Study on Operation Strategy of Cross-Season Solar Thermal Storage Heating System in Alpine Region

Based on the cross-season solar thermal storage heating system (CSTSHS) in a typical Alpine town in the west of China, this paper analyzes and compares the electric auxiliary capacity, power consumption indicators in the heating season, and the solar guarantee rate under three operation strategies (e.g., thermal storage priority, electro-thermally assisted priority, and hybrid control mode). The results show that although the electric auxiliary capacity of the studied system under thermal storage priority control mode is larger than demand, it can make full use of solar energy. Under the electro-thermally assisted priority control mode, the required electric auxiliary capacity can be reduced, but the power consumption indicators increase in the heating season, and the solar guarantee rate is low. The hybrid control mode can effectively reduce the electric auxiliary capacity and the power consumption indicators in the heating season at the same time, which has obvious advantages. This paper can offer reference and guidance for cross-season solar thermal storage system operation.