Page 315 - Handbook of Energy Engineering Calculations

Reference

Brown, Kenneth C., “How to Determine the Cost-Effectiveness of Solar
Energy Projects,” Power magazine, March, 1981.

FLAT-PLATE SOLAR-ENERGY HEATING- AND COOLING-
SYSTEM DESIGN

Give general design guidelines for the planning of a solar-energy heating and
cooling system for an industrial building in the Jacksonville, FL, area to use
solar energy for space heating and cooling and water heating. Outline the key
factors considered in the design so they may be applied to solar-energy

heating and cooling systems in other situations. Give sources of pertinent
design data, where applicable.

Calculation Procedure:

1. Determine the average annual amount of solar energy available at the

site
Figure 3 shows the average amount of solar energy available, in Btu/(day ·
2
2
ft ) (W/m ) of panel area, in various parts of the United States. How much
energy is collected depends on the solar panel efficiency and the
characteristics of the storage and end-use systems.
Tables available from the National Weather Service and the American
Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers
(ASHRAE) chart the monthly solar-radiation impact for different locations

and solar insolation [total radiation form the sun received by a surface,
2
2
measured in Btu/(h · ft ) (W/m ); insolation is the sum of the direct, diffuse,
and reflected radiation] for key hours of a day each month.
Estimate from these data the amount of solar radiation likely to reach the

surface of a solar collector over 1 year. Thus, for this industrial building in
Jacksonville, FL, Fig. 3 shows that the average amount of solar energy
2
2
available is 1500 Btu/(day · ft ) (4.732 W/m ).