Solar Thermal Frequently Asked Questions

The Microsoft .Net Framework is missing. At least version 2.0 Service Pack 1 is required to use T*SOL Pro 5.0. The .Net framework is available free of charge from the Microsoft website.

Although the T*SOL system choices are extensive and representative of the majority of the market, they are nevertheless fixed. Currently there is no customisation possible of system layouts, aside from the sizing within each. If there is a particular system layout that you feel is missing, we'd be pleased to hear of it.

Large scale refers to the complexity of the system when using intermediate storage and multiple plate exchangers.

Double click on the collector icon then, under the 'Parameters' tab click on 'select' in the Collector box. Now select the required manufacturer and/or design using the drop down menus on this page. A list of collectors will then be displayed.

This depends upon the version of the software that you are using.

If you are using the T*SOL Pro 5.0 database: Go to Database>Components>Collectors Now click on 'Edit Collector' in the top left corner of the screen. Select the manufacturer from the drop down list. Select a product and click on 'Create a Copy'. Alter all the necessary information in the white boxes under both the 'General Parameters' and 'Losses' tabs. Click on save. Then go back to the main screen, double click the collector and select and find the new item under your chosen Manufacturer.

If you are using T*SOL Expert 4.5: Go to Database>Components>Collectors Select the correct type of collector. Click on 'Select' and choose the required/nearest collector from the database Alter all the necessary information in the white boxes under both the 'General Parameters' and 'Losses' tabs. Click on save, followed by 'OK'. Then close and go back to the main screen, double click the collector and select and find the new item under your chosen Manufacturer.

Close your T*SOL program if it is open.

Open your Windows Explorer which displays your files and folders on your computer. Select the "Folders" option in the top menu to makes things easier to view.

Make a copy of the components-directory (C:\Program Files\Valentin EnergieSoftware\TSOL Pro 5.0\Database\Components) with all its subdirectories and then save it another memorable location of your choice such as your desktop. To find this directory easily, just copy and paste the folder address into the menu bar of Windows Explorer. Note do not move or delete any files, just copy them. One way to do this is to right click the folder and select 'Copy'.

Then select all the *-kom files you wish to add and copy and paste into the following folder path: C:\Programs\Valentin EnergieSoftware\TSOL Pro 5.0\Database\Components\Collector. This will add extra files to the ones already there.

Please take care not to move, delete or rename any other files or directories (there must always be 9 directories in the 'Components' folder).

You can now restart your T*SOL program.

Go to: Parameters>System (choose the basic setup of your system here) >ok>Parameters>Variant 1>Components>select the checkbox '2 collector loops>Parameters

You can now adjust the parameters (size etc) of each collector independently.

The fuel saving is the energetic saving divided by the fuel heating value Hi (lower heating value) or Hs (higher heating value), depending on which of these values has been set for the boiler (auxiliary heating) efficiency. The energetic saving is not the same as the amount of energy transferred to the system (e.g. to the storage tank), but is calculated for each step of the simulation from solar energy in relation to the boiler efficiency. (NB: If the solar system were not present, the boiler would have to deliver the calculated amount of solar energy at the corresponding efficiency). The boiler efficiency values are given in the boiler dialogue.

If you carry out a calculation without space heating the software uses the efficiency for domestic hot water supply.

The help facility in the programme has the following definition for fuel savings: The available solar energy is converted, using the respective auxiliary heating efficiency, to give the corresponding primary energy equivalent.

First, create two collector arrays by going to: Parameters>System (choose the basic setup of your system here >ok>Parameters>Variant 1>Components>select the checkbox '2 collector loops>Parameters (you can now adjust the parameters (size, orientation etc.) of each collector independently. Set one azimuth angle to -90 degrees (East) and the other to +90 degrees (West). Then click OK, followed by Save Variant.

The district heating module consists of additional templates which can be used as an optional extra with the T*Sol Expert. All other features of T*Sol Expert are retained.

This is a known issue. The easiest thing to do is to export the report into MS Word and delete mention of the gas savings. Before replacing the figures, make sure you read here.

Then maybe do a manual emission rate multiplied by solar contribution to DHW (kWh) and paste this into the report.

For T*SOL the principal validation is that major brands voluntarily submit details of their equipment and add their own complete systems. Viessmann and Vaillant are examples among many. In the case of 'large systems', algorithms were formed as part of a Government-funded study.

In T*SOL Expert it is possible to import experimental data and make direct comparisons. It is possible to export hourly results as data in a table making verification to experiments possible.

In practice it is very difficult to verify experimental data from the real world. Using Sheffield climate data in T*SOL gives results typically within 10% of SAP2005 which can be expected given the limitations of SAP, sensitivity to DHW use and margins of error.

The hourly climate file is averaged over many years but represents the reality that the climate is not consistent. In other views within T*SOL, it is possible to smooth these curves by increasing the resolution or even more spiky by increasing it. When compared to a real-time logged pyranometer, there is a good correlation given the variable cloud cover the UK receives.

In T*SOL it is possible to describe a variety of DHW profiles ranging from constant 24/7/52 through to every hour/day/month different. If a simulation has been requested using a constant DHW draw-off, then in theory a smoother kWh energy load can be shown but it should also be considered that the cold feed temperature affects results according to ground temperature. Hence to achieve an even consumption visualisation requires the seasonal cold feed temperatures to be levelled. However, depending on the tank sizing will affect the ability to store peak summer solar contribution and if too low a DHW target temperature is set in the simulation, the total consumption will appear to change in terms of kWh used by the system.

In addition, T*SOL considers the ambient temperatures of the plant room and so this affects the heat loss from the DHW cylinder/tank which is represented in the total consumption. Also considered are the back-up heat source and the hysteresis of the thermostats. By careful adjustment of these parameters it is possible to get an almost straight line. This requires careful adjustments of the input parameters T*SOL into what would be quite an unreal situation.

To properly compare T*SOL simulations, all input values have to be considered. It helps to have the 6 page Detailed Project Report or better still the exported T*SOL project file. If presented with these files, it is possible using a time-limited version of T*SOL to compare the offers in much greater detail.

The Microsoft .Net Framework is missing. At least version 2.0 Service Pack 1 is required to use T*SOL Pro 5.0. You can the .NET framework from the Microsoft website free of charge.

This and similar messages indicate that the path to the database in question cannot be found.

Please check first if the components folder is in the directory, which is shown in the program directory window. You can reach this window through the Menu Bar under Options>Drives.

If the folder is in the right directory, then it could be that the file "Tsol expert.ini" has a problem. You can try to create a new one, by following these steps:

- Please close the program.

- Depending on your operating system you will find the "Tsol expert.ini" in the following folder:

Windows XP: C:\documents and settings\\personal folder\Valentin EnergieSoftware\TSOL Expert 4.5\

Windows Vista / Windows 7: C:\Users\\Documents\Valentin EnergieSoftware\TSOL Expert 4.5\

- Delete "Tsol expert.ini"

- Restart the program. It initialises and creates a new "Tsol expert.ini".