Prediction of the performance of solar heating systems over a range of storage capacities

Abstract

A new method for prediction of the performance of solar heating systems using well-mixed storage is presented which predicts monthly and annual system performance (relative to a computer simulation) over a wide range of system variables including minimum or base storage temperature, storage capacity, and geographic location. The method relies on heavily pre-processed site-specific radiation and weather data which is used with system properties to predict the quantities necessary for correlation. The method yields long-term monthly and annual performance predictions which are so accurate that they can serve simultaneously for preliminary design, economic optimization, and final design, eliminating the need for simulation.