ABSTRACT
The dimensioning of solar storage tanks has been considered in detail Chapter 4. This Chapter considers other important aspects of storage.
8.1 Function and Requirements Storage units serve the purpose of a »battery« that separates the heat input of solar radiation from the user’s energy consumption. Since the temporal pattern of energy input usually does not match that of energy consumption, this separation is necessary in all but a few solar-thermal systems. The time period of storage varies between a few hours, days or (in case of seasonal storage), months and strongly depends on the consumption side of the system (e.g. swimming pool, potable water or room heating) and the desired solar fraction.
