Optimization of floor elements to cover the heating needs of buildings using solar collectors

Abstract

To upgrade the Building energy efficiency and lower carbon emissions solar energy can be utilized and stored in building components to cover the heating needs of the building during the cold months. A sustainable design results when the various components are optimized. In this study the foundation concrete in new buildings is examined as a storing material, where the heat gains of a flat plate collector array on the roof of the building are driven and accumulated. A typical house was chosen for the study with insulated walls facing the four cardinal points. Solar collectors are placed on the house roof facing south with an appropriate area and slope. A circulation pump is used between the collectors and the foundation concrete when temperature exceeds 40°C. An appropriate TRNSYS model is constructed, providing the hourly solar collector energy and building’s thermal load. Weather input parameters were chosen for typical temperate climates. Furthermore, COMSOL Multiphysics is used to examine the thermal storage of the building’s concrete foundation. The hourly results from the solar collectors in TRNSYS are used as input for piping in the concrete, where the house thermal load is used on the top of the concrete foundation. A thermostat like parameter is used to control the temperature on the top of the building’s foundation by varying the input energy provided by the solar thermal collectors. Finally, when storing of the solar thermal energy in the buildings foundation is achieved, the simulations are varied to examine the effect of various parameters, such as the effect of the concrete thickness, the amount of heat available and that which is stored, as well as the controlling technique. Results indicate that the proposed system, when optimized, can cover the building’s heat requirements during winter in a sustainable way.