An evaluation of SESP and F-CHART methods of solar performance simulation

Abstract

Two methods for simulation of load fractions supplied by a liquid-type solar heating system for residential and/or industrial applications are evaluated. SESP and F-CHART. Test procedures designed to emphasize the versatility, accuracy, and short comings of each method are employed. The first test compares the methods at a chosen standard location: Columbus, Ohio. The remaining three test vary the collector area, the slope of the collector efficiency curve, and the location of the simulation to test the performance of the methods under extreme conditions. The results show SESP to be more versatile and that it will perform under extreme conditions when F-CHART breaks down. SESP is also found to offer increased accuracy due to its method of modeling flux distribution.