Solar thermal coolIng test facIity

This flyer describes EURAC research that has designed and set up an innovative test rig, which enables the analysis and modeling of complex thermally driven, solar-assisted installations for the production of space heating, cooling and domestic hot water.  The test facility is designed to reproduce both steady and transient conditions. Behaviour and power of an installed collector field can be replicated and boosted by electric heaters, which can simulate desired heat sources as well as load curves. This flexibility allows the testing of different chiller sizes and types (absorption / adsorption) under reality-close conditions.

EURAC’s Institute for Renewable Energy is active in applied research in the fields of energy management in buildings and photovoltaic systems. This includes:

• Development of active solar buildings and net zero energy buildings
• Energy-efficient refurbishment of historical buildings
• Control assessment and optimization of installed complex energy systems
• Development of building-integrated photovoltaic solutions
• Quality control of photovoltaic systems and modules