Performance study of a solar combisystem for Tunisian houses with TRNSYS simulation

Abstract

The endeavor of this work is the study of the energy performance of solar combisystem for Tunisian houses based on simulations using TRNSYS 16 software during the winter period when heating is needed. The mainly components of the system are: 12 m2 of flat-plate solar collector area, 750 l of hot water tank capacity, and an active layer integrated inside the 140 m2 of floor heating area. The studies of the thermal performances of the solar combisystem were achieved by comparing of two configurations: In the first configuration, the floor of the entire house is heated with a single active layer that passing through living room, washroom, bathroom, kitchen, dining room, bedroom and kids' room. In the second configuration, the floor of the house is heated with two independent coils, the first through living room, washroom, bathroom and kitchen and the second through dining room, bedroom and kids room. The results shows that the optimal architecture of the solar combisystem consists on using of two active layers integrated inside the floor heating. The TRNSYS results show that the air temperature of others room ranges between 18°C and 26°C and the average solar fraction of the solar combisystem is 72%.