[TRNSYS-users] Unusual solar thermal operation

Fri Apr 23 02:31:41 PDT 2010

Fred, Edward

I have also noticed that some weather data are read differently depending on
which weather data reader you are using (either Type 15 or Type 109). 

The example I have found is the weather data for Hemsby (GB) for which, when
you plot the total horizontal radiation with Type 15, the output is
constantly zero, whereas when you use the Type 109, you get the right values
out.

So further than checking the connections are right, you might as well check
that the weather data you are using is not outputting zero radiation, in
which case you might need to change the weather data reader.

Kind regards,

François Badinier

Development Engineer

ICAX Ltd

1 Hatfield House 

Baltic Street West

London EC1Y OST

 <mailto:alan.kiff at icax.co.uk> francois.badinier at icax.co.uk

 <http://www.icax.co.uk> www.icax.co.uk

From: Edward Halawa [mailto:Edward.Halawa at unisa.edu.au] 
Sent: 23 April 2010 01:59
To: Fred Betz; trnsys-users at cae.wisc.edu
Subject: Re: [TRNSYS-users] Unusual solar thermal operation

Dear Fred,

>>My solar thermal panels are not producing any heat or elevated
temperature. As the temperature of the water inside the panel doesn’t exceed
the ambient temperature, the pumps never start, and there is no flow. <<

It is hard for someone else to detect the problem unless he/she looks
directly into your TRNSYS project. It seems to me that your control doesn’t
work properly, it may be the signal formulation or its connection (perhaps
to pump or collector).

>>I have verified that the connections from the weather file and the rest of
the loop are correct. <<

I am familiar with frustration that arises when a TRNSYS project doesn’t
work as expected. I used to ask a colleague of mine to check the detailed
results for me, i.e. the printed results of any outputs from components that
I suspect create the problem. You need to create a file (I used to name it
check.dat) that saves the printer (TYPE 25) outputs of those components.
Using excel, then you (or your colleague) can open the file and go through
it line by line to see if the make sense.

In your case, you can try by setting a simulation stop time of say 1 week
(168 hrs) or even one day just to include the hours when solar radiation
exists.

Try to run the DHW.tpf in the TRNYS \Examples folder and compare it with the
one that you developed.

regards,

edward

From: Fred Betz [mailto:fbetz at aeieng.com] 
Sent: Friday, 23 April 2010 7:14 AM
To: trnsys-users at cae.wisc.edu
Subject: [TRNSYS-users] Unusual solar thermal operation

TRNSYS Users,

My solar thermal panels are not producing any heat or elevated temperature.
As the temperature of the water inside the panel doesn’t exceed the ambient
temperature, the pumps never start, and there is no flow. 

I have verified that the connections from the weather file and the rest of
the loop are correct. 

I put in the specs and IAM for this panel from the SRCC data sheet. 

Any thoughts on what I might be forgetting/doing wrong?

Thanks,

Fred

Fred Betz  PhD., LEED AP 
Sustainable Systems Analyst

AEI | AFFILIATED ENGINEERS, INC.  
5802 Research Park Blvd. | Madison, WI  53719

P: 608.236.1175 | F: 608.238.2614  
 <mailto:fbetz at aeieng.com> fbetz at aeieng.com  |   <http://www.aeieng.com/>
www.aeieng.com  

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