Date of Award

Fall 1985

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

Program/Concentration

Mechanical Engineering

Committee Director

Sushil K. Chaturvedi

Committee Member

A. Sidney Roberts

Committee Member

G. L. Goglia

Call Number for Print

Special Collections; LD4331.E56F68

Abstract

In recent years, solar energy has been investigated as an alternative to· the fossil fuel based systems for industrial process heat (IPH) applications. Published results in literature indicate that roughly seven percent of total U.S. IPH requirement is in the temperature range of 40-90 °C. The present study, sponsored by Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), examines the potential of series solar-assisted heat pumps (SAHP) for low-temperature IPH spectrum in the TVA region.

A design method based on utilizability technique is employed to determine the long-term thermal performance of the SAHP system. The transient simulation methodology is also employed to determine the dynamics of the SAHP system throughout the year. The computer simulation code uses the typical meteorological year solar data. The present study indicates that the therma1 performance of the SAHP system is strongly governed by the collector area and the load temperature.

The SAHP system is also analyzed for the energy conservation potential. The energy conservation potential of the SAHP system as characterized by the primary energy ratio, is substantially better than the fossil fuel based IPH systems in the 44-77 °C temperature range. However, in the higher temperature range {above 77°C), this advantage is. only marginal.

In the economic analysis the simple payback period, discounted payback period, and levelized cost methods are employed to analyze the feasibility of the SAHP system. The payback period of the SAHP system, with electrical resistance heater being the displaced energy system, ranges from a low of 3.7 to a high of roughly 15 years, depending on the load temperature and the collector area. These values are even higher for applications where oil, natural gas, and coal are the displaced fuels.

For the economic scenario chosen in this study, the levelized energy cost of SAHP system are typically 10 to 30 percent greater than the levelized cost of oil. On the other hand, the SAHP system considered in this study is competitive with electrical resistance heater system for temperature range of 44 to 99 °C. The levelized costs of SAHP system are substantially lower than the levelized costs of electricity, in the low temperature range (44-77 °C).

Based on results from this study, the SAHP system is recommended for water heating applications in industrial or commercial environment where electrical resistance heaters are currently employed to heat water in the range of 40-100 °C. Substantial reduction in the collector costs must be achieved if the present system is to compete with oil, natural gas or coal.

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DOI

10.25777/2b79-9g54

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