Comparison of test methods for evaluation of thermal performance of preheat and solar-only factory made systems

Abstract

In the frame of the European Programme, SM&T (Standards, Measurements and Testing), the project ‘Bridging the gap: research and experimental validation on the DST performance test method for solar domestic water heaters’, dedicated a Work Package (WP) to the comparison of DST test method (ISO/DIS 9459.5) with CSTG test method (ISO 9459.2). In the project, several European testing laboratories tested different types of systems. The systems have been selected in order to be as representative as possible of the European market. The realisation of the tests according to CSTG test method and the comparison of the common practice in each testing laboratory has led to the elaboration of a set of recommendations for a future revision of ISO 9459.2. The comparison of the two methods was based on long-term performance prediction determined according to each test method. In this paper the results of this comparison as well as conversion factors between the two test methods are presented.