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Field Study on the Thermal Performance of Vacuum Tube Solar Collectors in the Climate Conditions of Western Norway

Author

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  • Victoria Popsueva

    (Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Inndalsveien 28, 5063 Bergen, Norway)

  • Andrés Franklin Olivares Lopez

    (Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Inndalsveien 28, 5063 Bergen, Norway)

  • Anna Kosinska

    (Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Inndalsveien 28, 5063 Bergen, Norway)

  • Oleg Nikolaev

    (National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute), Kashirskoe Shosse 31, 115409 Moscow, Russian
    Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Bolshoy Boulevard 30, bld. 1, 121205 Moscow, Russia)

  • Boris V. Balakin

    (Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Inndalsveien 28, 5063 Bergen, Norway
    National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute), Kashirskoe Shosse 31, 115409 Moscow, Russian)

Abstract

A significant part of energy consumption in Northern countries goes to heating. There is no consensus about the most efficient source of renewable heat there. This paper presents a field study for a 7.8 m 2 vacuum tube solar collector facility that is conservatively located in the cloudy and cold climate conditions of western Norway. We analyse a year-long operation by examining the rig’s statistics. We show that in Nordic latitudes with rainy climate conditions, a domestic solar hot water system can produce 2200 kWh t h /y at a thermal efficiency of up to 72%. The average amount of heat produced by the collectors was up to 14.7 kWh t h /d. This was enough to sustain the domestic hot water demand in an average Norwegian household for 6 months with a short period of auxiliary heating. In conclusion, we calculated that a 3× upscaled area facility would deliver over 25 kWh t h covering six months of total heat consumption. The payback period for the facility is 12 years.

Suggested Citation

  • Victoria Popsueva & Andrés Franklin Olivares Lopez & Anna Kosinska & Oleg Nikolaev & Boris V. Balakin, 2021. "Field Study on the Thermal Performance of Vacuum Tube Solar Collectors in the Climate Conditions of Western Norway," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-12, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:10:p:2745-:d:552257
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. 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.
    2. Tschopp, Daniel & Tian, Zhiyong & Berberich, Magdalena & Fan, Jianhua & Perers, Bengt & Furbo, Simon, 2020. "Large-scale solar thermal systems in leading countries: A review and comparative study of Denmark, China, Germany and Austria," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
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    Cited by:

    1. Nikolay Tsvetkov & Stanislav Boldyryev & Aleksandr Shilin & Yuriy Krivoshein & Aleksandr Tolstykh, 2022. "Hardware and Software Implementation for Solar Hot Water System in Northern Regions of Russia," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-18, February.
    2. Fernando del Ama Gonzalo & Belén Moreno Santamaría & Juan A. Hernández Ramos, 2022. "Assessment of Water Flow Glazing as Building-Integrated Solar Thermal Collector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-21, December.
    3. Pavel G. Struchalin & Dmitrii M. Kuzmenkov & Vladimir S. Yunin & Xinzhi Wang & Yurong He & Boris V. Balakin, 2022. "Hybrid Nanofluid in a Direct Absorption Solar Collector: Magnetite vs. Carbon Nanotubes Compete for Thermal Performance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-8, February.

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