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Solar Thermal Energy In Thimphu, Bhutan - A feasibility study using TRNSYS modeling

Bennewitz, Peter LU and Persson, Johan LU (2016) AEB820 20152
Department of Architecture and Built Environment
Division of Energy and Building Design
Abstract
Bhutan is one of the highest per capita users of firewood in the world. Firewood and electricity
are the most common methods for heating in Bhutan and both methods suffer from drawbacks.
Bhutan’s capitol, Thimphu, lies some 2500 meters above sea level and has cold winters with
clear skies. These facts are the base for this report’s investigation of the potential to use solar
thermal energy to mitigate the use of firewood and electricity for heating.
Fieldwork and interviews were carried out in areas in and around Thimphu. Two models were
made; one for a typical rural house, heated with firewood, and one for a typical urban apartment
complex, heated with electricity.
The rural house was modeled as a two story building with one... (More)
Bhutan is one of the highest per capita users of firewood in the world. Firewood and electricity
are the most common methods for heating in Bhutan and both methods suffer from drawbacks.
Bhutan’s capitol, Thimphu, lies some 2500 meters above sea level and has cold winters with
clear skies. These facts are the base for this report’s investigation of the potential to use solar
thermal energy to mitigate the use of firewood and electricity for heating.
Fieldwork and interviews were carried out in areas in and around Thimphu. Two models were
made; one for a typical rural house, heated with firewood, and one for a typical urban apartment
complex, heated with electricity.
The rural house was modeled as a two story building with one family living on each floor. The
urban apartment complex was modeled as a four story building with four apartments on each
floor for a total of 16 families living in the building.
These models were input into the simulation program TRNSYS. A solar thermal system was
optimized for each house based on performance while trying to keep the system as small as
possible. The effects of this system on the comfort and energy consumption in the rural and
urban model were noted.
In the rural case a solar thermal system with a solar collector area of 15 m2 and a tank volume of
0.65 m3 decreased the firewood usage over a year with 50 % while increasing the comfort level.
In the urban case a solar thermal system with a solar collector area of 20 m2 and 0.8 m3 per floor,
i.e. 5 m2 and 0.2 m3 per apartment, decreased the use of the electric heater with 44 % while
increasing the comfort.
Several variations to the system and mode of heating were tested and are detailed in the report.
It was found that a solar thermal system has a high potential of heating houses in the Thimphu
area. The main obstacle for implementing a solar thermal system is its cost. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Bennewitz, Peter LU and Persson, Johan LU
supervisor
organization
course
AEB820 20152
year
type
H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
subject
keywords
Solar thermal energy, solar thermal system, TRNSYS, Bhutan, Thimphu, domestic heating.
report number
EBD-R--16/41
language
English
id
8830458
date added to LUP
2016-05-02 09:38:46
date last changed
2016-05-02 09:38:46
@misc{8830458,
  abstract     = {{Bhutan is one of the highest per capita users of firewood in the world. Firewood and electricity
are the most common methods for heating in Bhutan and both methods suffer from drawbacks.
Bhutan’s capitol, Thimphu, lies some 2500 meters above sea level and has cold winters with
clear skies. These facts are the base for this report’s investigation of the potential to use solar
thermal energy to mitigate the use of firewood and electricity for heating.
Fieldwork and interviews were carried out in areas in and around Thimphu. Two models were
made; one for a typical rural house, heated with firewood, and one for a typical urban apartment
complex, heated with electricity.
The rural house was modeled as a two story building with one family living on each floor. The
urban apartment complex was modeled as a four story building with four apartments on each
floor for a total of 16 families living in the building.
These models were input into the simulation program TRNSYS. A solar thermal system was
optimized for each house based on performance while trying to keep the system as small as
possible. The effects of this system on the comfort and energy consumption in the rural and
urban model were noted.
In the rural case a solar thermal system with a solar collector area of 15 m2 and a tank volume of
0.65 m3 decreased the firewood usage over a year with 50 % while increasing the comfort level.
In the urban case a solar thermal system with a solar collector area of 20 m2 and 0.8 m3 per floor,
i.e. 5 m2 and 0.2 m3 per apartment, decreased the use of the electric heater with 44 % while
increasing the comfort.
Several variations to the system and mode of heating were tested and are detailed in the report.
It was found that a solar thermal system has a high potential of heating houses in the Thimphu
area. The main obstacle for implementing a solar thermal system is its cost.}},
  author       = {{Bennewitz, Peter and Persson, Johan}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Solar Thermal Energy In Thimphu, Bhutan - A feasibility study using TRNSYS modeling}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}