Solar heating and hot water supply of high-rise buildings

Southern Russia, the Far East and Siberia regions have a lot of solar sources. These climate conditions are appropriate for using such combined power systems. Combined power systems are capable of providing building with heat in winter partially. In summertime the same system satisfies hot water demands. Numerical modeling is carried out to prove the utility of the combined power systems. One of the calculations is based on the Black Sea coast climate conditions. The input data was seventeen-storeyed public building with 3 columns of 68 solar thermal panels Vitosol 100 SH1on the southern side of its facades. Each panel is installed with a 90-degree tilt towards the horizon and connected with the next by series connection. Automatic control system supplies air temperature set at 18 degrees Celsius in the daytime and 12 degrees in the nighttime (standby conditions). In view of the above, the solar thermal system completely covers heating systems energy requirements. In the summertime solar thermal system covers about 60% of hot water demand. Numerical modeling also showed that in low temperature conditions of Far East climate the described system covers only 30% of heating systems energy requirements. But it covers almost 90% of hot water demand. This difference between working data (60% and 90%) for summertime is related to higher number of sunny days in the Far East than in the Black Sea coast region. The numerical modeling of solar thermal combined systems with big solar collectors area showed some advantages. It is possible to use the produced energy all year round. Also the system proved its universality: it supports both heat and hot water systems. The system ensures high level of efficiency in many climate zones. Another important advantage is that such system produces non-polluting energy. However, some of the described issues are not shown in climate conditions of other regions, i.e. Central and Northwestern Russia.