Computer simulation and optimisation of solar heating systems for Cyprus

This thesis reports the results of research into the modelling and simulation of solar water and space heating for Cyprus, and the investigation of the factors concerning the optimisation of such systems. Further a number of design criteria, which can be used by consultants and designers of solar heating systems, have been established. Five solar heating system configurations have been modelled using the component models of the TRNSYS programme. They concern thermosyphon solar water heating systems, active solar water heating systems, solar space heating systems, combined solar water and space heating systems and solar assisted heat pump systems for space and water heating. These models are used to simulate the thermal performance of the systems and investigate their cost effectiveness under the weather and
socioeconomic conditions of Cyprus. The results of the simulations have been used to identify the optimum design criteria for such systems in the Cyprus environment. The design criteria that have been established are concerned mainly with the solar collector and the storage tank and they are key design factors for a solar heating system. The design factors include the collector orientation and tilt angle, the collector to load factor which relates the collector surface area to the annual thermal load, the storage factor which relates the capacity of the storage tank to the collector size, the collector water flow flux, which relates the water flow rate through the collector with the collector area, and other criteria, which concern the auxiliary heat supply and the heat exchangers.
For space heating systems, in addition to the above factors, a new design criterion is introduced, the collector to floor area factor, which relates the collector area to the building floor area, while for domestic hot water systems, the collector to consumer factor is used to specify the collector surface area needed for each hot water consumer in the building.
This work has resulted in the publication of four papers in refereed International Journals and the presentation of three other papers at International Conferences. A list of publications is included in the Appendices.