Modelling and experimental evaluation of an innovative Integrated Collector Storage Solar Water Heating (ICSSWH) prototype

Mervyn Smyth, Giovanni Barone, Annamaria Buonomano, Cesare Forzano, Giovanni Francesco Giuzio, Adolfo Palombo, Jayanta Mondol, Ronald Muhumuza, Adrian Pugsley, A Zacharopoulos, Dominic McLarnon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)
131 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

An advanced mathematical model capable of simulating the energy performance of an innovative Integrated Collector Storage Solar Water Heater (ICSSWHs) is presented. Usually, ICSSWH devices available in the market are typically simple and low-cost, combining solar heat collection and storage functions in one unified vessel. However, they exhibit higher heat loss characteristics when compared to standard solar collector systems, with a subsequent reduction in energy performance during night-time and non-collecting hours. An innovative ICSSWH prototype was developed at the Centre for Sustainable Technologies (CST) at Ulster University using a patented, innovative thermal diode feature, attained by incorporating a liquid-vapour phase change material (PCM) and very low pressures. In order to fully investigate the energy performance of the proposed prototype, a suitably dynamic simulation model has been developed and validated in MatLab environment. All modelled temperatures are ±1 °C from the respective experimental measurements. The developed model has been used to evaluate the ICSSWH energy performance by varying several pivotal parameters (physical features and materials) in order to produce an optimised device.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)974-986
Number of pages13
JournalRenewable Energy
Volume157
Early online date18 May 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - Sept 2020

Keywords

  • Dynamic simulation model
  • ICSSWH
  • Solar thermal collector
  • Thermal diode

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