[TRNSYS-users] Energy losses on solar collector's heat exchanger before the loop starts

[Jeff Thornton via TRNSYS-users]

Javier, 

It might help to send the printers, integrators and output devices to a
hidden layer so we can see your project a bit more clearly, but I do
have one question. Are you using the outputs of the solar collectors to
set the flow rates in their respective loops? Both 538 and 539 will
calculate the required flow rate to meet the desired outlet temperature.
This flow rate will need to be identical throughout that loop (pumps,
tanks etc.). Double check that first. Otherwise I may suggest that you
remove the capacitance from the collector and add a few pipes in each
loop. There are times that the control algorithms will deliver
strange-looking results with collectors with mass. 

The ideal way to handle this situation is to have a control collector (a
collector that sees the same inlet temperature, ambient temperature and
solar radiation but has no mass). This control collector is then used to
set the flow rate for the real loop which contains the collectors with
mass. We use that approach routinely and with good results. 

Jeff 

---
Jeff Thornton
President - TESS LLC
22 N. Carroll Street, Madison WI USA 53703
Office: (608) 274-2577 Fax: (608) 278-1475
www.tess-inc.com
E-Mail: thornton at tess-inc.com

On 12/13/2016 2:21 pm, Javier Vega via TRNSYS-users wrote: 

> Hello TRNSYS community, 
> 
> I'm using Type 538 and 539 to model ETC and Flat Plate collectors. I have them connected to Type 695 (variable speed pump) and a HX in a solar water tank modeled through Type 543 (Coiled). In the tank, there is also another HX connected to a Heat Pump water loop. 
> 
> I'm using Type 538 and Type 539 in Control Mode 4, meaning the solar collector loop works only if the fluid can win energy. But, nevertheless, everytime the solar collectors activate and start to supply energy, I get negative power peaks. I've noticed the same occurs sometimes with the heat pump's heat exchanger, but just a few times. 
> 
> I haven't calculated the impact of this phenomenon in my whole simulation. Anyway, should I really expect this results in my calculations? Maybe it's the effect of the capacitance of the collectors array. 
> 
> I will attach some images that may help. The units are in kW and the info shown in the plot correspond to the energy transfer rate in the Heat Exchangers. 
> 
> Thanks in advance, greets from 
> Javier Vega Benavente 
> Mechanical Engineering Student, Universidad de Concepción, Chile 
> 
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