Creative Commons

This dissertation was written in the context of the MSc in Energy Systems of the International Hellenic University. As a main objective, the dissertation examines the use of an integrated so-lar system (solar combi+ system), for the provision of environmentally friendly DHW, heating, and air-conditioning services in residential buildings. Although still in an initial market stage, the solar combi+ system is considered by many a very promising concept that can eventually alter the whole market of the conventional HVAC and DHW systems. For the purpose of this thesis much research has been initially conducted on the existing litera-ture and several projects curried out by the E.U. providing an overview of the market of the so-lar thermal systems and a brief description of the various system components and configura-tions. In order to find the potential of the solar combi+ systems to cover the DHW, heating and cool-ing loads, a number of energy simulations were then curried out using the Polysun V. 6.1 simu-lation software. The simulations refer to a solar combi+ system installed on a typical detached house in the region of Rapperswill, a small Swiss town near Zurich. Two main parameters where studied, namely the solar collector surface and the storage tank volume in an effort to find the combination of the two parameters that would maximize the solar contribution. Τhe study is also extended to other simulation scenarios, trying to cover a wide range of possible cases and is supplemented by a financial and a parametric analysis in order to evaluate the eco-nomic feasibility of such a system. The analysis conducted confirmed the great potential of the solar combi+ system, providing high solar fractions and considerably primary energy savings. However, the economics of the system appeared at the time of this study dubious, at least for the maritime temperate climate of the town of Rapperswill.