The subject of this paper is the integration of solar energy into industrial heat supply systems – focusing on the use of solar tanks.
Within the framework of the project “Solar Process Heat Standards” funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature
Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) load profiles of electroplating processes were measured, a typical load profile was
described and simulations were done regarding the dimensioning of the solar tank volume. Depending on the load profile and
process temperature, either a large tank volume or a tank-less system leads to the highest solar yields.
Furthermore, a new concept of hydraulic tank integration is presented. It facilitates the quick supply of high solar temperatures
which are often demanded for solar process heat applications. State of the art tank integration makes the solar system thermally
inert, while simulations and measurements have already proven a considerable advantage of the new alternative.
Moreover four solar process heat applications are analyzed; three belong to the electroplating industry while the fourth uses solar
energy for heating water in the food industry (193 – 570 m2
). Especially two of the four solar process heat plants presented severe
operating errors and a high optimizing potential. One solar plant was improved in order to facilitate the new storage concept. This
modification ensures the possibility of shifting between the conventional storage integration and the innovative approach for a
comparative evaluation.