DESIGN PARAMETERS FOR A SOLAR HEATING-SYSTEM WITH AN UNDERGROUND CYLINDRICAL TANK

We have performed a theoretical analysis of a solar heating system wit h an underground cylindrical tank. A two-dimensional ground-temperatur e distribution is used around the tank. Heat-transfer problems are sol ved by application of complex, finite-Fourier-transform technique and a finite difference method. A 25- and a 100-house community are consid ered for the performance calculation. The effects of collector area, t ank volume, number of houses, and depth of the tank have been investig ated far istanbul (40 degrees N). Isotherms of the ground around the t ank are illustrated in graphical form. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.