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Title: Annual collection and storage of solar energy for the heating of buildings. Report No. 3. Semiannual progress report, August 1977--January 1978

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6563312· OSTI ID:6563312

A new system for year-round collection and storage of solar heated water for heating of buildings has been operated over the past year at the University of Virginia. The system is composed of an energy storage sub-system, which stores hot water in an underground pool, and of a solar collector sub-system which acts not only to collect solar energy throughout the year but also to limit the evaporative and convective heat losses from the storage system. Results are presented to illustrate the transient heat transfer from the pool which occurs during the energy collection mode of operation. Thermal performance results are presented illustrating the efficiency of the solar collector under summer conditions (without a reflector) and winter conditions (with assistance from a vertical reflector). Results also show the transient behavior of energy storage in the water and in the earth which surrounds the storage pool. An analog computer model and a digital computer model have been used to analyze the transient energy phenomena which occur within the earth surrounding the pool. Results of the models are confirmed by an exact mathematical solution and by experimental results. Analog and digital models were used to determine the influence of various design modifications for improved collection and storage system performance. The experimental system has been modified to provide for energy extraction through a heat exchanger, to simulate the heat input required for a solar-assisted heat pump for a residential heating application.

Research Organization:
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-S-05-5136
OSTI ID:
6563312
Report Number(s):
ORO-5136-78/1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English