IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v14y2021i13p4057-d588961.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Integrating Novel Microchannel-Based Solar Collectors with a Water-to-Water Heat Pump for Cold-Climate Domestic Hot Water Supply, Including Related Solar Systems Comparisons

Author

Listed:
  • Mohammad Emamjome Kashan

    (Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada)

  • Alan S. Fung

    (Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada)

  • John Swift

    (SolarTomorrow Inc., Mississauga, ON L4W 5A1, Canada)

Abstract

In Canada, more than 80% of energy in the residential sector is used for space heating and domestic hot water (DHW) production. This study aimed to model and compare the performance of four different systems, using solar energy as a renewable energy source for DHW production. A novel microchannel (MC) solar thermal collector and a microchannel-based hybrid photovoltaic/thermal collector (PVT) were fabricated (utilizing a microchannel heat exchanger in both cases), mathematical models were created, and performance was simulated in TRNSYS software. A water-to-water heat pump (HP) was integrated with these two collector-based solar systems, namely MCPVT-HP and MCST-HP, to improve the total solar fraction. System performance was then compared with that of a conventional solar-thermal-collector-based system and that of a PV-resistance (PV-R) system, using a monocrystalline PV collector. The heat pump was added to the systems to improve the systems’ efficiency and provide the required DHW temperatures when solar irradiance was insufficient. Comparisons were performed based on the temperature of the preheated water storage tank, the PV panel efficiency, overall system efficiency, and the achieved solar fraction. The microchannel PVT-heat pump (MCPVT-HP) system has the highest annual solar fraction among all the compared systems, at 76.7%. It was observed that this system had 10% to 35% higher solar fraction than the conventional single-tank solar-thermal-collector-based system during the wintertime in a cold climate. The performance of the two proposed MC-based systems is less sensitive than the two conventional systems to collector tilt angle in the range of 45 degrees to 90 degrees. If roof space is limited, the MCPVT-HP system is the best choice, as the MCPVT collector can perform effectively when mounted vertically on the facades of high-rise residential and commercial buildings. A comparison among five Canadian cities was also performed, and we found that direct beam radiation has a great effect on overall system solar faction.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohammad Emamjome Kashan & Alan S. Fung & John Swift, 2021. "Integrating Novel Microchannel-Based Solar Collectors with a Water-to-Water Heat Pump for Cold-Climate Domestic Hot Water Supply, Including Related Solar Systems Comparisons," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-31, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:13:p:4057-:d:588961
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/13/4057/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/13/4057/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Getu Hailu & Alan S. Fung, 2019. "Optimum Tilt Angle and Orientation of Photovoltaic Thermal System for Application in Greater Toronto Area, Canada," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-21, November.
    2. Wang, Zhangyuan & Guo, Peng & Zhang, Haijing & Yang, Wansheng & Mei, Sheng, 2017. "Comprehensive review on the development of SAHP for domestic hot water," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 871-881.
    3. Bagge, Hans & Johansson, Dennis, 2011. "Measurements of household electricity and domestic hot water use in dwellings and the effect of different monitoring time resolution," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 2943-2951.
    4. Rodríguez-Hidalgo, M.C. & Rodríguez-Aumente, P.A. & Lecuona, A. & Legrand, M. & Ventas, R., 2012. "Domestic hot water consumption vs. solar thermal energy storage: The optimum size of the storage tank," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 897-906.
    5. Brottier, Laetitia & Bennacer, Rachid, 2020. "Thermal performance analysis of 28 PVT solar domestic hot water installations in Western Europe," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 196-210.
    6. Herrando, María & Markides, Christos N. & Hellgardt, Klaus, 2014. "A UK-based assessment of hybrid PV and solar-thermal systems for domestic heating and power: System performance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 288-309.
    7. Buker, Mahmut Sami & Riffat, Saffa B., 2016. "Solar assisted heat pump systems for low temperature water heating applications: A systematic review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 399-413.
    8. Chow, T.T., 2010. "A review on photovoltaic/thermal hybrid solar technology," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(2), pages 365-379, February.
    9. Mahdi Motamedi & Chia-Yang Chung & Mehdi Rafeie & Natasha Hjerrild & Fan Jiang & Haoran Qu & Robert A. Taylor, 2019. "Experimental Testing of Hydrophobic Microchannels, with and without Nanofluids, for Solar PV/T Collectors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-15, August.
    10. Teo, H.G. & Lee, P.S. & Hawlader, M.N.A., 2012. "An active cooling system for photovoltaic modules," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(1), pages 309-315.
    11. Moreno-Rodríguez, A. & González-Gil, A. & Izquierdo, M. & Garcia-Hernando, N., 2012. "Theoretical model and experimental validation of a direct-expansion solar assisted heat pump for domestic hot water applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 704-715.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Alpízar-Castillo, Joel & Ramírez-Elizondo, Laura M. & Bauer, Pavol, 2024. "Modelling and evaluating different multi-carrier energy system configurations for a Dutch house," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 364(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Michael, Jee Joe & S, Iniyan & Goic, Ranko, 2015. "Flat plate solar photovoltaic–thermal (PV/T) systems: A reference guide," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 62-88.
    2. Nasrin, R. & Hasanuzzaman, M. & Rahim, N.A., 2018. "Effect of high irradiation and cooling on power, energy and performance of a PVT system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 116(PA), pages 552-569.
    3. Mohanraj, M. & Belyayev, Ye. & Jayaraj, S. & Kaltayev, A., 2018. "Research and developments on solar assisted compression heat pump systems – A comprehensive review (Part-B: Applications)," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 124-155.
    4. Jia, Yuting & Alva, Guruprasad & Fang, Guiyin, 2019. "Development and applications of photovoltaic–thermal systems: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 249-265.
    5. María Herrando & Alba Ramos, 2022. "Photovoltaic-Thermal (PV-T) Systems for Combined Cooling, Heating and Power in Buildings: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-28, April.
    6. Herrando, María & Markides, Christos N., 2016. "Hybrid PV and solar-thermal systems for domestic heat and power provision in the UK: Techno-economic considerations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 512-532.
    7. Meireles, I. & Sousa, V. & Bleys, B. & Poncelet, B., 2022. "Domestic hot water consumption pattern: Relation with total water consumption and air temperature," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    8. Hwi-Ung Choi & Kwang-Hwan Choi, 2022. "Performance Evaluation of PVT Air Collector Coupled with a Triangular Block in Actual Climate Conditions in Korea," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-12, June.
    9. Kutlu, Cagri & Zhang, Yanan & Elmer, Theo & Su, Yuehong & Riffat, Saffa, 2020. "A simulation study on performance improvement of solar assisted heat pump hot water system by novel controllable crystallization of supercooled PCMs," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 601-612.
    10. Wang, Zhangyuan & Guo, Peng & Zhang, Haijing & Yang, Wansheng & Mei, Sheng, 2017. "Comprehensive review on the development of SAHP for domestic hot water," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 871-881.
    11. Zhou, Yuekuan & Zheng, Siqian & Zhang, Guoqiang, 2019. "Study on the energy performance enhancement of a new PCMs integrated hybrid system with the active cooling and hybrid ventilations," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 111-128.
    12. Mukhamad Faeshol Umam & Md. Hasanuzzaman & Nasrudin Abd Rahim, 2022. "Global Advancement of Nanofluid-Based Sheet and Tube Collectors for a Photovoltaic Thermal System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-37, August.
    13. Oruc, Muhammed E. & Desai, Amit V. & Kenis, Paul J.A. & Nuzzo, Ralph G., 2016. "Comprehensive energy analysis of a photovoltaic thermal water electrolyzer," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 294-302.
    14. Nasrin, R. & Rahim, N.A. & Fayaz, H. & Hasanuzzaman, M., 2018. "Water/MWCNT nanofluid based cooling system of PVT: Experimental and numerical research," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 286-300.
    15. Wu, Wei & Wang, Xiaoyu & Xia, Man & Dou, Yiping & Yin, Zhengyu & Wang, Jun & Lu, Ping, 2020. "A novel composite PCM for seasonal thermal energy storage of solar water heating system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 457-469.
    16. Zhang, Xingxing & Shen, Jingchun & Xu, Peng & Zhao, Xudong & Xu, Ying, 2014. "Socio-economic performance of a novel solar photovoltaic/loop-heat-pipe heat pump water heating system in three different climatic regions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 20-34.
    17. Saad Odeh, 2018. "Thermal Performance of Dwellings with Rooftop PV Panels and PV/Thermal Collectors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-14, July.
    18. Bai, Attila & Popp, József & Balogh, Péter & Gabnai, Zoltán & Pályi, Béla & Farkas, István & Pintér, Gábor & Zsiborács, Henrik, 2016. "Technical and economic effects of cooling of monocrystalline photovoltaic modules under Hungarian conditions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 1086-1099.
    19. Annamaria Buonomano & Francesco Calise & Maria Vicidomini, 2016. "Design, Simulation and Experimental Investigation of a Solar System Based on PV Panels and PVT Collectors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-17, June.
    20. Daghigh, Roonak & Oramipoor, Hooman & Shahidian, Roonak, 2020. "Improving the performance and economic analysis of photovoltaic panel using copper tubular-rectangular ducted heat exchanger," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 1076-1088.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:13:p:4057-:d:588961. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.