Linear Model of DHW System Using Response Surface Method Approach

Abstract

Using alternative and clean energy resources is considered the most effective method to deal with the environment and energy crises nowadays. In this study a comparative analysis of FPC data for DHW are theoretically and experimentally evaluated to optimise the design parameters. A forced circulation solar heating system using flat-plate collector, is modelled using T*SOL as a new approach, for hot water requirements of a laboratory unit at Szent Istvan University, in Gödöllő, Hungary. The modelling shows 69% solar fraction and 510 kWh annual solar gain. Furthermore, the comparison study was based on these two factors, and the two results matched with 93.12% accuracy. After the modelling, practically, the exergy analysis was conducted to determine and highlight the losses of the system. Since Hungary is considered a cold climate country, it was found that the thermal and optical losses from the collector and the piping system were tremendous. Then all the necessary design parameters were studied to achieve the optimal working points using non-linear correlation response surface method (RSM, which has never been used as an analysis tool in the solar field) at two perspectives (solar fraction and annual yield) for seven factors using R script. The factors were collector surface area, inclination angle, glycol-water ratio, tank capacity, boiler capacity, desired hot water temperature, and volume flow-rate. We identified the most influential single factors using ParetoPlot and each two-factorsꞌ interaction using contour plots. The most influential factors on the solar yield are solar collector surface area, tank capacity, desired hot water temperature and volume flow rate by magnitude effects of +129.7, +125.3, +50.9 and +17.2 kWh per annum, respectively.

Keywords

• heat process
• modelling
• solar thermal system
• solar fraction