Simulation of Hybrid Solar Collector Operation in Heat Supply System

Abstract

The paper focuses on the investigation and the simulation of the efficiency of a hybrid solar collector in a heat supply system consisting of two separate units, namely a heat storage tank and a flat solar collector, which are interconnected by pipelines. The study includes the analysis and calculation of the thermal parameters of the system for one day and the determination of the optimal values of the flow rate of the heat carrier in the solar collector and the mass of the heat carrier in the heat storage tank to achieve maximum thermal efficiency of the system. The authors use SolidWorks software and additional scripts programmed using Python to simulate the operation of the solar collector and to calculate its thermal efficiency. The results of the study show the high potential of hybrid solar collectors for efficient generation and accumulation of thermal energy both for households and small industries. This paper may be useful for engineers and scientists working in the field of alternative energy sources and energy-efficient systems.