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Optimal insulation of solar heating system pipes and tanks

Author

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  • Jones, Gerard F.
  • Lior, Noam

Abstract

A compact and time-effective insulation design procedure for solar heating system piping and water-filled thermal storage tanks was developed. Recognizing the particular sensitivity of solar systems to cost, the economic aspect of the problem was treated by a comprehensive present-value life-cycle cost analysis. In the development of the method, a numerical sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the relative effects of all relevant independent variables (within their pertinent ranges) on piping and tank heat transfer coefficient values. For the acceptable error limits of ± 14% for pipes and ± 19% for tanks, it was found that one may assume that only the nominal pipe diameter (or tank diameter), the thermal conductivity of the insulation, and the insulation's thickness have an effect on the overall heat transfer coefficient. Based on this result, design graphs and tables are presented which can be used to determine the optimal insulation thickness and type, total annual heat losses, present-value annual costs of insulation and lost heat, and overall insulation R-values. The use of the method is illustrated by calculating all the above quantities for all piping and storage tanks for the University of Pennsylvania SolaRow House. The present method provided insulation thicknesses slightly greater than those obtained by the ETI technique.

Suggested Citation

  • Jones, Gerard F. & Lior, Noam, 1979. "Optimal insulation of solar heating system pipes and tanks," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 4(4), pages 593-621.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:4:y:1979:i:4:p:593-621
    DOI: 10.1016/0360-5442(79)90086-0
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    Cited by:

    1. El-Nashar, Ali M., 2006. "Heat loss through the piping of a large solar collector field," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 31(12), pages 2020-2035.
    2. Öztürk, İ.T. & Karabay, H. & Bilgen, E., 2006. "Thermo-economic optimization of hot water piping systems: A comparison study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 31(12), pages 2094-2107.

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