Energy : Active Solar

system in Building

Building Science II

Prepared by:

Asst. Pro.Sweta Amatya (Shrestha)

Department of Architecture,nec
Active solar system in building

Active solar technologies usually

consist of a
solar collecting device that is
designed
to capture the sun’s energy;
it can be used to
store or transfer heat energy
 ACTIVE CONCEPTS
AND
TECHNIQUES

SOLAR COLLECTORS
AND
STORAGE TECHNIQUES
 Solar collectors and storage techniques
 Solar Thermal Collector - intended to gather the sun's energy
- transform - radiation into heat - transfer that heat to a
medium (water, air).

 The solar thermal energy can be used in solar water-heating

systems, solar pool heating, and solar space-heating systems.
Solar collectors and storage techniques

solar pool heating

solar space heating solar water heating

1. Flat-plate collectors

 Flat-plate collectors are the most common solar

collector for solar water-heating systems in homes and
solar space heating

 These collectors, heat liquid or air at temperatures less than

180°F

 A typical flat-plate collector is an insulated metal box

with a glass or plastic cover (called the glazing) and a
dark-colored absorber plate
1. Flat-plate collectors
 1a. Liquid flat-plate collectors

 Liquid flat-plate
collector heat liquid as it
flows through tubes in
or adjacent to the
absorber plate.

 The simplest liquid

systems use potable
household water, which is
heated as it passes
directly through the
collector and then flows
to the house.
1b. Air flat-plate collectors

 Air flat-plate collectors are used primarily for solar

space heating

• The air flow

pass the
absorber by
using natural
convection or
a fan
Air flat plate collectors

The absorber
plates in air
collectors can be
metal sheets,
layers of screen,
or non-metallic
materials
1b. Air flat-plate collectors

 Because air conducts heat much less readily than

liquid does

 less heat is transferred from an air collector's

absorber than from a liquid collector's absorber

 air collectors are typically less efficient than

liquid collectors
2. Evacuated-tube collectors

 The collectors are usually made of parallel rows of

transparent glass tubes

 Evacuated glass tubes are the absorber of the

solar water heater. They absorb solar energy
converting it into heat for use in water heating
2. Evacuated-tube collectors
2. Evacuated-tube collectors

 Each evacuated tube consists of two glass tubes made

from extremely strong borosilicate glass

 The outer tube is transparent allowing light rays to

pass through with minimal reflection

• The inner tube is coated with a special selective

coating which features excellent solar radiation
absorption and minimal reflection properties
2. Evacuated-tube collectors

 The top of the two tubes are fused together and the
air contained in the space between the two layers of
glass is pumped out while exposing the tube to high
temperatures

 This "evacuation" of the gases forms a vacuum, which

is an important factor in the performance of the
evacuated tubes which eliminates conductive and
convective heat loss due to its insulating property
2. Evacuated-tube collectors
2. Evacuated-tube collectors

•Evacuated tube solar collectors

convert energy from the sun into
usable heat.

•This energy can be used for hot

water heating, pool heating, space
heating or even air conditioning.
Construction

The AP solar collector is comprised of four

main parts :
1.Evacuated Tube (ET)
2.Heat Pipe (HP)
3.Manifold
4.Mounting Frame
Evacuated Tube (ET)
•Absorbs solar energy and converts it to
usable heat.
•Vacuum between the two glass layers
insulates against heat loss.
Heat Pipe (HP)

•Copper vacuum pipe

that transfers the heat
from within the ET up
to the manifold.
Manifold

•Insulated box containing the copper header

pipe.
•The header is a pair of contoured copper
pipes with dry connect sockets that the heat
pipes plug into.
3.Integral collector-storage systems (ICS)

 In integral collector-storage
(ICS) systems,

 cold water first passes through

the solar collector

 which preheats the water

 then continues to the

conventional backup water
heater
3.Integral collector-storage systems (ICS)

 ICS systems are

 simple
 reliable solar water heaters.

 However, they should be installed only in climates

with mild freezing because the collector itself or the
outdoor pipes could freeze in severely cold
weather

 Some recent work indicates that the problem with

freezing pipes can be overcome in some cases by
using freeze-tolerant piping in conjunction with a
freeze-protection method
1. Solar electric Energy :PV cell
1. Solar electric Energy :PV cell

 PV stands for photo (light) and voltaic (electricity)

 Direct conversion of solar energy to useful electricity

 Uses photo-electric effect.- i.e. emission of free

electrons

 Solar cell with silicon crystal change light energy to

electric energy

 Electricity generated is stored in battery for future

use
1. Solar electric Energy :PV cell

 Uses

 Household: lighting, TV, other equipments

 Rural industry: sewing machine, calculator

 Telecommunication: lighting

 Agriculture: electric fencing, street lighting, water pumping

1. PV cell
 Disadvantages:

 Advantages:  High initial cost

 Use no fuel
 Requires supporting
 Environment friendly
equipment
 Low maintenance
 Need skill technicians
 Economical

 No need of central  low voltage problem

grid
Concentrating Collectors
Concentrating Collectors are oriented to track the
sun so that the beam radiation will be directed onto
the absorbing surface which can be used for cooking
as well as electricity generation.

For e.g. solar cookers like Focusing solar cookers

are used for cooking whereas Concentrating Solar
Power systems, Solar Power Tower systems use
concentrated solar radiation as a high temperature
energy source to produce electrical power.
Types of Concentrating Collectors
1. Parabolic Trough solar collector system
2. Parabolic dish
3. Solar Power system
1. Parabolic Trough solar collector system

This type of collector is generally used in plants

•A trough-shaped parabolic reflector is

• used to concentrate sunlight

• on an insulated tube or heat pipe

• placed at the focal point

which

• transfers heat from the collectors

to the boilers in the power station
Parabolic trough solar collector system
3. Solar Power tower system

A power tower is a large tower surrounded by small

rotating (tracking) mirrors called heliostats

These mirrors align themselves and focus sunlight on the

receiver at the top of tower, collected heat is transferred
to a power station below.
3. Solar Power tower system
Types of Solar Collectors
Thermal Storage

• Flat Plate Collector (liquid, Air)

• Evacuated Tube Collector

Electric Generation

• Parabolic Trough Solar Collector System

• Parabolic Dish
• Solar Power Tower System
• (PV Cells)

Cookers and Driers

• Focusing Solar Cooker

• Box Cooker
• Cabinet Type Solar Drier
 Other types of cookers and driers that
use solar energy are:
1. Focusing Solar Cookers

 used for cooking

 These are oriented to track the sun so that the beam

radiation will be directed onto the absorbing surface
which can be used for cooking
2.Box Cookers
 As higher temperatures are often required for the
cooking of food, box cookers usually have reflectors to
increase the amount of radiation that enters the
collector.
 3.Cabinet Type Solar Drier

 These are generally used for drying various vegetables.

Integrated Energy Systems for Buildings

Integrated Energy Systems are

the systems that bring together or
unify different energy systems.

The efficiency of building energy

systems can be significantly
increased by integrating different
energy conversion systems.

Integrated systems for cooling;

heating and power for buildings
incorporate multiple technologies
for providing energy services to a
single building.
Integrated Energy Systems for Buildings

Integrated systems reduced energy costs, improved power

reliability, increased energy efficiency, and improved environmental
quality.
Integrated Passive Heating & Cooling
system
 Define Solar Collector. Name any three different
types of solar collectors and write in short its
working
Life Cycle Costing
The term “Life Cycle Costing” includes all those techniques that take
into account both initial costs , future costs and benefits (savings)
of an investment over some period time
 Life Cycle Costing
 Life cycle costing is a value for method of

 tracing the cost consequence of various

alternative investment projects with long life
span

Photovoltaic glass (PV glass) is a technology that enables the conversion of light into electricity.

Photovoltaic glass is not perfectly transparent but allows some of the available light through.
Life Cycle Costing

Different cost involved in life cycle costing have

significance influence in project decision making

For e.g.:
For e.g.:
Purchase
If land on hill 1 has a purchased cost of 10 lakhs but
Installation
has its maintenance cost of 10 lakh more
Operation
But
Maintenance
If land on hill 2 has a purchased cost of 15lakh and
Financing
no maintenance is needed then cost of second one is
Depreciation
better than other.
Disposal

 It is one method being widely used for an evaluation of

building investment projects as well as energy plan projects

like micro hydro project, new civil construction project etc.
Total Life Cycle Costing (TLCC)

 TLCC is a method of evaluating alternative building

investment project based on

 initial cost, operational cost, maintenance cost over the

whole economic life of the project

 For new buildings, TLCC technique is used to evaluate the options

concerning

 Design, site condition, material on the basis of total life cycle cost
Total Life Cycle Costing (TLCC)

Purpose of TLCC

 To predict overall cost of the project

 To refine design maintaining quality and function at

its best with lower cost
Total Life Cycle Costing (TLCC)
TLCC = Initial cost + Future cost -Salvage value

 Initial costs
 Cost directly related to project, like land, design, installation of
services and construction, furnishing for occupants etc.
 It can be divided into two categories;
a. Energy cost – this includes probable operating cost to cool, heat
and lights the building,
b. Non energy cost – it comprises the maintenance cost, repair and
replacement cost.
Total Life Cycle Costing (TLCC)
TLCC = Initial cost + Future cost -Salvage value

Future costs :
 Operation cost:
 Difficult to predict
 Assumptions made about use, occupancy etc.
 Example: lights and heating, cooling devices installed are used
for how many hrs a day and its
corresponding expenses.

 Repair and Maintenance cost:

 Predicted on the basis of statistical data (as per previous data).
 Differences in actual and estimated cost.
Total Life Cycle Costing (TLCC)

TLCC = Initial cost + Future cost -Salvage value

Salvage Value :

 value of an assets at the end of the economic life for study

period, i.e, land value, metal value of factory, workshop, etc.

Total Life Cycle Costing (TLCC)

TLCC Analysis Process

 Establishment of objective to be served and define its scope

and limitation

 Analysis and selection of option

 Assumptions of costs like discount rate, inflation rate,

economic life etc

 Compilation of data (Initial cost, future cost and salvage
value)
 Conversion of all cost into common base.
Total Life Cycle Costing (TLCC)
TLCC Analysis Process

Example: turn all into dollars

 Calculate LCC for all alternatives

 Comparison of all alternatives regarding LCC

 Selection of lowest price with high return or saving

Application of TLCC

 The following application are the most common:

 Building Design

 energy conservation

 rehabilitation
1. Building design
 The optimum building design, according to TLCC technique, is that
which minimizes initial and future cost of the building over its
life time.

 The optimum housing design has many components i.e. initial

cost, maintenance cost, operating costs, management cost, etc
to determine the optimum design: one has to minimize the
life cycle costs with respect to each of these components.
1. Building design

 For example:
1. For new buildings
 the LCC technique can be used to evaluate the options concerning
design, sites and materials on the basis of life cycle costs for
building energy efficiency.

2. For existing buildings

 How to select the best energy conservation feature among various
options,
 How much investment should be made in a single energy
conservation feature, and
 Which is the most desirable combination of various energy
conservation feature.
 2. Energy Conservation:

 It means to choose the best option among various options of

the energy conservation measure which gives maximum saving
in the form of reduction in life cycle cost.

 For example:
 The application of the LCC technique to energy conservation is
related to determining the optimum level of the chosen
energy conservation measure

 Life cycle cost comparison between solar heating system by

solar panels and conventional heating system by fuel or coal
Advantages of TLCC

 Provide opportunity to select most economical

possible design

 Gives information about overall cost of project

 Helps to decide that an old building should be

rehabilitated or replaced by new one
Advantages of TLCC

 In terms of energy application, helps to decide the

maximum energy conserving option with lowest cost
and high saving

 Helps to decide either to choose mechanized air

conditioning or high class glazing systems
Problem of TLCC

 The following application are the most common:

 Estimating Costs
 Prediction Errors
• Measurement and sampling errors
• Errors in assumptions
Problem of TLCC

 Energy Efficient Building

 The edge Builfing in Amsterdam
 Mix commercial, retail and office building
 Adopted rain harvesting, sustainable approach,
use of energy in less amount

 Bullit Center, USA

 Commercial and Office Building
 Rainwater harvesting, glass window that maximize
natural daylight and minimizes use of artificial
lights
THANK YOU