The Dynamic Simulation Programme for the Design and Optimisation of Solar Thermal Systems
Concept
T*SOL is a simulation programme for the planning and professional design of solar thermal systems. The standard module contains a large number of system configurations for domestic hot water supply and space heating.
This dynamic simulation programme, with its easy to use Design Assistant, has been developed for engineers, planners, roofing specialists and heating or building technicians .
After entering just a few parameters for the location and consumption, one of the available system / company system configurations can be selected and the collector/s and store/s sized. The automatic variant calculation allows the user to select the optimal system configuration.
Simulation
System simulation is carried out in variable time steps measured in minutes. During simulation, the system's temperature conditions can be viewed in colour, so that the dynamics of the system can be observed step by step. Results such as temperatures, energy values, efficiency and solar fraction are saved to file, so that they are available when required for analysis.
Economic Efficiency Calculation
A further important feature of T*SOL is the production of the economic efficiency calculation. Results such as the price of solar heating and the dynamic amortisation period are clearly laid out in a separate report. Any loans and subsidies are also included in the calculation.
Climate Data
Climate data for irradiation and air temperature in hourly intervals for a period of one year is provided with the programme. Around 470 European locations, plus 150 in Germany, and approximately 275 additional locations worldwide are delivered on the CD. If you order the programme from a country not included on the list, you will be provided with climate data for that country at no extra cost. The German Weather Service's TRY format climate files can be imported into the programme. The additional Module MeteoSyn can be used to produce global meteorological data which can be simply used in PV*SOL and T*SOL Professional.
Characteristic Collector Data
Any collector can be reproduced by entering parameters for the conversion ratio, specific heat capacity, heat flow coefficient and angle incident modifier. Evacuated tube collectors with or without reflectors can also be simulated. Complete data for more than 480 flat-plate and evacuated tube collectors is delivered with the programme.
Additional Programme Modules
The Swimming Pool Module makes it possible for an indoor or outdoor pool to be included in the solar cycle. This module provides different system configurations.
The SysCat Module for large-scale systems includes large solar buffer stores, external heat exchangers and the use of anti-legionnaires' disease switching.
Results
The results of T*SOL's system calculation can be presented on screen in a variety of ways and can also be printed out. The results overview provides figures for the energy balance, efficiency, solar fraction, fuel savings and CO2 emissions avoided.
