Maximizing performances of variable tilt flat-plate solar collectors for Belgrade (Serbia)

Abstract

In Serbia, for heating of domestic hot water (DHW) it is customary to use electricity. As around 70% of electricity is produced by using low quality coal with high greenhouse emission, it is beneficial to environment to use solar energy by flat-plate solar collectors for heating of DHW in a solar DHW system (SDHWS). The SDHWS with variable tilt flat-plate solar collectors placed in north-south direction at roofs of houses are investigated for their optimal operation in Belgrade, Serbia. The investigated variable-tilt collectors annually take 2 tilts, 4 tilts, and 12 tilts. The used weather data are from the meteorological station. These investigations use three computer codes: EnergyPlus, GenOpt, and Hooke-Jeeves search algorithm. For different solar collectors, the investigations revile their optimum tilts that maximize the solar fraction by the SDHWS. Then, the solar fraction and avoided fossil energy by the SDHWS are maximized. In addition, the deficit in the solar fraction is estimated when the solar collectors are not at their optimum tilt.

Preface to Special Issue: Renewable Energy in South-Eastern Europe

“…As around 70% of electricity is produced by using low quality coal with high greenhouse gas emission, it is beneficial to the environment to use solar energy by flat-plate solar collectors for heating of DHW in a solar DHW system (SDHWS). The paper 21 reports the investigation of the SDHWS with variable tilt flat-plate solar collectors placed in a north-south direction on the roofs of houses for their optimal operation in Belgrade, Serbia. The investigated collectors annually take 2, 4, and 12 tilts.…”

Optimal Position of Solar Collectors: A Review

“…Cheng investigated the correlation between the tilt angle of a fixed solar collector and the latitude using the simulation software PVSYST at 20 locations in 14 countries on the northern hemisphere and found there are increase of 98.5% for a solar power plant from its full capacity by using the latitude angle for the tilted panel [23]. Based on the measured data for solar radiation by meteorological station, Shariah et al optimized the tilt angle of solar collectors for the SDHW system where maximum solar fraction was used as an indicator for the optimum tilt angle [24] which is the case in the presented investigations [25], Skerlic reported an investigation of the energy performance for variable tilt lat-plate solar collectors in Belgrade, Serbia. The investigated solar collectors are SC#2, SC#4, and SC#12.…”

Local Tilt Optimization of Photovoltaic Solar Panels for Maximum Radiation Absorption

“…There are various experimental and theoretical studies in the literature that determine ideal tilt angles of PV panels based on many assumptions to account for characteristics of the installation site [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. An extensive literature review on the optimization of the tilt angle to maximize incident solar radiation has been provided elsewhere by Yadav and Chandel [13].…”