|
Technical
Information : Operating
Principle | Schematics
| Energy Estimates
The
following maps provide an indication of:
- the
energy available throughout the United States, and
- the
energy delivered by a solar thermal tile system during the heating
season.
They
can be used to make initial estimates of the energy and cost savings
from the solar thermal tile system.
The
Solar Resource is the amount of solar energy falling on each square
foot of a solar thermal tile system during an average day.
To
estimate the annual energy falling on each square foot, multiply
by 365. The solar tile system is commonly constructed to operate
at an efficiency of 20 to 45%, although much higher efficiencies
are possible. The efficiency refers to how much of the available
solar resource (from the map) is gathered during the average day.
To determine the expected annual output of each square foot of solar
tiles, multiply the daily solar resource by 365 days by the efficiency
of the collector. Finally multiply by the number of square feet
of solar thermal tiles.
e.g. Washington
DC
| |
solar
resource |
1500
BTU/sqft/day (mid range) |
| |
days
per year |
365 |
| |
efficiency |
35%
(mid range) |
| |
square
feet of solar tiles |
200
(typical generator heating system size) |
| |
annual
energy collected |
38.3
million BTU per year |
To
estimate the value of energy produced, multiply the energy delivered
times the local cost of energy from traditional energy supply sources.
e.g.
| |
Annual
energy collected (saved) |
38.3
million BTU per year |
| |
Cost
of electric resistance heat |
$29.30
per million BTU ($0.10/kwhr) |
| |
Annual
value of energy delivered |
$1,122
per year |
The
map below labeled "Useful energy delivered by the collector"
represents the energy delivered by a specific collector, oriented
due south at a high tilt angle and operated only during the heating
season for space heating, not year round. The energy delivered
for this seasonal heating is less than the energy delivered by a
collector that gathers the solar resource on a year round basis.
The
maps represent regional energy during an average solar year. Energy
delivery at a specific location depends on a variety of factors
such as the local weather conditions, any shading of the solar tile
surface by other buildings, trees, etc., and energy consumption
patterns. American Solar can help you determine the opportunities
you have for solar heating at your commercial, industrial or government
facility.
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