Modeling, simulation, and optimization of a solar water heating system in different climate regions

To design an effective solar water heating system (SWHS), parameters such as the energy consumption rate, total cost, and climatic region characteristics must be analyzed during the time interval (annual or seasonal) of the predicted use. In this paper, the optimum dimensions of a SWHS were determined using the life cycle cost (LCC) analysis constraint by the 40% solar fraction for the different regions of Turkey for annual and seasonal periods. Particle swarm optimization/Hooke and Jeeves hybrid optimization algorithm was applied. The optimum number of solar collectors and the volume of the hot water storage tank of the SWHS were determined. The optimization process showed that LCC could be reduced for all regions in the range of 3.3%–5.8% in the annual simulation period and 1.8%–4.8% in the period of the summer season simulation. The optimization process carried out in the winter season revealed that the optimization results obtained over different time periods can make a difference in the relations between the optimization parameters. Accordingly, the performance of the SWHS could be improved using a design according to the optimum results obtained at the time interval of the usage. The optimization results obtained in the summer season led to a saving in LCC, while the results obtained in the winter season led to an improvement in the system's thermal performance. Finally, the relative influence of possible operating parameters on an optimum SWHS was investigated through sensitivity analysis.