Evaluation of Available Solar Thermal Energy in High-rise Apartment Complex Depending on the Installation Types of Solar Thermal Collectors

This study is on the availability of solar thermal energy in Korean high-rise apartment complex depending on the installation type of solar thermal collectors to roof or façade of building. Firstly, solar access evaluation on the roof and the facade of apartment buildings was carried out. The total thermal load of each apartment unit and building was investigated and matched with the energy which was produced by solar thermal systems on the roof or the facade. The considered layout patterns of apartment buildings were ‘ㅡ type’, ‘alternative ㅡ type’, ‘ㄱ type’ and ‘ㅁ type’. There are 4 types of area option in which the solar thermal systems can be installed in the roof or façade of building. Extensive dynamic hourly building simulations with the solar thermal system were performed with the TRNSYS program of SEL. We assumed that the apartment complex is composed of 9 buildings and located in Daejeon. Result shows that in the case of area option-R, the available solar thermal energy for the domestic hot water of the site is about 505,215Mcal/yr and the solar saving fraction of total site thermal load is 13%. The best layout type of buildings for solar access reveals a ‘ㅡ type’. In the case of façade installation of solar thermal collectors, the produced solar thermal energy with the area option 3 is about 654,870Mcal/yr, and the solar saving fraction is 16%. The best layout pattern was ‘ㅡ type’ also.