SolAirHX

The overall objective of this project is to create a draft standard and a proposal for a standard regarding the thermal performance test of solar thermal air-brine collectors as a heat source for heat pumps.

The new thermal performance test method being developed shall be a model-based method, such as successfully used e.g. in the dynamic testing of solar collectors as per DIN EN ISO 9806 and hot-water storage as per DIN EN 12977-3 /2/. Therefore, the development of an appropriate parametric calculation model is also an integral part of this project. The calculation model must cover the impact of thermodynamic and physical processes with sufficient accuracy regarding the thermal behavior of the solar thermal brine-air collectors.

The thermal performance of the solar thermal brine-air collectors and the annual output of the heat pump system for defined reference conditions (weather, location, heating load and cooling load) can be calculated with the results of the thermal performance test and with the calculation model to be developed. In addition to a location-orientated and demand-orientated design, the primary energetic evaluation of the heat pump system is enabled.

Since a draft standard is prepared, a comprehensive validation of the method and of the calculation model is essential. A multistage procedure is planned: Besides additional test sequences and their evaluation, the model and the test method will be verified by a comparison test at a second testing laboratory and by the comparison of measurement data from a field test system with the simulation results using the measured data from the field test system.

To prepare the proposal for a standard, the developed procedure will be incorporated in a draft standard and presented by the project partners to the national DIN mirror committee NA 041-01-56 AA “Solar systems (Mirror committee CEN/TC 312 and ISO/TC 180)”, to the European standards committee CEN/TC 312 “Thermal solar systems and components” and to the international standards committee ISO/TC 180 “Solar energy”. Then the proposal for a standard is submitted.

10/2022 -  09/2024

Technische Bauteile Eberle GmbH, Ellzee, Germany

Consolar Solare Energiesysteme GmbH, Lörrach/Frankfurt, Germany

Steinbeis GmbH & Co KG für Technologietransfer, Stuttgart, Germany

Transferzentrum Solar- und Wärmetechnik Stuttgart (SWT), Stuttgart, Germany

HLK Stuttgart GmbH, Stuttgart, Germany

The research project “Development of a test method for solar thermal air-brine collectors as a heat source for heat pumps” (acronym “SolAirHX”) is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, based on a decision of the German Bundestag, via Project Management Jülich (PtJ) under grant number 03TN0046A.