Thermal model for performance prediction of integrated collector storage systems

Abstract

The result of many years of global research on solar water heating systems has outlined the promising approach of integrated collector storage solar water heaters (ICS-SWHs) in cold climates. This research paper aims to model the field performance of a newly developed ICS-SWH for Scottish weather conditions. Field experiments were performed to investigate the performance of the newly developed ICS-SWH and the parameters affecting it. This was followed by developing a thermal macromodel able to compare the internal temperature variation under differing external weather conditions in order to evaluate the transient performance of the ICS-SWH for field conditions. Through this work, important parameters for modeling field performance of ICS-SWH were established. The innovative modeling tool developed was found to accurately predict the bulk water temperature of the ICS-SWH for any orientation and location in the world with good accuracy.