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. © 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.