Analysis of thermal states of a flat-solar collector using state variables

Abstract

This paper analyses the thermal states of the flat solar collector using the state variable method. The knowledge of the transient states describing the state of the solar heating installation under operating conditions enables the analysis of the heat exchange process and the development of control strategies. The analysis of variable states under operating conditions requires the development of a mathematical model describing the dynamic properties of the whole solar heating installation and the definition of the variables describing the state of the system from the energy balance perspective. The paper presents a method enabling the analysis of variables in the condition of a solar heating installation and a single solar collector based on the comparison of two models: an analogue model developed by the Equivalent Thermal Network method and a digital model, developed on the basis of performance data by the Parametric Identification method.