Performance verification about air-based solar heating system installed in the sustainable energy hut at Syowa Station, Antarctica

Abstract

The air-based solar heating system was mounted on external walls of the sustainable energy hut at Syowa Station, Antarctica for the first time. To confirm the usefulness of the heating system, the plans of measurement of thermal condition in the building were prepared by National Institute of Polar Research. A part of the measurement was executed in the wintering of 2017 by the 57th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition. Using the results of the field measurement, basic performance of air-based solar heating system adopted in the building at Antarctic region was assembled. For being put to practical use of the air-based solar heating system in cold regions like Antarctic, Some preliminary tests were executed in March 2009 at Tomakomai City, Hokkaido, one of the cold region in Japan. The heating system used in the demonstrating test at Tomakomai had same specifications of solar panels constructed later at Syowa Station. The result which was compared and inspected about heat collection efficiency of solar panel at Syowa Station and the cold region of Japan (Tomakomai, Hokkaido) was indicated in this paper. The air heating system will be practicable to use on cold regions as Syowa Station, Antarctica in the sunny season. Long time of daylight will be expected on the facilities of the building-wall as the sun moves on low orbit at Syowa Station.

Keywords

• syowa station
• antarctica
• sustainable energy hut
• air-based solar heating system
• heat collection efficiency of solar panel
• collected amount of solar heat