SIMPLIFIED METHOD FOR THE OPTIMAL SIZING OF A COMBINED SOLAR HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM

Abstract

In the present study, various methods of optimal sizing of solar collector for sp-ce heating and cooling have been reviewed. Although, there are many methods for the design and sizing of solar systems, a simplified method for the combined space heating and cooling, needed for the design engineers and relevant under Indian condition, is not available. The simplified method needs the prediction of annual solar fraction (F) to be used in the life cycle cost analysis. This requires computation of heating and cooling load, monthly energy demand and monthly solar fraction. In this study a computer program has been developed to compute these quantities. The monthly heating and cooling fractions have been calculated by using f-chart and ¢-f-chart methods respectively. The study has been restricted to the use of LiBr-H20 absorption chiller due to the limitation of 0-f-chart correlation. The annual solar fraction (F) has been calculated as the function of collector area(,). The annual solar fraction thus calcu-lated has been correlated with the collector area(;£) and an empirical equation has been developed which simplifies the prediction of optimum collector area(.'c)optimum and annual solar fraction(F).