Solar Thermal Collection with Seasonal Storage
Abstract
A system will be described which combines several different types of solar thermal collectors with a specific arrangement of valves to optimize the collection of heat and (if needed) the collection of cold. The collection of both heat and cold (dissipation of heat) is possible by using unglazed collectors as part of the system. The system may also include a type of seasonal underground thermal energy storage which is an extension of concepts already in use at Drake Landing Solar Community in Alberta, Canada and ICAX Limited in London, England. The results of simulating the underground heat transfer and thermal storage will be displayed. Factors that could impact the performance of underground heat storage will be discussed, including climate, building location, underground/soil thermal condition, building heating/cooling demands, heat dissipation/loss from the ground, etc. There will be a need to optimize many of the system parameters, such as dimensions, material properties, flow rates, etc. to get the best result for any specific building or set of buildings. It is our expectation that systems such as those described here could be significantly more cost-effective than systems in use currently.
Keywords
Solar, Thermal, Collector, Underground, Storage, Seasonal