Using Detailed TRNSYS Models for Fault-Detection in Solar Domestic Hot Water Systems – a Case Study
Abstract
This paper describes the application of TRNSYS simulations for Automatic Fault Detection (AFD) in a medium-size (35.5 m²) Solar Domestic Hot Water (SDHW) system located in Montréal, Québec, Canada. The system was designed by students in 2011 and was equipped with a detailed monitoring system, which provided the opportunity to develop and validate a fault detection methodology using detailed simulation. The paper presents a two-level automatic fault detection method combining a rule-based algorithm and TRNSYS simulations. The two methods show strengths in detecting different types of faults, but also a sensitivity to false alarms. Using both methods combines their detection capabilities but also increases the AFD robustness against false alarms. It can help diagnose the cause of the detected faults and, when integrated in a effective user interface, it can contribute to increase the reliability of SDHW systems.
Keywords
solar domestic hot water, fault detection, solar energy, simulation, modeling, TRNSYS