Investigation of the thermal performance and environmental impact of a forced circulation solar water heating system during the heating season

Abstract

A thermal analysis of a forced circulation solar water heating system (SWHS) was carried out. Three different models were analyzed: SWHS without an auxiliary heater, SWHS with an auxiliary heater, and electric heater only. The study was carried out for the province of Mersin-Turkiye. Flat plate collectors with different structural properties were used in simulations, the best results were obtained with the collector with black chrome absorber coating. This system met 55% of the hot water requirement on the design day without requiring any auxiliary heater. During the season, 18.7% of hot water needs were met in January, 20.42% in February, 37.6% in March, 31.2% in November, and 20.5% in December. SWHS with an auxiliary heater, consumed 1130.3 kWh of electrical energy during the heating season, resulting in 540.3 kg of CO2 emissions. 33 % reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is achieved with this system compared to a base system powered by electricity only. The hot water use profile is an essential factor in the design of the SWHS. Since the systems using fossil fuels can meet the needs of the users, energy storage techniques must be adapted to the SWHS to be an alternative.

Keywords

• CO2 emission
• Flat plate collectors
• Solar Water heating
• Solar Fraction

References

1. [1] IPCC, 2018: Global Warming of 1.5°C. An IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty. https://doi.org/ 10.1017/9781009157940.
2. [2] Our World In Databased on BP Statistical Review of World Energy, 2023. [Online]. [Accessed 21.03.2023]. Available: https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/primary-sub-energy-source?country =~TUR
3. [3] Republic of Turkiye Energy Market Regulatory Authority, Activity Reports. [Online]. [Accessed 21.03.2023]. Available: https://www.epdk.gov.tr/Detay/Icerik/1-2335/emra-activity-reports
4. [4] IEA (2020), CO₂ Emissions from Fuel Combustion 2020, [Online]. [Accessed 21.03.2023]. Available: www.iea.org/statistics.
5. [5] Yatarkalkmaz MM, Ozdemir MB. The calculation of greenhouse gas emissions of a family and projections for emission reduction. Journal of Energy Systems 2019; 3(3): 96-110. https://doi.org/10.30521/jes.566516
6. [6] Seyhan AK, Çerçi M. IPCC Tier 1 ve DEFRA Metotları ile Karbon Ayak İzinin Belirlenmesi: Erzincan Binali Yıldırım Üniversitesi’nin Yakıt ve Elektrik Tüketimi Örneği . Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi 2022; 26(3): 386-397. DOI: 10.19113/sdufenbed.1061021
7. [7] Alagöz İ, Coşkun E, Babaoğlu S, Kaykaç R, Cidacı A. EÜAŞ Merkez Kampüs 2021 Yılı Karbon Ayak İzinin Hesaplanması . Çevre İklim ve Sürdürülebilirlik 2022; 23(2): 161-166.
8. [8] REN21 Renewables 2022 Global Status Report. ISBN 978-3-948393-04-5.

9. [9] Eurostat Statistics, Data Browser. [Online]. [Accessed 21.03.2023]. Available: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/NRG_INF_STCS/default/table?lang=en&category=cli.cli_mit
10. [10] Eurostat Statistics, Data Browser. [Online]. [Accessed 21.03.2023]. Available: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser /view/ten00125/default/table?lang=en
11. [11] Aydin E, Eichholtz P, Yönder E. The economics of residential solar water heaters in emerging economies: The case of Turkey. Energy Economics 2018; 75: 285–299.
12. [12] Kumar A, Kandpal TC. CO2 Emissions Mitigation Potential of Some Renewable Energy Technologies in India. Energy Sources, Part A 2007; 29 (13): 1203-1214. https://doi.org/10.1080/009083190965343.
13. [13] Barbosa RR, Schultz HS, Garcia LC, Martins DD, Carvalho M. Economic and greenhouse gas assessments for two hot water industrial systems: Solar vs. natural gas. Cleaner Engineering and Technology 2022; 6: 100365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clet.2021.100365
14. [14] Tang A, Alsultany FH, Borisov V, Mohebihafshejani A, Goli A, Mostafaeipour A, Riahi R. Technical, environmental and ranking analysis of using solar heating: A case study in South Africa. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments 2022; 52: Part D, 102299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2022.102299.
15. [15] Shrivastava RL, Kumar V, Untawale SP. Modeling and simulation of solar water heater: A TRNSYS perspective. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 2017; 67: 126–143.
16. [16] Hobbi A, Siddiqui K. Optimal design of a forced circulation solar water heating system for a residential unit in cold climate using TRNSYS. Solar Energy 2009; 83: 700–714.
17. [17] Allouhi A, Jamil A, Kousksou T, El Rhafiki T, Mourad Y, Zeraouli Y. Solar domestic heating water systems in Morocco: An energy analysis. Energy Conversion and Management 2015; 92: 105–113.
18. [18] Kalogiroua SA, Papamarcou C. Modelling of a thermosyphon solar water heating system and simple model validation. Renewable Energy 2000; 21: 471–493.
19. [19] Ayompe LM, Duffy A, McCormack SJ, Conlon M. Validated TRNSYS model for forced circulation solar water heating systems with flat plate and heat pipe evacuated tube collectors. Applied Thermal Engineering 2011; 31: 1536-1542.
20. [20] Taherian H, Rezania A, Sadeghi S, Ganji DD. Experimental validation of dynamic simulation of the flat plate collector in a closed thermosyphon solar water heater. Energy Conversion and Management 2011; 52: 301–307.
21. [21] Müller S, Giovannetti F, Reineke-Kocha R, Kastner O, Hafner B. Simulation study on the efficiency of thermochromic absorber coatings for solar thermal flat-plate collectors. Solar Energy 2019; 188: 865–887. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2019.06.064
22. [22] Sakhrieh A, Al-Ghandoor A. Experimental investigation of the performance of five types of solar collectors. Energy Conversion and Management 2013; 65: 715–720.
23. [23] Kumar Y, Verma M, Ghritlahre HK, Verma P. Recent Developments in the Thermal Performance of Flat Plate Solar Water Heaters with Reflectors-A Review. Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects 2022; 44(4): 9448-9475. https://doi.org/10.1080/15567036.2022.2131940
24. [24] Freegah B. Numerical and experimental analysis of the flat plate solar water heater systems' thermal performance. Heat Transfer 2022; 1‐24. https://doi.org/10.1002/htj.22732
25. [25] Xiaoge L, Xin W, Pengfei S, Xiangyang R. Energy and energy analysis of two-stage water tanks variable-volume thermal heat storage system for solar heating. Energy Storage Science and Technology 2022; 11(2): 538-546.
26. [26] Da Silva Júnior OE, De Lima JA, Abrahão R, De Lima MHA, Santos Júnior EP, Coelho Junior LM. Solar Heating with Flat-Plate Collectors in Residential Buildings: A Review. Energies 2022; 15: 6130. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15176130
27. [27] Duffie JA, Beckman WA. Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes, 2d ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1991.
28. [28] Directory of SRCC Certified Solar Collector Ratings, 2006, [Online]. [Accessed 21.03.2023]. Available: www.solar-rating.org
29. [29] EnergyPlus version 8.7. Documentation Input Output Reference, 2016.
30. [30] Ashrae Handbook Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning Applications, SI Edition, ASHRAE, 1791 Tullie Circle, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30329, www.ashrae.org, 2015.