Development of the test sequence

The objective of this work is to further develop the Concise Cycle Test Method (CCT).

3.1 The different phases of the test sequence

As the CCT method, the test procedure is divided into five parts. The first three phases are for preconditioning purposes that bring the storage tank to the right energy level for starting the core phase. This core phase contains a climate and DHW load sequence of twelve days that nearly corresponds to annual reference conditions. The core phase is followed by a final discharge phase which is one day long.

Phase

Duration

(Hrs)

Description

1

Initial conditioning

0

Conditioning of the storage to 20°C (without solar and auxiliary energy).

2

Primary conditioning

8

Upper and lower part of the storage has to be brought to reasonnable temperatures. Upper part is heated to the auxiliary set point temperature.

3

Secondary conditioning

24

Final conditioning with the simulation of one winter day. It permits to bring the storage to an energy level which corresponds to the last day of the core phase.

4

Core phase

288

12 test sequence days with climate and charge simulation.

5

Final discharge

8

Discharge of the storage tank.

Table 1. the different phase of the test sequence.

The difference between the CCT and the INES method lays in the methodology of the choice of days.

The core phase contains a sequence of twelve days that are selected from an annual weather data file for different locations. In previous work, the core phase days contains realistic climate and load conditions. Several specific days were chosen for each ‘season’ during one test sequence, e. g. four days for winter conditions, four days for summer conditions and four days contain spring/autumn conditions. Mean values of temperature/irradiation and load variables (domestic hot water draw offs and space heating) of each ’season’ correspond to average values for the seasons of the whole year. All days together represent the average weather and load conditions of a whole year.