saved by 77.6% in comparison with central heating.     

太阳能热泵供暖系统的热经济性分析

基于有限时间热力学理论和集热器线性热损失模型,建立了太阳能热泵供暖系统的热力学模型,并对该系统进行了热经济分析.研究在给定供热率和初投资的约束条件下,以系统的供热系数COHF,作为热经济性目标函数,得出了在目标函数取最大时系统最佳的运行性能系数和设计参数.同时还研究了初投资对系统运行以及设计参数的影响,得出了对应给定供热率系统的最佳初投资及其相应的设计参数.     

基于动态分布参数模型的光伏太阳能热泵系统的数值模拟

采用分布参数法,根据平衡均相流理论,建立了光伏太阳能热泵(PV-SAHP)系统的动态分布参数模型.通过数值模拟对系统在动态工况下的光电光热性能进行研究.研究结果显示PV-SAHP系统具备优越的光电光热性能,系统的COP为3.1-5.8,全天的平均值为4.8,明显高于普通的风冷热泵;系统光电转换效率为12.38%-13.31%;系统全天的平均光电功率为375W,相当于系统平均功耗(474.8W)的79%.对模拟结果进行对比分析后发现系统光电光热性能主要由太阳辐照强度所决定,并受环境温度的影响.     

Solar heat pump systems for domestic hot water

Vapour compression heat pumps can upgrade ambient heat sources to match the desired heating load temperature. They can offer considerable increase in operational energy efficiency compared to current water heating systems. Solar heat pumps collect energy not only from solar radiation but also from the ambient air. They can operate even at night or in totally overcast conditions. Since the evaporator/collector operates at temperatures lower than ambient air temperature it does not need glazing or a selective coating to prevent losses. Currently, however, they are not used much at all in domestic or commercial water heating systems. In this paper comparison is made of a conventional solar hot water system, a conventional air source heat pump hot water system and a solar heat pump water heating system based on various capital city locations in Australia. A summary is given of specific electricity consumption, initial and operating costs, and greenhouse gas generation of the three systems dealt with in this paper. The ultimate choice of unit for a particular location will depend heavily on the solar radiation, climate and the local price paid for electricity to drive or boost the unit chosen.     

The potential of solar industrial process heat applications

The temperature requirements of solar industrial process heat applications range from 60 °C to 260 °C. The characteristics of medium to medium-high temperature solar collectors are given and an overview of efficiency and cost of existing technologies is presented. Five collector types have been considered in this study varying from the simple stationary flat-plate to movable parabolic trough ones. Based on TRNSYS simulations, an estimation of the system efficiency of solar process heat plants operating in the Mediterranean climate are given for the different collector technologies. The annual energy gains of such systems are from 550 to 1100 kWh/m² a. The resulting energy costs obtained for solar heat are from 0.015 to 0.028 C£/kWh depending on the collector type applied. The viabilities of the systems depend on their initial cost and the fuel price. None of these costs however is stable but change continuously depending on international market trends and oil production rates. The costs will turn out to be more favourable when the solar collectors become cheaper and subsidisation of fuel is removed. Therefore the optimisation procedure suggested in this paper should be followed in order to select the most appropriate system in each case.     

An economic assessment of electricity for industrial space heating in the United Kingdom

The potential for increased use of electricity for space heating in industry in the United Kingdom is investigated. Two presently available technologies are considered the most likely candidates: electricaire (storage-based warm air heating on a restricted hour tariff) and air-to-air heat pumps. A simulation modeling approach is employed to examine the economic feasibility of the two electricity-based heating systems. The central component of the model is a simple industrial building with known thermal characteristics. The technical performance of the heating system installed in the model factory is assessed over the period of a year, while the economic performance is evaluated over the lifetime of the heating system. The economic competitiveness of electricaire and heat pump space heating is assessed by comparison with gas-fired warm air heating for different sizes of factory and shift patterns. The future prospects of the heating systems are examined under various scenarios. It is concluded that electricaire looks most favourable in small single shift factories because of its low capital cost, while heat pump heating looks most attractive in factories operating longer shifts, particularily if advantage can be taken of restricted hour tariffs. Greater penetration of heat pump heating systems is only likely if reductions in the capital cost of heat pumps and/or improvements in the coefficient of performance are achieved.     

基于层次分析法的太阳能利用技术综合评价

本文首先利用一个非稳态传热模型对同一环境条件下光伏光热一体化（PV/T）系统、光伏系统（PV）和太阳能热水器的能效进行分析,然后采用层次分析法（AHP）对不同品质终端能源输出的太阳能利用系统的能效统一表征,并以北京、广州和银川为代表的不同城市自然环境及用电价格为条件的三种情景,对三种太阳能利用系统的综合能源利用效率、累计净收益和投资回收期进行分析。结果表明,太阳能利用系统的经济性不仅受到系统能源利用效率和成本的影响,系统所在地的自然环境和电价水平也会引起系统经济性发生变化,因此考虑多种因素的综合评价可以为太阳能技术推广提供更客观和准确的参考。     

High temperature solar heated seasonal storage system for low temperature heating of buildings

A preliminary study of a solar-heated low-temperature space-heating system with seasonal storage in the ground has been performed. The system performance has been evaluated using the simulation models TRNSYS and MINSUN together with the ground storage module DST. The study implies an economically feasible design for a total annual heat demand of about 2500 MWh. The main objective was to perform a study on Anneberg, a planned residential area of 90 single-family houses with 1080 MWh total heat demand. The suggested heating system with a solar fraction of 60% includes 3000 m² of solar collectors but electrical heaters to produce peak heating. The floor heating system was designed for 30°C supply temperature. The temperature of the seasonal storage unit, a borehole array in crystalline rock of 60,000 m³, varies between 30 and 45°C over the year. The total annual heating costs, which include all costs (including capital, energy, maintenance etc.) associated with the heating system, were investigated for three different systems: solar heating (1000 SEK MWh⁻¹), small-scale district heating (1100 SEK MWh⁻¹) and individual ground-coupled heat pumps (920 SEK MWh⁻¹). The heat loss from the Anneberg storage system was 42% of the collected solar energy. This heat loss would be reduced in a larger storage system, so a case where the size of the proposed solar heating system was enlarged by a factor of three was also investigated. The total annual cost of the solar heating system was reduced by about 20% to about 800 SEK MWh⁻¹, which is lower than the best conventional alternative.     

The marginal cost of solar backup

The long-run marginal cost of providing electricity for solar heating and hot water systems is estimated for three utilities and compared with the cost of providing electricity to electric-only systems. All investment, fuel, and operating costs are accounted for. Hot water systems and combined heating and hot water systems are analyzed separately. It is found that the marginal cost for solar backup is no more than the marginal cost of electricity used for purely electric heating and hot water devices and also no more than the incremental cost of normal load growth. For the three utilities studied, there appears to be little basis for rate distinctions between solar devices using electric backup and electric-only heating and hot water devices. “Off-peak storage” heating and hot water devices have a much lower marginal cost than the standard systems; again, there appears to be no basis for distinguishing between solar and electric off-peak devices. Compared with average cost pricing, marginal cost pricing offers benefits to customers using solar and electric heat and hot water, especially if a separate lower rate is adopted for off-peak storage devices; these benefits can amount to several hundred dollars a year. Substantial savings in the use of oil and gas fuels can be achieved if residences using these fuels convert to solar systems, savings not necessarily achievable by a shift, instead, to electric systems.     

Time-of-day pricing of electrical energy: does it promote the public interest?

Time-of-day pricing of electrical energy involves rate incentives designed to encourage a shift of user demand from a utility's peak periods to its off-peak periods. Low “off-peak” rates may also serve as an incentive which encourages large, new, inelastic and/or inefficient uses of electrical energy. In the Long Island, New York, area, installation of air-to-air heat pumps for space heating and cooling may be stimulated by currently proposed time-of-day pricing structures. Possible consequences of a significant market penetration of the Long Island home heating market by the air-to-air heat pump are considered. In this case, serious questions are raised regarding the ability of the time-of-day rate structure to achieve its espoused aims. This case may be typical of other areas throughout the country.     

Energy consumption of a residential building: comparison of conventional and RES-based systems

The energy needs of a typical one-family house in the Thessaloniki area for heating, cooling and domestic hot water production are calculated. The calculations are based on the typical average daily consumption of hot water and on the degree-day method for heating and cooling. The results are finally translated into thermal energy consumption, assuming the typical Greek situation (heating with diesel oil boilers and conventional radiators, cooling with local air-to-air split-type heat pumps and hot water production with electric heaters). The same energy needs are assumed to be covered by a vertical closed loop ground heat exchanger combined with a water-to-water heat pump system with fan-coils for heating and cooling and a thermosyphonic solar system for domestic hot water production. The ground heat exchanger/heat pump system efficiency is determined using data from an existing and continuously monitored similar system installed in the broader area of Thessaloniki. The solar system load coverage is calculated using the f-chart method. The energy consumption of the renewable energy systems is calculated and compared to that of the conventional system. The results prove that significant energy savings can be achieved.     

Causal responsibility and peak load pricing

This article clarifies the basis for peak load pricing when some customers have a steady demand and others have a specific peak period demand. Causal responsibility for peak capacity rests on both types of customers. Peles, in this journal, has proposed that electricity consumption beyond the off-peak period monthly average be priced at a higher rate than other consumption. Customers consuming only on the peak would face higher prices than those who consumed relatively less during the peak. However, such a price structure can discourage economic off-peak consumption and encourage uneconomic peak period consumption. Both steady and nonsteady demanders must face the same price signal during peak periods for the achievement of efficiency, so long as each group imposes the same costs on the system.