Interim Feasibility Assessment Method for Solar Heating and Cooling of Army Buildings
Abstract
This report discusses design considerations for heating and cooling buildings with solar energy. General criteria are provided for selecting the components and configuration of such a system. The report presents parametric computer simulation studies for two buildings of typical construction at five locations in the United States. Hourly building heating and cooling loads were computed for each building at each site using the National Bureau of Standards Load Determining Program (NBSLD) and hourly weather data. Using these loads, hourly simulation studies were performed to determine the effects of collector type, collector area, collector tilt angle, thermal energy storage tank volume, and heat exchanger effectiveness on simulated solar heating and cooling system performance. The results of more than 200 one-year solar system simulations are presented. In addition, a dimensionless graph and methodology are provided which can be used to estimate solar heating and cooling system performance for buildings and sites other than those studied. The report provides an explanation and an example of an approach for determining the life cycle cost of a solar-equipped building as compared to a conventional installation. Descriptions of the NBSLD program and the solar heating and cooling simulation program are provided.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA026588
Entities
People
- D. Holshouser
- Doug Hittle
- G. Walton
Organizations
- Construction Engineering Research Laboratory