Normalizing for Solar Thermal Panels

[Gucktly]

I am wondering if anyone has any insight into how to accurately normalize a solar thermal air heating system for weather data.

I have a large amount of data from a number of solar air heating systems (BTU Production, Collector Temp, House Temp, ect.) as well as access to weather data (Ambient Temp, Solar Irradiation Levels, ect.). I am looking to compare this year's weather data to a tmy2 or tmy3 data file in regards to solar air heating. I am hoping to be able to extrapolate what these solar air heating systems would produce in a "typical year" (taken from a tmy2 or tmy3 file) based on their production for this year's heating season.

This is a complicated task with air heat because you not only need to analyze solar irradiation levels, but also need to look at heating degree days and weather or not the energy collected is needed in the house.

If you have any insight into how to normalize the production of any solar thermal system (water heat or air heat), I would be interested to know your methods. I have a strong background in engineering but am a little lacking when it comes to climate data.

Thanks!

[russ]

Hi Gucktly - Welcome to Solar Panel Talk!

I have not forgot about you but need to think on this on a bit.

Russ

[Gucktly]

Thanks Russ,

Even if you can't answer the questions, if you have any resources that you would recommend, I would greatly appreciate the reference. This is a pretty big project that I am looking at undertaking, so I plan to do significant research into the topic before I proceed with any formal computations.

Thanks!