The results show a tendency of over prediction of the energy going out of the storage tanks. This is mainly due to the model used for the storage tanks which simulates the “ideal case” in order to maintain the stratification in the tank (the hot water coming from the collectors goes in the layer with the similar temperature). In reality, the hot water enters in a fixed inlet in the middle of the first tank which limits the stratification in the tanks. The temperature at the top of the first tank (to supply) is therefore smaller than the simulated one, which explains the difference with simulated values. This problem can be solved by using another type of tank model using fixed inlet positions.

2.2. Adsorption chillers

Table 3 summarizes the different cases simulated and compares the measured and simulated results in terms of mean cooling power and COP of the chillers defined by equations (2) and (3).

n is the number of time steps in the considered period i is the considered time step.

NB: The operating conditions for the two others water circuits (chilled and recooling) can be seen on the figures 5-8.

The results show good agreement between simulation and measurements for the different operating conditions studied. Therefore the model will be used for further investigations.