Thermal performance analysis of the glass evacuated tube solar collector with U-tube

In this paper, based on the energy balance for the glass evacuated tube solar collector with U-tube, the thermal performance of the individual glass evacuated tube solar collector is investigated by analytical method. The solar collector considered in this study is a two-layered glass evacuated tube, and the absorber film is deposited in the outer surface of the absorber tube. The heat loss coefficient and heat efficiency factor are analyzed using one-dimensional analytical solution. And the influence of air layer between the absorber tube and the copper fin on the heat efficiency is also studied. The results show that the function relation of the heat loss coefficient of the glass evacuated tube solar collector with temperature difference between the absorbing coating surface and the ambient air is nonlinear. In the different ambient temperatures, the heat loss coefficient of the solar collector should be calculated by different expressions. The heat efficiency factor will be subject to influence of air layer between absorber tube and the copper fin. Specially, the influence is remarkable when the heat loss coefficient of the collector is large. When the synthetical conductance amounts to 5 W/m K, the solar collector efficiency decreases 10%, and the outlet fluid temperature decreases 16% compared with the case which the air thermal resistance is neglected. And the surface temperature of the absorbing coating increases 30 °C due to the effect of air thermal resistance. So the surface temperature of the absorbing coating is an important parameter to evaluate the thermal performance of the glass evacuated tube solar collector.     

Performance study of underground thermal storage in a solar-ground coupled heat pump system for residential buildings

This paper is performed to analyze the performance of underground thermal storage in a solar-ground coupled heat pump system (SGCHPS) for residential building. Based on the experimental results, the system performance during a longer period is simulated by the unit modeling, and its parametric effects are discussed. The results show that the performance of underground thermal storage of SGCHPS depends strongly on the intensity of solar radiation and the matching between the water tank volume and the area of solar collectors. Compared with the solar radiation, the variations of the water tank temperature and the ground temperature rise lag behind and keep several peaks during the day time. For the case of Tianjin, the efficiency of underground thermal storage based on the total solar radiation and absorbed solar energy by the collectors can reach over 40% and 70%, respectively. It is suggested that the reasonable ratio between the tank volume and the area of solar collectors should be in the range of 20–40 L/m².     

Energetic, economic and environmental performance of a solar-thermal-assisted HVAC system

A solar-assisted HVAC system was retrofitted in 2006-2009 onto an earlier (1980) energy-efficient building. A hybrid system of flat plate and vacuum tube solar collectors heats water in a large hot storage tank that is delivered to an absorption chiller in the cooling season or directly to heating coils in the heating season. Large chilled water storage tanks are charged off-peak and discharged during the day, cooling the building in parallel with the chiller. Measurements of the seasonal performance of the system are presented. Good overall agreement between actual measurements and earlier numerical modeling results is reported for our system, with one notable discrepancy attributable to the operation of the air terminal units, which requires tuning. In cold seasons, solar thermal energy can easily displace a large fraction of traditional heating sources. In the cooling season, the conversion of heat to cooling capacity incurs several parasitic losses, which if not accounted for properly in the design stage, have the capacity to completely offset any advantage gained from the solar system. The economics of building-scale solar thermal systems are strongly dependent on the cost of energy, and electricity in particular. The economics are favorable where electricity costs are high, and vice-versa.     

加拿大卡尔加里市Okotoks小镇太阳能小区建设

简要介绍了北美目前最大的跨季太阳能储存项目——加拿大0kotoks小镇的太阳能小区建设，对其太阳能供热系统的工作原理及利用土壤床作为储能体进行大规模跨季节太阳能储存的方法进行了分析。该项目根据不同季节可利用太阳能数量的不同，分别设置了短期（临时）太阳能储箱（STTS）及跨季节太阳能储存箱（BTES），以提高太阳能的利用率。其中，BTES的效率可达50％以上。小区太阳能家用热水系统（DWH）可满足住户60％的热水需求，而太阳能采暖系统则可满足90％采暖要求；建成后每幢住宅每年可减排5t温室气体，整个小区可减排260t／年。     

Correlating thermal transmittance limits of walls and roofs to orientation and solar absorption

The presented research addresses the association of maximum thermal transmittance (U value) of walls and roofs with orientation and solar absorption. The study is performed on walls and a roof typically used in Kuwait when subjected to local hot climate conditions. A computer program employing the total equivalent temperature difference (TETD) method is developed to estimate the U values corresponding to solar absorption coefficients ranging from 0 to 1. At zero solar absorption coefficient, the maximum U values stipulated in the existing national energy code are used to induce the constant total daily heat flux for the developed correlations. Furthermore, the thermal inertia parameters affected by the established U values are also predicted. The results show that the orientation and absorption coefficient have a profound effect on the U value particularly for the roof and west and east wall orientations. Moreover, the decrease in the thermal transmittance significantly enhances the thermal inertia parameters of the aerated autoclaved concrete wall type.The developed correlations can be added to the Kuwait building energy code to extend the application scope of the U value limits based on surface orientation and external solar properties.     

太阳能辅助地源热泵供热运行特性研究

介绍了太阳能辅助地源热泵,对其各装置性能进行了研究。分析了地下埋管换热器进出口水温及有、无蓄热水箱对太阳能辅助地源热泵性能的影响。太阳能辅助地源热泵制热性能系数随地下埋管换热器进口水温的升高呈下降趋势,随其出口水温的升高呈上升趋势。随地下埋管换热器出口水温升高,蒸发器传热量增大。当太阳能辅助地源热泵中无蓄热水箱时太阳能集热器的瞬时集热效率高于有蓄热水箱时的瞬时集热效率。就总体效果而言,有蓄热水箱要优于无蓄热水箱,这样可使地源热泵运行更加稳定。     

Enhancement of solar thermal energy storage performance using sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate of a conventional solar water-heating system

The time variations of the water temperatures at the midpoint of the heat storage tank and at the outlet of the collector in a conventional open-loop passive solar water-heating system combined with sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate-phase change material (PCM) were experimentally investigated during November and then enhancement of solar thermal energy storage performance of the system by comparing with those of conventional system including no PCM was observed. It was observed that the water temperature at the midpoint of the storage tank decreased regularly by day until the phase-change temperature of PCM after the intensity of solar radiation decreased and then it was a constant value of 45 °C in a time period of approximately 10 h during the night until the sun shines because no hot water is used. Heat storage performances of the same solar water-heating system combined with the other salt hydrates-PCMs such as zinc nitrate hexahydrate, disodium hydrogen phosphate dodecahydrate, calcium chloride hexahydrate and sodium sulfate decahydrate (Glauber's salt) were examined theoretically by using meteorological data and thermophysical properties of PCMs with some assumptions. It was obtained that the storage time of hot water, the produced hot water mass and total heat accumulated in the solar water-heating system having the heat storage tank combined with PCM were approximately 2.59–3.45 times of that in the conventional solar water-heating system. It was also found that the hydrated salts of the highest solar thermal energy storage performance in PCMs used in theoretical investigation were disodium hydrogen phosphate dodecahydrate and sodium sulfate decahydrate.     

Effect of courtyard proportions on solar heat gain and energy requirement in the temperate climate of Rome

The present study focuses mainly on the effect of solar heat gain on the energy demand of courtyard building form with different proportions. Several methods can be employed to improve the building's utilization of solar heat gain. This includes using light colours for the external surfaces to reduce the solar radiation absorption in summer, using shading devices and improving the thermal properties of the external walls and roof. However, it is of great importance before using any of these methods to have the courtyard building's architectural design adapted to have full advantage of the available solar heat gain. Therefore, the main objective of the present examination was to find out to what extent the building's solar heat gain and consequently the energy requirements are influenced by the building's configurations. A computer Tool (IES) was used to carry out the investigation taking Rome as an empirical background to temperate climate. The results showed that the proportions of the courtyard building considerably influence the need for heating and cooling.     

直膨式太阳能热泵系统仿真

随着太阳能热利用和热泵技术的成熟及商品化,直膨式太阳能热泵技术将太阳能资源的清洁性、可再生性等特点和热泵系统的节能、高效的优点相结合,极具研究价值。但是目前直膨式太阳能热泵不能产品化推广的主要限制因素是系统设计不合理、运行不稳定、整体性能不佳等问题。现以直膨式太阳能热泵系统的优化和设计匹配为研究目标,同时,建立压缩机、集热器/蒸发器、热力膨胀阀、冷凝器及储热水箱的数学模型。从理论上分析集热器中集热面积、太阳能辐照度、环境温度、压缩机容积及冷凝温度等因素对直膨式太阳能热泵系统热工性能的影响,通过系统仿真及实验研究系统的整体热力性能,并在此基础上给出改善系统性能的建议。     

太阳能热泵蓄热系统的实验研究

文章介绍了带有相变蓄热水箱的太阳能热泵系统的运行实验。该系统是在原有的太阳能一土壤源热泵的基础上通过增加一个蓄热装置建立起来,包含太阳能集热器、相变蓄热水箱、双热源（太阳能和土壤）热泵以及末端装置（风机盘管）四个主要部分实验在供暖期末期进行,在整个实验阶段,系统供暖满足率为0．6,平均供热COP达到6.5。     

太阳能供暖系统室内地下储热水箱的散热规律

针对太阳能地下储热水箱布置位置的不同,利用Fluent程序对太阳能储热水箱散热进行数值模拟和计算,得出在不同工况下,储热水箱周围土壤的温度场分布。同时,建立地下储热水箱的物理模型和数学模型,分析地下储热水箱的换热特性,并结合实际工程,验证其地下储水箱全年散热量和储能量,获得水箱顶板损失量与总散热量关系。计算结果表明,在相同工况下,冬季室外储水箱能量的散失量远高于室内,室内地下储水箱顶部散热量减少,因此该方式可以用来抵消这部分能量所需的集热器面积的减少,提高储热水箱的储热效率以及减少用户投资。     

The effect of south wall's outdoor absorption coefficient on time lag,decrement factor and temperature variations

In this study, the effect of outdoor absorption coefficient of an opaque wall on time lag, decrement factor and temperature variations is investigated by employing a dynamic thermal-network model. The model simulates heat transfer by conduction through the wall and considers convection boundary conditions under detailed forcing functions on the wall outer and inner surfaces. The transient analysis is based on the fundamental principles of thermal circuits and the well-known analogies between the thermal and electrical laws are employed. The effect of the solar absorptivity, is examined for representative wall formations including masonry, insulation and coatings on both surfaces. The insulation is placed as one or two layers on the outer, the inner or in the mid-center of the masonry. The investigation is carried out for a wall with south orientation during the cooling season in the Mediterranean region. The analyses presume a non-sinusoidal periodical excitation that simulates precisely the effect of the outdoor environmental conditions. Computer results show how these varied aspects affect thermal inertia parameters and outdoor/indoor temperature peaks.     

外窗热工性能数值模拟及模型传热系数验证分析

本文运用计算机数值模拟方法对窗框、玻璃系统、整窗热工性能进行数值模拟分析。模拟结果表明,窗框中的钢衬、间隔条等因其热阻较小,易在窗框中形成"热桥"效应。Low-E中空玻璃系统传热系数最小,且具有较高的可见光透射比。阳光控制镀膜中空玻璃太阳得热系数SHGC、可见光透射比均较小。同时对样窗进行实验室实际测试,验证了运用数值模拟计算外窗传热系数是一种可行的方法。     

Heat transfer and thermal storage behaviour of gypsum boards incorporating micro-encapsulated PCM

In the application of energy storage and thermal environmental control, PCM (Phase Change Material) is a very promising material choice. This study incorporated mPCM (micro-encapsulated PCM) into gypsum to make mPCM gypsum board and then investigated the physical properties, heat transfer and thermal storage behaviour. The major control parameters are wall temperatures and the weight percentages of mPCM added to the gypsum boards. A melting fraction correlation, reduced from our test data and based on Stefan number (Ste), subcooling (Sb) and Fourier number, is proposed. It shows that case with a higher Ste or Sb can have a higher heat transfer through the hot wall. Thermal storage behaviour of mPCM gypsum boards is then analyzed.     

New index indicating the universal and separate effects on human comfort under outdoor and non-uniform thermal conditions

The purpose of this study is to propose new thermal index for outdoor and non-uniform environments with heat conduction, such as when a person sits on a bench at a park. This paper describes mathematically the theory of how solar radiation and heat conduction, as well as air temperature, humidity, air velocity and longwave radiation, are incorporated into the new index and how these thermal factors that may not be uniform are treated. Another important feature is that separate indices are generated for each factor while the new index is derived. It is expected that the new index will help us to understand how much each factor affects the human thermal comfort in outdoor and non-uniform environments with heat conduction.     

真空管太阳能集热系统温度场、速度场模拟

采用三维数学及物理模型对真空管太阳能集热系统的温度场、速度场进行了模拟。集热系统内流体由上升的热流体和下降的冷流体组成,接近蓄热水箱的真空管存在冷热流体混合的回流区。蓄热水箱内呈现明显的温度分层,水箱上部的流体被来自真空管的热射流加热,下部存在一个滞留区,只能通过导热传热。     

Effect of roof solar reflectance on the building heat gain in a hot climate

The effect of the roof solar reflectance on the thermal performance of a building is often ignored. However, there are significant differences in heat gain from light and dark-coloured roof surfaces. In this paper an equation for the average daily downward heat flow of a sunlit roof is derived. Using building simulation, it is first shown that the thermal mass of the roof does not significantly affect the overall daily heat gain (although it causes a time lag and reduction in peak heat flow). As a consequence the daily heat gain from the roof may be estimated by integrating the equation for the steady-state downward heat transfer over the day. For north Australia the derived equation suggests that a light-coloured roof has about 30% lower total (air temperature difference and solar-driven) heat gain than a dark-coloured one. The effect of aging (change in solar reflectance with time) is considered in the calculations and a relationship between the solar absorptance of new and aged material is suggested. A classification of roof colours with respect to their solar absorptance (dark, medium, light and reflective) is proposed to enable a quick and simple assessment of the effect of roof colour on the heat gain and R-value.     

New equipment for testing steady and transient thermal performance of multilayered building envelopes with PCM

Thermal properties of the different building envelopes, such as thermal transmittance in steady state, heat storage capacity and dynamic thermal responses, must be taken into account during the design phase of buildings. The evaluation and measurement of these parameters in multilayered samples are difficult because of the irregular morphology of the used materials and the difficulty in providing the well-controlled environment needed for the measurements. A new equipment has been designed to measure the thermal response and heat capacity of composite walls of different materials simulating real building envelopes.The equipment presented in this paper was used to test the improvement in the thermal response of a building envelope due to the incorporation of PCM. This study is focused on wood structural panels attached to a gypsum board, which is either impregnated or not with PCM. The four edges of the composite sample are properly insulated to ensure one-dimensional heat flow. The two faces of the sample are exposed to controlled environments heated and cooled by copper coils with thermo stated water supplied by water baths. The measured surface heat fluxes at both surfaces of the sample and temperature distribution in the sample provide accurate assessment to thermal mass and dynamic response of the composite wall, while the steady state measurements provide an accurate estimate of its effective thermal transmittance.     

Impact of sun patch and three-dimensional heat transfer descriptions on the accuracy of a building’s thermal behavior prediction

A thermal transient numerical model (M_3D) which considers the three-dimensional heat transfer through the envelope of a room and the sun patch through a window has been developed and validated in a recent paper. The use of a refined spatial and temporal discretization allows considering more precise interactions between the sun patch projection with the structure and quick time perturbations in the stresses. This is particularly necessary for highly insulated and low energy consumption buildings. In this new paper, M_3D is subsequently transformed to simpler configurations, close to classical modelling thermal building simulation software that neglects the sun patch and the 3D heat transfer, in order to quantify the main contributions of this model. A first configuration is to consider one-dimensional heat conduction for the envelope and the transmitted solar radiation is only projected onto the floor (M_1D). A second configuration considers also one-dimensional heat conduction but the transmitted beam radiation falls on each wall or floor that is impacted (M_1D,sp). Comparison between experimental data and numerical results of these three models shows, as expected, that M_1D and M_1D,sp are less accurate than M_3D. This is particularly true when wanting to evaluate surface temperature distributions or heating power evolution in winter.     

西藏地区太阳能直接供暖系统的设计

结合拉萨市西藏科技厅太阳能供暖示范工程,对太阳能直接供暖系统中太阳能集热器、集热器侧传热介质、蓄热方式、蓄热水箱、散热设备、控制系统的设计进行了研究。