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Retrofitting Domestic Hot Water Heaters for Solar Water Heating Systems in Single-Family Houses in a Cold Climate: A Theoretical Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Luis R. Bernardo

    (Energy and Building Design Division, Lund University, Box 118 SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden)

  • Henrik Davidsson

    (Energy and Building Design Division, Lund University, Box 118 SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden)

  • Björn Karlsson

    (Division of Energy, School of Sustainable Development of Society and Technology, Högskoleplan 2, Gåsmyrevreten, SE-721 23 Västerås, Sweden)

Abstract

One of the biggest obstacles to economic profitability of solar water heating systems is the investment cost. Retrofitting existing domestic hot water heaters when a new solar hot water system is installed can reduce both the installation and material costs. In this study, retrofitting existing water heaters for solar water heating systems in Swedish single-family houses was theoretically investigated using the TRNSYS software. Four simulation models using forced circulation flow with different system configurations and control strategies were simulated and analysed in the study. A comparison with a standard solar thermal system was also presented based on the annual solar fraction. The simulation results indicate that the retrofitting configuration achieving the highest annual performance consists of a system where the existing tank is used as storage for the solar heat and a smaller tank with a heater is added in series to make sure that the required outlet temperature can be met. An external heat exchanger is used between the collector circuit and the existing tank. For this retrofitted system an annual solar fraction of 50.5% was achieved. A conventional solar thermal system using a standard solar tank achieves a comparable performance for the same total storage volume, collector area and reference conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Luis R. Bernardo & Henrik Davidsson & Björn Karlsson, 2012. "Retrofitting Domestic Hot Water Heaters for Solar Water Heating Systems in Single-Family Houses in a Cold Climate: A Theoretical Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 5(10), pages 1-22, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:5:y:2012:i:10:p:4110-4131:d:20874
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tsilingiris, P.T., 1996. "Design and performance of large low-cost solar water heating systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 9(1), pages 617-621.
    2. Michaelides, I.M. & Wilson, D.R., 1997. "Simulation studies of the position of the auxiliary heater in thermosyphon solar water heating systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 10(1), pages 35-42.
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    Cited by:

    1. Xun Yang & Yong Wang & Teng Xiong, 2017. "Numerical and Experimental Study on a Solar Water Heating System in Lhasa," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-13, July.
    2. Alberto Gutierrez-Escolar & Ana Castillo-Martinez & Jose M. Gomez-Pulido & Jose-Maria Gutierrez-Martinez & Zlatko Stapic, 2014. "A New System to Estimate and Reduce Electrical Energy Consumption of Domestic Hot Water in Spain," Energies, MDPI, vol. 7(11), pages 1-19, October.
    3. Abdulmajeed Mohamad & Jan Taler & Paweł Ocłoń, 2019. "Trombe Wall Utilization for Cold and Hot Climate Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-18, January.
    4. Sim, Lik Fang, 2014. "Numerical modelling of a solar thermal cooling system under arid weather conditions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 186-191.
    5. Wei-Min Lin & Kai-Chun Fan & Keh-Chin Chang & Kung-Ming Chung, 2013. "Dissemination of Solar Water Heaters in Taiwan: The Case of Remote Islands," Energies, MDPI, vol. 6(10), pages 1-13, October.
    6. Weldekidan, Haftom & Strezov, Vladimir & Town, Graham, 2018. "Review of solar energy for biofuel extraction," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 184-192.
    7. Luis Ricardo Bernardo & Henrik Davidsson & Erik Andersson, 2016. "Retrofitted Solar Domestic Hot Water Systems for Swedish Single-Family Houses—Evaluation of a Prototype and Life-Cycle Cost Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-15, November.
    8. Xun Yang & Teng Xiong & Jing Liang Dong & Wen Xin Li & Yong Wang, 2017. "Investigation of the Dynamic Melting Process in a Thermal Energy Storage Unit Using a Helical Coil Heat Exchanger," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-18, August.
    9. Anh Tuan Le & Liang Wang & Yang Wang & Ngoc Tuan Vu & Daoliang Li, 2020. "Experimental Validation of a Low-Energy-Consumption Heating Model for Recirculating Aquaponic Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-20, April.
    10. Luis R. Bernardo, 2013. "Retrofitting Conventional Electric Domestic Hot Water Heaters to Solar Water Heating Systems in Single-Family Houses—Model Validation and Optimization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-20, February.

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