Report
Teaser, summary, work performed and final results
Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Innova MicroSolar (Innovative Micro Solar Heat and Power System for Domestic and Small Business Residential Buildings)
Teaser
The Renewable Heat Incentive and similar schemes, which are deployed across a number of EU countries (e.g. UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain), encourage uptake of renewable heat and power technologies. The overall objective of this project is to develop an innovative high...
Summary
The Renewable Heat Incentive and similar schemes, which are deployed across a number of EU countries (e.g. UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain), encourage uptake of renewable heat and power technologies.
The overall objective of this project is to develop an innovative high performance and cost effective 2-kWel/18-kWth solar heat and power system for application in individual dwellings and small business buildings for onsite electricity and heat generation, using solar thermal energy at temperature levels of 200-280 deg. C. The project combines and utilises the following technologies: Linear Fresnel Solar Concentrating Mirrors to produce high temperature thermal oil, small Organic Rankine Cycle turbine and Phase Change Material (PCM) thermal storage, which provides capability to extend operational hours of ORC turbine at the evening times.
The project utilises the extensive expertise and knowledge, including proprietary IP, of the participants, accumulated over several decades across various disciplines.
Work performed
The project activities are broken down into 8 separate Work Packages, and the following is a description of work performed and results achieved during 36 months of the project.
Work Package 1 (Project Management)
Eight Project meetings were held, namely in the University of Lleida (Spain), Enogia (France), Elianto (Italy), Strategie (Italy), Northumbria University (UK), University of Lleida (Spain), University of e-Campus (Italy) and University of Lleida (Spain). During every meeting issues related to administrative and financial management, communication activities, assessing progress, exploitation of obtained results and data, project risks management are thoroughly discussed and decisions made are used as guidelines for further activities in the Project.
Work Package 2 (Continuous benchmark of Built Environment)
Four Deliverable reports were produced in this Work Package.
The first report provides information on types of residential buildings in Spain, Italy, UK, France, and Germany. Data includes details on architecture, building envelope, range of living space dimensions, insulation, domestic hot water and space heating. There is also information on typical seasonal and annual energy demands.
The second report provides similar information for small business buildings.
The third report discusses issues of integration of Innova MicroSolar plant into buildings.
The fourth report provides information on the current state of energy demands and carbon emissions for the most common domestic and small business residential buildings in European countries.
Work Package 3 (Research & Development of Component Technologies)
R & D work was carried out for designing the solar concentrating collector, 2-kWel ORC unit, reversible heat pipe thermal storage and control system and on the creation of a new PCM compound.
Further work was conducted on the enhancement of the thermal properties of solar salt as the PCM. The type of graphite has been found, and procedure for mixing and melting PCM and graphite with a certain mass fraction on the industrial scale was developed to achieve the requested level of thermal conductivity in the PCM.
Full design documentation was prepared for the above sub-systems of the plant.
Work Package 4 (Component technologies evaluation and optimisation in laboratory conditions)
Components of the solar collector were produced and laboratory tested. The ORC and Central Control units were assembled and tested. The reversible heat pipe and thermal storage modules were also produced. Components of the thermal storage system were laboratory tested, and the thermal storage module was tested using the circulation of heated oil on premises of Aavid Thermacore. The design of components was modified, as the result of these tests.
Work Package 5 (Demonstration: System integration, evaluation and optimisation)
The demo site for assembling Innova MicroSolar Plant was selected in the village Almatret (Spain). The residential building in this village and ground were made available for the plant’s installation. The existing building (which was a primary school) is being converted into a hostel (Figure 1). Modelling of various scenarios of exposition of the solar field to the sun was carried out to ensure that the solar field would not be in the shadow of surrounding buildings (Figure 2). The solar field has been installed on the segment of the former playground (Figure 3). The engine room was also build to house the ORC, Control and Thermal storage units and other components of the Balance of Plant (BoP), see Figure 4). The solar field was connected to the ORC unit. The plant also has an option of bypassing the ORC and thermal storage to directly provide thermal energy to the central hot water tank of the building.
The conducted tests demonstrated that the solar filed was generating heat with a maximum temperature of 210 deg.C, instead of planned 240 deg. C. A number of design shortcomings were ide
Final results
The progress beyond the state of the art can be described as follows:
• A novel light weight Fresnel mirror solar concentrating was developed;
• The smallest ORC turbine (2-kW) was developed;
• The novel PCM thermal storage with deployment of reversible heat pipes was developed.
• The novel smart control unit with extended capabilities was developed.
The expected impacts are as follows:
• Primary energy savings and GHG emission savings triggered by the proposed solutions (compared to best available solution existing today);
• It is expected that, depending on climatic conditions across EU the system provides energy savings up to 50% compared to condensing boiler technology, 30% compared to micro CHP technology and 20-25% compared to hybrid PV/T technology;
• Gains in the overall efficiencies of heating and cooling systems using very low and low (moderate) temperature sources of thermal energy;
• Improving EU energy security;
• Reducing life-cycle environmental impact;
• Socio-economic impact through the application of the pant resulting in energy and monetary savings and delivering indoor comfort to building occupants and improving the quality of life.
Website & more info
More info: http://innova-microsolar.eu/.