LONG TERM PERFORMANCE PREDICTION OF RESIDENTIAL SOLAR ENERGY HEATING SYSTEMS.

An automated technique is developed. Implementation of this interactive computer program requires inputs of generic system description, operational site characteristics, subsystem characteristics, application characteristics, and modifications (if any) to baseline generic design factors. With these inputs, either as single values or iterated over ranges of characteristics, the program outputs long term system performance as percent of total heating load satisfied by solar energy as a function of solar collector area. This report presents initial results of application of this program considering ranges of collector performance and residential construction for representative regions of the United States. Specific discussion is presented on the general utility of long term performance prediction, availability of prediction methods, details of the method selected, results from automating this technique for a national level application, and suggested future application possibilities.