Combined Heat and Power Solar (CHAPS) Concentrator System
The Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems at the Australian National University, together with Rheem Australia, is constructing a large concentrating solar system that provides both electricity and hot water to a new student residence to be built on the ANU campus at Bruce Hall. This project will provide a pathway for commercialisation of the Combined Heat and Power Solar (CHAPS) collectors. Commonwealth Government funding, through the Australian Greenhouse Office, supports this project.
Solar Hot Water: It is estimated that the CHAPS collectors will contribute between a third and two thirds of the annual hot water consumption for the new building. The hot water is used to power a hydronic heating system and supply the domestic hot water needs of the individual bathrooms and kitchenettes. Solar Electricity: It is estimated that the photovoltaic array will contribute around 60% of the annual electricity consumption by residents in the new Bruce Hall building. The solar cells convert around 15% of the sunlight into electricity, which is delivered to the building and the outside world through a 40 kW grid-connected inverter. Key features
8 rows of 24m long CHAPS collectors
What is the CHAPS System?
A solar concentrator system suitable for the generation of both electricity and hot water in urban regions has been developed in conjunction with Rheem/Solahart. The system is called the Combined Heat and Power Solar (CHAPS) concentrator system. The CHAPS collectors combine hot water and electricity generation into a single unit. Parabolic mirrors track the sun on a single axis and reflect light onto a strip of high efficiency solar cells at about 35 times the normal solar intensity.The solar cells convert about 20% of the sunlight into electricity. The balance of the solar energy is converted into heat, which is removed by water flowing in a channel behind the solar cells. The resulting hot water is collected for use in the building on which the system is mounted. Total solar conversion efficiencies above 60% are being achieved.Performance depends very much on the location in question. A 24 m long trough in Alice Springs is 80% better than the same trough in Melbourne. The efficiency of the collectors is equivalent to the best commercial PV and solar hot water collectors available – occupying half the space.
* Assumes all the thermal energy is used.
You can download short movie clips which demonstrate both the domestic CHAPS system and the Long Trough commercial CHAPS system tracking the sun throughout the day, and show the CSES outdoor testing facilities. Quicktime or Windows Media Player is needed to play the movie. To watch the movies, click here.
For more information about the CHAPS sytem on Bruce Hall, download a short Fact Sheet (92k) or the posters "The Bruce Hall Solar Project" (1.7M), "Hot Water System" (860k) and "Solar Electricity System" (1.7M).
The Australian National University has long experience with concentrator systems, dating back to the White Cliffs solar thermal power plant constructed in 1978. Over the last six years Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems has developed a range of parabolic trough solar concentrators fitted with photovoltaic collectors.
Suitable markets include light industrial enterprises such as hospitals, shopping centres and food processing plants, as well as houses.
Prototype of a domestic CHAPS System
- The information on this page was updated on 18 December 2003.
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