Abstract
Sport centres thermal demand is extremely high due to the large amount of sanitary hot water production. Therefore, energy savings actions must be performed in order to optimize system efficiency. In this framework, the present paper investigates the possibility to perform an energy rehabilitation of an indoor swimming pool centre by means of solar thermal collectors and heat pump technologies integrated with the existing plant. The case study consists of a university indoor swimming pool centre located in Naples, South of Italy. A dynamic simulation model is developed by TRNSYS software (Thermal Energy System Specialists, LLC, Madison, WI, USA). An experimental investigation is also performed in order to calibrate the swimming pool thermal model and the space conditioning equipment operation. Real data concerning the thermal demand of the centre are implemented and the dynamic behaviour of the swimming pool occupants is also considered. The proposed technical solutions are analysed from an energy and economic point of view. A parametric analysis aiming at determining the effect of the size of the solar field on the system performance is performed. The comparison outlines that the best energy and economic performance is achieved by evacuated solar thermal collectors. In particular, the Simple Pay Back (SPB) period results about 14 years without incentives and it decreases to 5 years considering the Italian incentive policy. For an evacuated collector field of 150 m2, the SPB without incentive results below 9 years.
Subject
Energy (miscellaneous),Energy Engineering and Power Technology,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment,Electrical and Electronic Engineering,Control and Optimization,Engineering (miscellaneous)