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    SOLAR WATER HEATING INTHE CANADIAN CLIMATE

    GRAEME DOYLE

    A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENTFOR THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF

    BACHELOR OF APPLIED SCIENCE

    FACULTY ADVISOR:PROFESSOR J.S.WALLACEUNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

    DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERINGMARCH,2007

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    I

    ABSTRACT

    This project aimed to complete two goals: document a methodology for designing a

    large scale Solar Water Heating (SWH) system. and study the economic feasibility

    these systems in the Canadian climate. The complete design proposal for the

    installation of a SWH system in an existing TDSB school building was developed. An

    economic analysis was performed on the designed system in order to gain insight into

    the economics of SWH systems. The system was analyzed at different values of energy

    cost inflation rates, debt ratios, and availability of subsidies. A sensitivity analysis was

    performed on the initial costs. The financial feasibility of the SWH system was found to

    increase with the availability of a subsidy, increasing energy cost inflation rate, and

    decreasing debt ratio. A specific case was examined where the addition of the SWH

    system allowed a summer boiler to be undersized, resulting in savings for the SWH

    project and a boosted financial feasibility.

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    II

    Acknowledgements

    I would like to thank

    Professor J. S. Wallace for his insight and guidance;

    Mr. Eric Steen and the TDSB for their time and support;

    and

    Kristina and Finn for their love and care.

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    III

    TABLE OF CONTENTS

    1. LIST OF SYMBOLS ________________________________________ IV

    1. LIST OF FIGURES_________________________________________VII

    2. PROJECT OVERVIEW _______________________________________ 1

    3. INTRODUCTION TO SOLAR WATER HEATING SYSTEMS _______________ 3

    4. DESIGN METHODOLOGY_____________________________________ 5

    4.1. OVERVIEW _____________________________________________________ 5

    4.2. SITE SELECTION_________________________________________________ 5

    4.3. PERFORMANCE ESTIMATION ________________________________________ 7

    4.4. COST ESTIMATION ______________________________________________ 12

    5. DESIGN RESULTS ________________________________________ 15

    5.1. OVERVIEW ____________________________________________________ 15

    5.2. SITE SELECTION________________________________________________ 15

    5.3. SYSTEM DESIGN________________________________________________ 16

    5.4. COMPONENT DESIGN ____________________________________________ 19

    5.5. PERFORMANCE RESULTS _________________________________________ 23

    6. FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY ____________________________________ 24

    6.1. EVALUATION METHODOLOGY_______________________________________ 24

    6.2. ECONOMIC ANALYSIS ____________________________________________ 27

    6.3. SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS ___________________________________________ 28

    6.4. DISCUSSION___________________________________________________ 28

    7. CONCLUSION ___________________________________________ 31

    8. REFERENCES ___________________________________________ 32

    9. APPENDIX A:PERFORMANCE ESTIMATION DETAILS ________________ 33

    10. APPENDIX B:SYSTEM DRAWINGS_____________________________ 38

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    IV

    1. LIST OF SYMBOLS

    AT, total storage tank surface area [m]

    Cs, storage capacity ratio [L/m2]

    Ca, antifreeze heat capacity [J/kgC]

    d, pipe diameter [m]

    FR, collector heat removal factor

    , solar fraction, friction factor

    g, acceleration due to gravity [m/s2]

    Hd/H, the fraction of diffuse radiation to total radiation

    Ho, monthly average extraterrestrial solar irradiation [W/m2]

    HH, monthly average solar irradiation on a horizontal surface [W/m2]

    HT, monthly average solar irradiation on a tilted surface [W/m2]

    h, average number of hours of bright sunlight [hours/year]

    hf, friction head loss [m]

    hs, static head [m]

    IT, solar irradiation on a tilted surface [W/m2]

    ITc, critical level of solar irradiation on a tilted surface [W/m2]

    KT, average clearness index

    L, longitude [degrees]

    L, heating load [MJ], length of pipe [m]

    , solar loop mass flow rate [kg/s]

    N, number of days in a particular month [days]

    P, pumping power [W]

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    V

    Q, volume flow rate [m3/s]

    Qu, solar energy gain [MJ]

    rt,n, the ratio of hourly total to daily total radiation at noon

    rd,n, the ratio of hourly total to daily diffuse radiation at noon

    Rb. the ratio of beam radiation on the tilted surface to that on a horizontal surface

    Rb,n. the ratio of beam radiation on the tilted surface to that on a horizontal surface atsolar noon

    Red, Reynolds number for duct flow

    R. the ratio of radiation on the tilted surface to that on a horizontal surface

    Rn, the ratio for the hour centred at noon of radiation on the tilted surface to that on ahorizontal surface for an average day of the month

    Rs, ratio of the standard storage heat capacity per unit collector area of 350 [kJ/m2C]

    Ti, collector fluid inlet temperature [C]

    Ta, ambient temperature [C]

    To, collector fluid outlet temperature [C]

    Tm, minimum useful temperature [C]

    UL, collector functional heat loss coefficient

    V, fluid velocity [m/s]

    Xc, dimensionless critical radiation level

    , collector slope [degrees]

    , Solar Declination [degrees]

    , collector azimuth [degrees]

    T, change in fluid temperature as it passes through solar array [C]

    t, total number of seconds in a month [seconds]

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    VI

    , pipe roughness [m]

    HX, heat exchanger effectiveness

    , utilizability

    , pump efficiency

    , latitude [degrees]

    , ground reflectivity

    (), collector functional transmittance absorbptance product

    , dynamic viscosity [Pa s]

    s, Sunset Hour Angle

    n, Solar noon Hour Angle

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    VII

    1. LIST OF FIGURES

    Figure 1: Collector efficiency vs. T ________________________________________ 4

    Figure 2: System input parameters used in the performance estimation model _______ 9

    Figure 3: Pre-tax initial cost sensitivity _____________________________________ 13

    Figure 4: Initial, Annual, and Period cost estimation __________________________ 14

    Figure 5: Simplified schematic diagram for the service hot water system __________ 16

    Figure 6: Closed and open collector loop designs ____________________________ 17

    Figure 7: System design schematic _______________________________________ 18

    Figure 8: Characteristics of selected solar collectors __________________________ 19

    Figure 9: Results of comparison analysis, total array size = 70 [m2] ______________ 19

    Figure 10: Fraction of the heating load supplied by solar energy _________________ 23

    Figure 11: Case 1 standard initial cost, 100% debt ratio ______________________ 27

    Figure 12: Case 2 standard initial cost, 50% debt ratio _______________________ 27

    Figure 13: Case 3 standard initial cost, 0% debt ratio ________________________ 27

    Figure 14: Undersize boiler replacement, $30,000 savings in year 0, 100% debt ratio 27

    Figure 15: Best case scenario low initial costs, 0% debt ratio __________________ 28

    Figure 16: Worst case scenario high initial costs, 100% debt ratio ______________ 28

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    1

    2. PROJECT OVERVIEW

    Solar energy, though it is the source of all energy on Earth, is not what is considered

    a conventional energy resource. The technology needed to exploit its undepletable

    energy has been available for centuries, but does not exist in the mainstream of human

    energy technologies. As a result, there is much less knowledge and experience in

    dealing with the technology needed to tap the suns power. The intent of this project is

    twofold: to document a methodology for designing a large scale solar water heating

    system. and to study the economic feasibility these systems in the Canadian climate.

    This project will consider the installation of Solar Water Heating (SWH) systems in

    existing buildings. It aims to develop a complete design proposal for the installation of a

    retrofit SWH system for a large building. The project will be conducted on a real building

    in the Toronto area. The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) has graciously agreed to

    supply the author with all necessary data on a school in order to complete the design

    proposal. The TDSB has requested that the schools name or location not be disclosed

    in this report for confidentiality reasons. Upon completion of the project, the TDSB will

    be presented with a copy of this design proposal.

    Although performed as a case study on a particular building application, the results

    of the project will be generalized such that they will give an indication of the economics

    of these systems. This project will serve to document the design process for developing

    a technically and economically feasible solar water heating system.

    Chapter 4 gives an introduction to Solar Water Heating technology. The goal of

    this passage is to familiarize the reader with the two main solar collector technologies,

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    2

    Glazed Flat Panel collectors and Evacuated Tube collectors. A brief discussion about

    the operating efficiency of these technologies concludes that discussion.

    Chapter 5 discusses the design methodology used throughout this project. A

    rationale used to select the building is described, and a description of the parameters

    used in the performance estimation model is given. Readers who would like more detail

    about the performance estimation calculations are referred to Appendix A. The chapter

    closes with the presentation of the cost estimate and a sensitivity analysis of its

    assumptions.

    Chapter 6 describes the final design of the SWH system. A qualitative and

    quantitative report of the aspects of the overall system design as well as the individual

    component design proceeds, followed by a presentation of the final performance model

    results.

    Chapter 7 analyzes the financial feasibility of the project. An explanation of the

    evaluation methodology is followed by the results of the economic and sensitivity

    analyses. Finally the findings and implications these results are discussed.

    Chapter 8 concludes the report and formalizes its findings.

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    3

    3. INTRODUCTION TO SOLAR WATER HEATING SYSTEMS

    A glazed flat panel collector consists of a shallow rectangular box with a flat black

    plate behind a glass cover. The plate is attached to a series of parallel tubes through

    which a heat transfer fluid passes.As the liquid circulates through the system, it absorbs

    energy from sunlight falling on the collectors and heats up. The heated liquid then

    enters a heat exchanger or is added directly to the conventional system. The heated

    water flows to a storage tank that is connected to the conventional service water heating

    system. Glazed flat panel solar collectors are insulated behind the absorber plate, but

    nonetheless, they are much less efficient in cold weather than in warm, though they can

    still generate a net energy gain during the winter. These systems are best suited to

    applications that require medium to high temperatures (1 p. 8).

    Evacuated tube collectors absorb solar energy in much the same manner that

    glazed panels do. An evacuated tube collector contains several individual glass tubes,

    each containing an absorber plate bonded to a heat pipe and suspended in a vacuum.

    The heat pipe transfers the heat to a condenser through the top of the tube. The

    condensers are clamped to heat exchange blocks in a well-insulated manifold. The

    collector plate absorbs radiation and transfers it to the condenser as heat. The heat

    transfer fluid passes through the manifold, collects the heat from the condensers and

    transfers it to a heat exchanger in a hot water tank. Cold weather and high water

    temperatures have little effect on evacuated tube collectors, since the collectors are so

    well insulated. However, they absorb less energy than glazed collectors because curved

    glass sheath offers a lower transmittance factor than glazed collectors. These systems

    are best suited to applications that require high to very high temperatures (1 p. 11).

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    In general, collector conversion efficiency, the fraction of impinging solar energy that

    can be converted into useful energy, is a function of the difference between fluid inlet

    temperature and the ambient temperature, T. Glazed flat panel collectors start their

    efficiency curve higher when there is a smaller temperature difference, but loose their

    efficiency very quickly whenT is larger. Evacuated tube collectors start their efficiency

    curve lower but maintain that efficiency better as T gets larger. This behavior is

    summarized in

    Figure 1.

    Figure 1: Collector efficiency vs. T

    Collector

    Efficienc

    Evacuated Panel

    Glazed Panel

    T, Difference between collector inlet temp and ambient temp

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    6

    The first criterion identified was a large service hot water demand during the

    summer months. A high summer service hot water load is beneficial to the economics of

    a solar heating project because it allows for the design of a larger system that can be

    utilized during the summer when the load is at its lowest. During the summer months

    the only demands on the service hot water system come from domestic hot water use

    (kitchens and showers are the largest uses) and from pool heating. Therefore, schools

    with pools, showers, and kitchens were identified as key candidates.

    The second criterion identified as essential for a solar heating system was the

    technical and economic feasibility of integrating the system into the existing heating

    system. The heating system should also be of a type which can be easily interfaced with

    a solar water heating system. For example, a heating system consisting of distributed

    gas-fired or electric unit heaters would require a major renovation to the heating system

    and would likely cause the project to be economically infeasible. It is desirable to select

    a building with a heating system which would require very little modification in the

    installation of a solar heating system. If the existing heating system is reaching the end

    of its useful lifecycle and is in need of replacement, savings can be generated for the

    SWH design by allowing the replacement heating system to be downsized.

    The third criterion was identified as the availability of rooftop mounting space with

    adequate structural support. Solar heating systems require a large rooftop area with an

    unobstructed southerly exposure for mounting the solar collectors. The ability of the

    structural roof elements to accept a heavy load is also a key consideration, requiring the

    approval of a structural engineer prior to installation. The rooftop mounting area should

    also be close to the mechanical room where the service hot water equipment is kept in

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    order to minimize the amount of exposed solar loop piping which would add to the

    systems heat loss. Adequate space in the mechanical room is required for the

    installation of the large solar thermal storage tank. Depending on the design this may

    range from a very large volume of space to no space at all, as in the case where no

    solar thermal storage tank is designed.

    In addition to these criteria, it is desired to select a building for which complete,

    accurate, and long-term data on the energy consumption of only the service hot water

    system is available. Since the energy consumption data supplied by the TDSB is in the

    form of monthly natural gas or electricity consumption for the entire school, it is

    desirable to select a building where the only equipment consuming natural gas is the

    service hot water system.

    4.3. PERFORMANCE ESTIMATION

    In the component design phase, the total energy delivered by the system over its

    lifetime is estimated based on the selection of design variables. Estimations fall into two

    broad categories: detailed simulations and design methods. Detailed simulations utilize

    computational methods to solve a large set of differential equations which describe the

    thermal characteristics of the system. This type of estimation is quite detailed and

    complex, so it is typically used to simulate experimental or one-of-a-kind systems.

    Design methods, on the other hand, are models that correlate the results from hundreds

    of detailed simulations to provide an empirical procedure for estimating the systems

    performance. They were developed to allow designers to estimate a systems

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    performance quickly and easily. This project employed the ,-Chart design method to

    estimate the systems long-term performance.

    The ,-Chart method was developed to study the long-term performance of

    closed-loop solar energy systems by Klein and Beckman in 1979 (1). It combines the

    strengths and weaknesses of the Utilizability () and -Chart methods to produce a

    correlation that has proven to be more accurate and versatile than both those methods.

    Details of the performance estimation calculations can be found in Appendix A.

    The accuracy of the performance estimation depends on the accuracy of the

    parameters used to define the system. The model parameters can be broken down into

    three categories: design variables, system constants, and operation data. Design

    variables are the main parameters that define the system. They are the variables that

    are varied in the system analysis in order to find their optimum sizing. System constants

    represent parameters that are either set at the beginning of the design or are

    proportional to a design variable and so are not varied in the system analysis. Operation

    data is required information necessary for calculations on the conditions under which

    the system will be operating. Figure 2 lists the system parameters used in the

    performance estimation model, and is followed by a brief description of each parameter.

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    9

    Category Input Parameter Type

    Site

    , latitude [degrees] System Constant

    L, longitude [degrees] System Constant

    Orientation

    , collector azimuth [degrees] System Constant

    , collector slope [degrees] System Constant

    SolarCollector

    Array

    Solar collector type [Glazed or Evacuated] Design Variable

    Solar collector characteristics (FR(), FRUL, Aperature) Design Variable

    N, number of collectors [#] Design Variable

    Storage

    Tank

    Cs, storage capacity ratio [L/m2] Design Variable

    Storage tank characteristics (U-factor, surface area) System Constant

    HeatExchanger

    HX, heat exchanger effectiveness [%] System Constant

    Ca, antifreeze heat capacity [J/kgC] System Constant

    SystemEnergyBalance

    Tm, minimum useful temperature [C] System Constant

    , solar loop mass flow rate [kg/s] System Constant

    Total pump power [W] System Constant

    , pump efficiency [%] System Constant

    Operation

    Data

    Lj, average heating load for month j [MJ] Operation Data

    HH,j, average daily irradiation on a horizontal surface for month j[W/m

    2]

    Operation Data

    Ta,j, average daily ambient temperature for month j [C] Operation Data

    j, ground reflectivity for month j Operation Data

    h, average number of hours of bright sunlight [hours/year] Operation Data

    Figure 2: System input parameters used in the performance estimation model

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    10

    SITE

    The longitude, , and latitude, L, of the site affect the relation of the sun to the site.

    The official Toronto values given by Environment Canada were used (2).

    ORIENTATION

    The slope, , is the angle that the plane of the collector makes with the ground. This

    changes the angle of solar irradiation falling in the plane of the collector. Increasing the

    slope increases the amount of irradiation on the collector during the winter and

    decreases it during the summer. For maximum solar gain the rule of thumb is to set the

    slope equal to the latitude 10 [degrees] (3 p. 157). In order to increase winter energy

    generation when the demand is high at the expense of summer capacity when the

    demand is low, a slope greater than the latitude was used. A slope of 50 degrees was

    selected in order to simplify the mounting procedure.

    Azimuth, L, is the angle between due south and the direction that the collector is

    facing. The azimuth angle is set to zero for optimum solar energy gain (3 p. 158).

    SOLAR COLLECTOR ARRAY

    The solar collector array is the defining component of the SWH system. Its design

    involves deciding upon the main design variables: collector type, collector product

    model, and array size.

    For this study two collector technologies were considered: Glazed Flat Panel and

    Evacuated Tube. Suitable product models for each type of panel were identified based

    on cost and performance. The performance estimation model was then used to

    compare the performance of each of the collector types. This analysis resulted in the

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    selection of the Solarco SC-22 glazed flat panel as the collector product model. The

    results of this analysis can be found in section 5.3.

    The other key design variable in the solar collector array is the overall sizing of the

    array. Using the performance estimation model, the number of panels needed to meet

    the summer baseload was determined to be 55 panels for a total array area of 109.5

    [m2].

    STORAGE TANK

    A thermal storage capacity ratio of 50 [L/m2] of collector area was considered for the

    performance estimation. An insulated steel tank storage tank measuring 1.50 [m] in

    diameter by 3.10 [m] in height with a U-factor of 0.3 [W/m2C] was selected.

    HEAT EXCHANGER

    An external shell and tube type heat exchanger with an effectiveness of 95% was

    considered for the performance estimation.

    The solar antifreeze fluid considered was a 50-50 propylene glycol / water mix with a

    heat capacity of 5843 [J/kgC].

    SYSTEM ENERGY BALANCE

    The ,-Chart method requires the specification of a minimum temperature, Tm, that

    must be surpassed for the solar fluid at the collector outlet to add energy to the system.

    This minimum temperature was set as the expected return temperature of the service

    hot water loop, which was estimated to be at 40 [C].

    The mass flow rate of the solar loop, , was selected as the median of the range of

    typical values described by Duffie and Beckman (4 p. 514). The mass flow rate used in

    the performance estimation model was 1.64 [kg/s].

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    The total system pump power was roughly estimated by calculating the static head

    and head loss experienced by the system. The total system pumping power was

    estimated to be 2096 [W], assuming a pump efficiency of 85%. Details on this

    calculation can be found in Appendix A.

    OPERATION DATA

    The time scale of the available radiation, temperature, and load data determines the

    time scale of the estimation. Monthly average data was used in the performance

    estimation, and is the most common time scale available. Since climatic conditions vary

    greatly from year to year, it is beneficial to use data that has been normalized over a

    number of years. Climatic data was provided by Environment Canada in the form of 30

    year monthly average radiation and ambient temperature data (2). Load data was

    provided by the TDSB in the form of 6 year monthly average normalized natural gas

    consumption data for the boiler plant (5).

    4.4. COST ESTIMATION

    A comprehensive accounting of all the expected costs for the installation of the

    system was performed in order to estimate the initial, annual, and periodic costs

    associated with the project. This is presented in Figure 4.

    Difficulty obtaining precise figures for worker wages, billable hours, and equipment

    costs means that the cost estimation relies on assumptions made about these costs.

    These assumptions present a degree of uncertainty into the cost estimation. In order to

    estimate that degree of uncertainty, a range of values was used for each cost

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    13

    assumption in order to generate a high and low cost estimate. These results are

    presented below.

    Estimate Selected High Low

    Cost $86,434 $107,271 $68,426

    Difference $20,837 -$18,007

    Percent 24% -21%

    Figure 3: Pre-tax initial cost sensitivity

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    Figure 4: Initial, Annual, and Period cost estimation

    Initial Costs Unit Quantity Unit Cost Amount Source

    Design and Development

    Permits project 1 318$ 318$ City of Toronto Permit Fee Schedule

    Approvals p-h 5 70$ 350$ Estimate

    Project management p-h 25 70$ 1,750$ EstimateSWH system design p-h 18 70$ 1,225$ Estimate

    Structural design p-h 6 70$ 420$ Estimate

    Tenders and contracting p-h 10 70$ 700$ Estimate

    Commissioning p-h 10 70$ 700$ Estimate

    Construction supervision p-h 10 70$ 700$ Estimate

    Sub-total : 6,163$

    Equipment

    Solar collectors # 55 750$ 41,250$ Quote from supplier

    Collector support structure m 109.5 135$ 14,776$ RETscreen user manual

    Solar storage tank L 5500 2.13$ 11,688$ RETscreen user manual

    Heat Exchanger kW 66 9.50$ 624$ RETscreen user manual

    Piping materials m 48 25$ 1,200$ Cost survey

    Auxiliary equipment project 1 300$ 300$ Cost survey/Estimate

    Circulating pump(s) W 2,096 2.9$ 6,021$ Cost survey

    Controls project 1 750$ 750$ Cost survey

    Antifreeze L 78 7$ 543$ Quote from supplier

    Sub-total : 77,151$

    Installation

    Roof mounting installation p-h 15 40$ 600$ Estimate

    Solar Collector installation p-h 25 40$ 1,000$ Estimate

    Plumbing installation p-h 20 40$ 800$ Estimate

    Electrical installation p-h 15 40$ 600$ Estimate

    Sub-total : 3,000$Miscellaneous

    Training p-h 4 30$ 120$ Estimate

    Sub-total : 120$

    Initial Costs - Sub-total : 86,434$

    Initial Costs - Taxes : 12,101$

    Initial Costs - Total 98,534$

    Annual Costs Unit Quantity Unit Cost Amount Source

    O&M

    O&M labour p-h 2 30$ 60$ Estimate

    Electricity kWh 5,613 0.10$ 561$ Estimate

    Annual Costs - Total -$ 621$

    Periodic Costs Period Unit Cost Amount Source

    Replace Fittings 10 yr 300$ 300$ RETscreen user manual

    Replace Antifreeze 10 yr 543$ 543$ Estimate

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    5. DESIGN RESULTS

    5.1. OVERVIEW

    Of all the system design considerations to take into account, the most important is to

    select a design that is a suitable match for the building. In the system design phase,

    suitable designs are identified and compared against each other on a qualitative basis.

    The best designs are then passed on to the component design phase, where the

    designs are compared on a quantitative basis.

    5.2. SITE SELECTION

    Using the site selection criteria, a suitable building was chosen for this feasibility

    study. The facility is a 2 storey structure of masonry construction without a basement.

    The original building was constructed in 1958 and has received major additions on

    several occasions. The heated floor area measures 11,532 square metres, but the roof

    area is 9,226 square metres, indicating that the approximately 80% of the floor area is

    one storey. It is equipped with a cafeteria kitchen, full-size pool with showers, and is

    host to various camp activities during the summer break.

    The service hot water system for the school provides all the energy for space

    heating, domestic hot water, and pool heating. It consists of 2 large winter boilers and

    one smaller summer boiler. All of the boilers are reaching the end of their useful life and

    will need to be replaced within the next 5 years, according to a site assessment

    performed by the TDSB (6). As stated earlier, if the replacement equipment can be

    downsized because of the installation of a SWH system, then savings may be assigned

    to the SWH system. A simplified diagram depicting the system is shown in Figure 5. For

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    these systems, the service hot water system operates on a closed loop. Heat is added

    to the loop by the boiler plant and is removed by heat exchangers connected to the

    loads. This system layout is very favourable to the addition of a solar water heating

    system.

    DHW Storage Tank

    Boiler Plant

    Pool

    Radiators

    andFan Coils

    Natural Gas

    To School From water

    main

    Figure 5: Simplified schematic diagram for the service hot water system

    5.3. SYSTEM DESIGN

    The main design consideration when developing the overall system design is the

    freeze protection strategy, especially in cold climates. The selection of freeze protection

    strategy dictates whether the system will be an open or closed loop system. However, in

    order to explain the different freeze protection strategies, open and closed loop systems

    must first be defined.

    n an open collector loop the fluid circulating in the collectors is deposited directly into

    the solar storage tank, while in a closed collector loop, the loop is sealed and there is a

    heat exchanger between the collector loop and the solar storage tank. The use of heat

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    exchangers, which cannot perfectly convey all the heat from the hot water loop to the

    load, reduces the amount of usable energy that can be drawn from the system. Figure 6

    depicts the two system designs.

    Figure 6: Closed and open collector loop designs

    One of the main issues faced by solar water heating systems in an extreme

    climate like Canadas, is the possibility of freezing temperatures. If proper precautions

    are not taken to ensure that water in the collectors or exposed piping does not freeze,

    serious damage to the system can result. Two design strategies have been developed

    to safeguard a system from possible freeze damage. The first design strategy is called a

    draindown system, where electric or pressure actuated valves drain the fluid in the

    collectors and exposed piping back into a storage tank while filling the collectors with

    air. This design incorporates an open collector loop solar storage tank, and so is only

    suitable in systems with this design. A concern with this freeze protection strategy is the

    reliability of the of the draindown valve itself. Electrically actuated valves will not protect

    the system in the event of a power failure, and pressure actuated valves are susceptible

    to freezing shut in cold weather.

    Hot Water Loop Supply

    Solar Collector

    Collector

    Loop Pump

    Hot Water Loop

    Return

    Hot Water

    Loop

    Storage

    Hot Water Loop

    Supply

    Solar Collector

    Collector

    Loop Pump

    Hot Water Loop

    Return

    Solar Collector

    and Hot Water

    Loop Storage

    Closed Collector Loop Design Open Collector Loop Design

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    The second freeze protection design strategy uses a fluid with a very low freezing

    point (antifreeze) as the collector fluid. This eliminates all risk of freeze damage in the

    system, but due to the high cost of antifreeze, a closed collector loop with a heat

    exchanger must be used. This again puts a constraint on the system design and

    reduces the efficiency of the system, as described above.

    The existing service hot water system in the school is a closed loop design which

    serves the various loads through heat exchangers. This system is very easily modified

    to incorporate a solar water heater loop in a boiler preheating configuration. This design

    is beneficial because small temperature increases generated by the SWH loop can

    reduce the fuel consumed by the boiler substantially. A closed collector loop design was

    selected in order to facilitate the use of antifreeze as the collector fluid. The expense of

    reduced performance and extra cost is justified, because in the Canadian climate robust

    freeze protection is a must. This design was chosen because it offers the most reliable

    and simple freeze protection. A diagram of the system design is shown in Figure 7.

    Pool

    Radiatorsand

    Fan Coils

    Natural Gas

    To School

    From watermain

    BoilerPlant

    DHWStorage

    Tank

    HX

    Solar Collector

    Hot WaterLoop

    StorageTank

    HX

    Figure 7: System design schematic

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    5.4. COMPONENT DESIGN

    SOLAR COLLECTOR ARRAY

    The solar collector array is the defining component of the SWH system. Its design is

    the single most influential aspect of the system performance, both thermally and

    economically. The design of the solar collector array involves deciding upon the main

    design variables: collector type, collector model, and array size.

    For this study two collector technologies were considered: Glazed Flat Panel and

    Evacuated Tube. Suitable product models for each type of panel were identified based

    on cost and performance. The selected panel models are manufactured by Solarco

    Manufacturing Inc., a Toronto area company. Local sourcing reduces the expense

    incurred when transporting the panels from their supplier. The performance estimation

    model was used to compare the performance of each of the collector types. The results

    of this analysis are given below.

    Collector Type Model FR() FRUL Aperature [m2 /panel] Cost [$/panel]

    Glazed SC-22 0.79 3.25 1.99 $ 750

    Evacuated VCR-16 0.47 1.05 0.80 $ 900

    Figure 8: Characteristics of selected solar collectors

    Collector Number of Panels Total System Cost Energy Gain [MJ/year]

    Tm = 40C Tm = 70C Tm = 100CSC-22 (Glazed) 35 $ 59,235 141,661 84,545 38,906VCR-16 (Evacuated) 87 $ 118,826 106,599 81,957 58,426

    Figure 9: Results of comparison analysis, total array size = 70 [m2]

    The results of this analysis provide an insight into the operation of the two collector

    technologies. At lower minimum useful temperatures (Tm) the glazed collector is more

    effective at collecting energy, while at higher temperature the evacuated collector is

    more effective. This result agrees with the general collector efficiency graph shown in

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    Figure 1. Since the SWH system in this project is serving as a boiler preheater, high

    temperatures are not required, so the benefits of the evacuated collector are lost. Also,

    for the same area an evacuated collector array would cost nearly twice as much as a

    glazed collector array, so the Solarco SC-22 glazed flat panel collector was selected for

    use in this project.

    The other key design variable in the solar collector array is the overall sizing of

    the array. The number of panels and size of the array proportionally affect the amount of

    energy generated by the system. The methodology for sizing the solar collector array is

    to provide enough energy to just meet the summer baseload. Sizing the system for the

    baseload demand is a good strategy to ensure that the system is never underutilized.

    Also, a system which generates large amounts of unused energy during the summer

    poses a danger to itself as it needs to vent the excess energy in a suitable fashion. If

    pressure relief valves malfunction and the system heats up too quickly the pressure in

    the solar loop can build up and cause a catastrophic failure, damaging the system and

    endangering building occupants. Using the performance estimation model, the number

    of panels needed to meet the summer baseload was determined to be 55 panels for a

    total array area of 109.5 [m2].

    THERMAL STORAGE

    Thermal storage in SWH affects system performance in two ways. Firstly, it allows

    solar energy to be saved for use at night or during periods of prolonged cloudiness.

    Secondly, it increases the efficiency of the system by allowing the solar loop to dump its

    energy even when the load is small. The storage tank was sized mainly considering

    cost, constraining the selection within the acceptable range of storage capacity ratios

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    described by Duffie and Beckman (4 p. 540). A thermal storage capacity ratio of 50

    [L/m2] of collector area was selected, yielding a total storage tank capacity of 5500 [L].

    The size of an individual thermal storage tank is limited by the size of the door to the

    boiler room. Fortunately, the boiler room of the selected school has a double door

    opening to outside which could facilitate a maximum tank diameter of approximately 1 to

    1.5 [m]. A storage tank measuring 1.50 [m] in diameter by 3.10 [m] in height was

    selected. In terms of the storage tank construction, an insulated steel tank with a U-

    factor of 0.3 [W/m2C] was selected. Steel tank construction was favoured over

    fibreglass design due to the need for pressurization in the service hot water loop.

    HEAT EXCHANGER

    The closed collector loop design necessitates the use of a heat exchanger to

    transfer heat from the solar antifreeze fluid to the service hot water fluid. In order to

    achieve a high heat exchanger effectiveness, an external shell and tube type heat

    exchanger has been selected. This requires pumps on both the solar fluid and service

    fluid sides to circulate the fluids through the heat exchanger, which increases the

    parasitic losses. The extra expense in equipment and operational costs is justified by

    the increased ability to extract useful heat from the solar fluid. The external heat

    exchanger configuration also facilitates easy maintenance and repair.

    A 50-50 propylene glycol / water mix was selected for the solar antifreeze fluid due

    to its low toxicity and effectiveness as a heat transfer fluid and antifreeze. The low

    toxicity of propylene glycol is important in order to avoid the need for a double walled

    heat exchanger. Double walls are often required as a safety measure in case of leaks,

    helping ensure that the antifreeze does not mix with the potable water supply (6 p. 416).

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    It is to be expected that the existing domestic hot water heat exchanger is double

    walled, since the service hot water loop likely contains bacterial inhibitor chemicals.

    However, due to the age and condition of the existing equipment, it was decided to err

    on the side of caution and select a non-toxic antifreeze fluid.

    CONTROL SYSTEM

    On/off operation of a fixed flow rate collector pump is the most widely used pump

    and system control configuration (7 p. 101). Power switching controllers employ simple

    electromechanical relays which are cheap, reliable, and familiar to installers. This

    simple control scheme is possible because more complicated control points such as the

    boiler control already have installed control mechanisms which react to the temperature

    of the service hot water loop, irrespective of the SWH system.

    The control system operates by measuring the difference between the collector

    inlet temperature and the collector outlet temperature, T. The system collects solar

    energy by turning the pump on whenever T reaches a preset amount, Ton. The

    controller turns the pump off whenever T drops to another preset amount, Toff. The

    value ofToff is typically 0.5 1 C and the value ofTon typically 4 6 timesToff (7 p.

    102). Selection of these constants is important in order to reduce the frequency of

    cycling that the will system experiences, which increases the parasitic losses incurred

    by the pump.

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    5.5. PERFORMANCE RESULTS

    The final system design was evaluated using the performance estimation model.

    The resulting energy gains represent the performance of the system in a typical year.

    The annual net solar energy delivered by the system was estimated to be 241,459 [MJ],

    displacing 10,835 [m3] of natural gas. Parasitic pumping losses consumed 5,613 [kWh]

    of electrical energy. Therefore the system generated 11.95 times more energy than it

    consumed. The overall fraction of the total heating load supplied by the SWH system

    was 2.69%, while the monthly solar fraction during July and August was 100%. Figure

    10 charts the solar fraction as well as the total solar energy gain in [MJ].

    Figure 10: Fraction of the heating load supplied by solar energy

    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

    Energy Gain 9,024 14,300 22,017 25,719 28,919 29,430 28,658 27,615 28,863 20,680 5,775 2,853

    Solar Fraction 0.0058 0.0105 0.0178 0.0370 0.0728 0.3296 1.0000 1.0000 0.1998 0.0379 0.0060 0.0019

    0.0

    0.1

    0.2

    0.3

    0.4

    0.5

    0.6

    0.7

    0.8

    0.9

    1.0

    0

    5,000

    10,000

    15,000

    20,000

    25,000

    30,000

    35,000

    S

    olarFraction

    En

    ergyGain[MJ]

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    6. FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY

    6.1. EVALUATION METHODOLOGY

    The economics of the project depend on several key financial factors: the availability

    of a government subsidy, the energy cost escalation rate, the debt ratio and interest

    rate, and the discount rate. The following section will describe the selection of those

    factors as well as the economic indicators that will be used to evaluate the project.

    GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY

    Solar water heating installations are generally characterized by high initial costs and

    low operating costs. Thus the basic economic problem is one of comparing an initial

    known cost with estimated future operating costs. Reducing the initial cost can

    substantially benefit the economics of a project, especially if debt is taken on for

    financing. Many governments offer subsidies to renewable energy installation projects

    to help offset costs and give the emerging technology a boost. The Government of

    Ontario currently offers a rebate on the provincial sales tax for residential SWH

    systems, however, a building such as the school considered in this project would not

    qualify. Since 1998, the Canadian Federal Government has offered substantial rebates

    through its Renewable Energy Deployment Initiative (REDI) program. The program

    provides a refund of 25 percent of the purchase and installation costs of qualifying

    renewable energy systems, to a maximum refund of $80,000 per installation (8). On

    January 19th

    , 2007 Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the cancellation of the

    REDI program, and beginning of the the ecoENERGY program that will replace it. The

    ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat program, will provide $36 million over four years to

    increase the adoption of clean renewable thermal technologies for water heating and

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    space heating and cooling (9). However, there has been no information made public

    about the details of this program. For the purposes of this project, the assumption will

    be made that the two programs are equivalent in their rebates. In order to gain insight

    into the effect of government subsidies on the economics of SWH projects, the project

    will be evaluated with and without this subsidy.

    ENERGY COST INFLATION RATE

    The energy cost inflation rate is that rate at which the price of energy is expected to

    increase in the future. Selecting a suitable rate is difficult given the high degree of price

    volatility that the energy market experiences. The methodology used in this analysis

    was to use both the historic data and future projections. The historic 25 year overall rate

    of increase in US natural gas prices was estimated at 43%, based on records from the

    Energy Information Administration (EIA) (10). However, forecasts by the EIA predict that

    natural gas prices will have declined by -0.7% by the year 2030 (11). Both figures have

    discounted increases due to general inflation. Since it is likely that the true energy cost

    inflation rate will fall within this range, the project will be evaluated at 0%, 20%, and 40%

    overall 25 year energy cost inflation rates. This rate will be applied on top of a flat

    general inflation rate of 2.0% based on current Canadian trends (12).

    DEBT RATIO AND INTEREST RATE

    The debt ratio is the percentage of the initial costs that were borrowed to finance the

    project. This ratio changes the project economics because with increasing debt ratio

    there will be increasing interest paid. The project will be evaluated at debt ratios of

    100%, 50%, and 0% in order to examine its effect. The interest rate paid on debt was

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    selected at 6.0%, based roughly on the current (March 2007) prime rates for long term

    closed loans (13).

    DISCOUNT RATE

    The discount rate represents an investors minimum acceptable rate of return on

    investment, or in other words, the rate of return that would be earned had the money be

    put into an alternate investment. The discount rate was selected at 4.0%, roughly based

    on the current rate on long term government bonds in Canada (13).

    ECONOMIC INDICATORS

    Net Present Value (NPV) is defined as the present value of a series of cash flows,

    evaluated at the discount rate. It is an indication of the profitability of an investment

    minus the opportunity cost of an alternative investment returning at the discount rate (14

    p. 152).

    Simple Payback (SPB) is the amount of time it takes to recover the initial costs, not

    taking into account the time value of money. It is simply the initial costs divided by the

    income generated per year. It is a highly popular indicator due to its lack of dependence

    on variables such as discount and interest rates, however, it is suggested not to rely

    completely on this indicator since the timing of cash flows and duration of the project are

    ignored (14 p. 155).

    Discounted Payback (DPB), similar to simple payback, is the amount of time it takes

    to recover the initial costs of a project. The discounted payback, however, takes into

    consideration the time value of money. It is considered a more realistic indicator than

    simple payback (4 p. 467).

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    6.2. ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

    The economic analysis of the project was evaluated at differing values of three key

    factors: the availability of a government subsidy, the energy cost escalation rate, and

    the debt ratio. The project was evaluated over an expected lifetime of 25 years. The

    results of these evaluations are given below.

    Energy CostInflation Rate

    No Subsidy With Subsidy

    NPV SPB DPB NPV SPB DPB

    0% -$44,573 25.22 Never -$14,768 18.92 Never

    20% -$36,848 25.22 Never -$7,043 18.92 Never

    40% -$28,127 25.22 Never $1,678 18.92 21

    Figure 11: Case 1 standard initial cost, 100% debt ratio

    Energy CostInflation Rate

    No Subsidy With Subsidy

    NPV SPB DPB NPV SPB DPB

    0% -$33,741 25.22 Never -$6,644 18.92 21

    20% -$26,016 25.22 Never $1,081 18.92 18

    40% -$17,296 25.22 23 $9,801 18.92 16

    Figure 12: Case 2 standard initial cost, 50% debt ratio

    Energy CostInflation Rate

    No Subsidy With Subsidy

    NPV SPB DPB NPV SPB DPB

    0% -$22,909 25.22 21 $1,480 18.92 1720% -$15,184 25.22 20 $9,205 18.92 16

    40% -$6,464 25.22 18 $17,925 18.92 15

    Figure 13: Case 3 standard initial cost, 0% debt ratio

    Energy CostInflation Rate

    No Subsidy With Subsidy

    NPV SPB DPB NPV SPB DPB

    0% -$9,321 17.76 Never $20,494 11.46 N/A

    20% -$1,596 17.76 23 $28,219 11.46 N/A

    40% $7,124 17.76 18 $36,939 11.46 N/A

    Figure 14: Undersize boiler replacement, $30,000 savings in year 0, 100% debt ratio

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    6.3. SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

    The range of initial costs given in Figure 3 was used to perform a sensitivity analysis

    on the cost estimation. The best case scenario (low cost estimation, 0% debt ratio) and

    the worst case scenario (high cost estimation, 100% debt ratio) are presented below.

    Energy CostInflation Rate

    No Subsidy With Subsidy

    NPV SPB DPB NPV SPB DPB

    0% -$1,806 19.77 17 $17,307 14.82 14

    20% $5,919 19.77 16 $25,033 14.82 13

    40% $14,640 19.77 15 $33,753 14.82 12

    Figure 15: Best case scenario low initial costs, 0% debt ratio

    Energy CostInflation Rate

    No Subsidy With Subsidy

    NPV SPB DPB NPV SPB DPB

    0% -$73,873 31.42 Never -$36,743 23.57 Never

    20% -$66,148 31.42 Never -$29,018 23.57 Never

    40% -$57,427 31.42 Never -$20,297 23.57 Never

    Figure 16: Worst case scenario high initial costs, 100% debt ratio

    6.4. DISCUSSION

    The results of the economic analysis presented above gives an insight into the

    economics of SWH systems. As was expected, financial feasibility increased with the

    availability of a subsidy, increasing energy cost inflation rate, and decreasing debt ratio.

    The most obvious trend in the economic analysis was the benefit of a government

    subsidy towards the economics of the project. Under standard initial costing, no case

    had a positive NPV without the aid of the subsidy. However, with the subsidy, all three

    cases had the possibility of returning a positive NPV. The best case scenario (low initial

    cost, 0% debt ratio) had a positive NPV without subsidy, indicating that if initial costs

    could be lowered then financial feasibility without subsidy might be reached.

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    The energy cost inflation rate had a strong effect on the financial feasibility of the

    project. Under a rate of 0%, only Case 3 with subsidy and the Best case scenario with

    subsidy had a positive NPV. This indicates that if fuel costs remain stable at current

    relative costs for the next 25 years as predicted by the EIA (11), solar water heating

    may never become economically feasible without government subsidies, even with

    reduced initial costs.

    Increasing the amount of debt taken on in order to finance the project drastically

    reduced the financial feasibility of the project. The worst case scenario (high initial cost,

    100% debt ratio) had no chance of generating a positive NPV, even with high energy

    cost inflation rates. It is ideal to finance the initial cost of a SHW system with cash to

    avoid paying any interest charges, however, this is not an option for most organizations.

    Simple payback periods depended only on initial costs and the availability of a

    subsidy. The simple payback periods ranged from 31.42 years (high initial cost, no

    subsidy) to 11.46 years (Undersize boiler replacement, $30,000 savings in year 0 with

    subsidy). Under standard initial costs and with subsidy the SPB was 18.92 years.

    Discounted payback periods ranged from never paying back to 12 years (low initial cost,

    with subsidy, energy cost inflation 40%). The average DPB for standard initial costs with

    subsidy was 16 years and without subsidy was 20.5 years, not including scenarios that

    never reached payback. Even the best payback scenario yielded a payback much

    longer than the TDSB is willing to consider, which is typically 8 years.

    In the case where the replacement summer boiler was undersized, a credit of

    $30,000 was applied in year 0. This improved the economics significantly, surpassing

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    even the best case scenario. However, a positive NPV was still only reached with the

    availability of a government subsidy, or a high energy inflation rate.

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    7. CONCLUSION

    The financial feasibility of a SWH project was found to be highly dependant on initial

    costs, energy cost inflation rates, and debt ratios. This study found that under the right

    conditions, such as utilizing an available subsidy, a high energy cost inflation rate, or a

    low debt ratio, the installation of a SWH system could have a positive net present value,

    indicating that the investment would a good one. However, many of the results of the

    scenarios analyzed in this study found that under unfavourable conditions, such as the

    opposite of those mentioned above, the system caused a net economic loss.

    A specific case was examined where the addition of the SWH system allowed a

    summer boiler to be undersized, resulting in savings for the SWH project and a boosted

    financial feasibility. More research should be done into finding such niche applications

    that maintain an acceptable level of comfort for the buildings occupants, but allow the

    SWH system to fit into construction budgets.

    The economic analysis indicated that if fuel costs remain stable at current relative

    costs for the next 25 years as predicted by the EIA (11), large solar water heating

    systems may never become economically feasible without government subsidies, even

    with reduced initial costs.

    Currently solar water heating systems seem to be poised right on the line between

    profits and losses. It is up to the design team to create a system that is cost effective,

    yet robust enough to provide free solar energy to its building for years to come.

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    8. REFERENCES

    1. Andren, L.Solar Installations: Practical Applications for the Built Environment. London : The Cromwell

    Press, 2003.2. A General Design Method for Closed-Loop Solar Energy Systems. Klein, S. A. and Beckman, W. A.1979, Solar Energy, Vol. 22, pp. 269-282.3. Environment Canada. Canadian Climate Normals 1971-2000 (Toronto, Ontario). National ClimateData and Information Archive. [Online] http://climate.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/.4. Morehouse, J.Optimum System Design Techniques. [ed.] G. Lf. Active Solar Systems. Cambridge :The MIT Press, 1993, pp. 152-180.5. Duffie, J. A and Beckman, W. A. Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes. Hoboken : John Wiley &Sons, 2006.6. Toronto District School Board. Internal Records.7. Karaki, S. Space Heating: System Concepts and Design. [ed.] G. Lf. Active Solar Systems.Cambridge : The MIT Press, 1993, pp. 411-463.8. Bryon Winn, C. Controls in Active Solar Energy Systems. [ed.] G. Lf. Active Solar Systems.Cambridge : The MIT Press, 1993, pp. 81-149.9. Natural Resources Canada. Renewable Energy Deployment Initiative (REDI). Natural ResourcesCanada web site. [Online] Mar 2007. http://www2.nrcan.gc.ca/es/erb/erb/english/View.asp?x=692.10. . ecoENERGY Efficiency Initiative. Natural Resources Canada web site. [Online]http://www2.nrcan.gc.ca/es/erb/erb/english/View.asp?x=698.11. Energy Information Administration. U.S. Natural Gas Prices. EIA web site. [Online]http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/ng/hist/n3020us3A.htm.12. . Forecasts and Analysis of Energy Data - Natural Gas Prices AEO. EIA web site. [Online]http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/forecasting.html.13. Statistics Canada. Latest Release from the Consumer Price Index. Statistics Canada web site.[Online] http://www.statcan.ca/english/Subjects/Cpi/cpi-en.htm.14. Bank of Canada. Rates and Statistics. Bank of Canada web site. [Online]http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/rates/index.html.15. Szonyi, A. J., et al. Principles of Engineering Economic Analysis. Toronto : Wall & Emerson, Inc.,

    2003.16. Klein, S. A. Design Methods for Active Solar Systems. [ed.] G. Lf. Active Solar Systems.Cambridge : The MIT Press, 1993, pp. 39-76.17. White, F. M.Fluid Mechanics. New York : McGraw-Hill, 2003.18. City of Toronto. Building Permit Fee Schedule. City of Toronto web site. [Online] 2007.http://www.toronto.ca/building/fee_schedule.htm.19. RETScreen International. RETScreen Software Online User Manual, Solar Water Heating ProjectModel. RETScreen International web site. [Online] 2005. www.retscreen.net.

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    9. APPENDIX A:PERFORMANCE ESTIMATION DETAILS

    ,-CHART CALCULATION DETAILS

    The concept of Utilizability was first discussed by Whillier in 1953 in his Ph.D.

    dissertation at MIT (15). Utilizability, , is defined as the fraction of incident solar

    irradiation in the plane of the collector that can be extracted as useful heat. The monthly

    average utilizability is defined by the following equation (4 p. 700)

    T Tc

    Days Hours T

    I I

    I N

    where IT is the solar irradiation in the plane of the collector and ITc is the critical level of

    solar irradiation that just exceeds the amount needed to counter the energy lost to the

    environment from the collector surface. At any intensity of radiation below this critical

    level the system will experience a net energy loss and will not circulate the collector

    fluid. ITc is defined by the following equation (4 p. 697)

    aR L mTc

    R

    F U (T T )I

    F

    Tm is the minimum useful temperature; aT is the monthly average ambient temperature;

    RF is the collector heat removal factor; is the effective product of the cover

    transmittance and the collector plate absorptance; LU is the collector overall energy loss

    coefficient. is a correction factor to introduce the monthly average

    transmittance-absorptance product.

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    As can be seen from the above equations, Utilizability is a function of climatic conditions

    such as ambient temperature, collector fluid inlet temperature, and irradiation level, as

    well as energy transfer characteristics of the chosen collector.

    Due to the transient nature of these climatic conditions, however, the monthly

    average utilizability, , cannot be approximated by substituting monthly average

    climatic data into the equations above. Instead, it must be approximated through a

    dimensionless correlation. cXIs the dimensionless critical radiation level, defined by (4

    p. 700)

    aR L mTc

    c

    T ot,n n R t,n n

    F U T TIX

    r R H F r R K H

    The monthly average utilizability is calculated by the following correlation (4 p. 701)

    2n

    c cR

    exp a b X cXR

    2

    T T

    2

    T T

    2

    T T

    a 2.943 9.271K 4.031K

    b 4.345 8.853K 3.602K

    c 0.170 0.3061K 2.936K

    The ,-Chart variables are then calculated as such (4 p. 704)

    Tc RA F H NY

    L

    c R LA F U 100 tX'L

    The solar fraction can then be solved for numerically from (4 p. 707)

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    rd,n, the ratio of hourly total to daily diffuse radiation at noon (4 p. 83)

    n sd,n

    ss s

    cos cosr

    24sin cos

    180

    Rn, the ratio for the hour centred at noon of radiation on the tilted surface to that on a

    horizontal surface for an average day of the month (4 p. 129)

    d,n d d,n dTn b,n g

    t,n t,nn

    r H r HI 1 cos 1 cosR 1 R

    I r H r H 2 2

    Hd/H , the fraction of diffuse radiation to total radiation (4 p. 80)

    s T

    2 3dT T T

    for 81.4 and 0.3 K 0.8

    H1.391 3.56K 4.189K 2.137K

    H

    s T

    2 3dT T T

    for 81.4 and 0.3 K 0.8

    H1.311 3.022K 3.427K 1.821K

    H

    Rb . the ratio of beam radiation on the tilted surface to that on a horizontal surface (4 p.

    104)

    s s

    b

    s s

    cos cos sin ' ' sin sin180

    Rcos cos sin sin sin

    180

    1

    s 1

    cos tan tan' min

    cos tan tan

    Rb,n. the ratio of beam radiation on the tilted surface to that on a horizontal surface at

    solar noon (4 p. 25)

    b,n

    cosR

    cos

    R. the ratio of radiation on the tilted surface to that on a horizontal surface (4 p. 103)

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    d dTb g

    H HH 1 cos 1 cosR 1 R

    H H H 2 2

    PUMPING POWER CALCULATION DETAILS

    The first step is to calculate the pipe flow Reynolds number from (16 p. 353)

    d

    4QRe

    d

    If Red > 2300 then the flow is turbulent. Use the following equation to calculate the

    friction factor (16 p. 366)

    1.11

    .5

    tur d

    1 6.91.8log

    Re 3.7d

    Now calculate the head loss using (16 p. 352)

    2LVh

    d2g

    The required pumping power is then (16 p. 751)

    s fgQ h hP

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    10. APPENDIX B:SYSTEM DRAWINGS

    Boiler #1

    SolarCollectorArray

    HX

    Boiler #2

    SummerBoiler

    Supply Service Hot Water

    ExpansionChamber

    Natural Gas

    Filter

    DrainageVessel

    PressureRelief Valve

    ModulatingControl

    Return Service Hot Water