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Combined Heat and Power Solar (CHAPS) Concentrator System - Bruce Hall, ANU

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.

Download a .pdf brochure on the Bruce Hall CHAPS system

Download movies of the CHAPS system in action:
A day in the life of a CHAPS system (554k)
CSES outdoor testing facility (1.57M)

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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
• 300 m2 mirror area
• 7.5 m2 silicon solar cells
• 40 kW grid-connected inverter
• 13 m3 thermal storage tanks

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.

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.