The vast majority of solar heating systems that fail in the
field are the result of design defects and not product defects.
Often times a perfectly good product is improperly designed into
the system. Pumps are oversized, heat exchangers are
undersized, and system types are employed in climates for which
they are not suited. Years of industry and field
experience have provided KDG with the hands-on knowledge of how
to design systems that avoid these common pitfalls. Every
system we design and specify has decades of industry knowledge
built into it.
Performance Analysis
One of the most critical aspects of a system design is to
size it properly. A system that is oversized for the
on-site load will go into frequent stagnation and drastically
shorten it's useful life. Likewise, a system that is
undersized will not meet the clients expectations. A
properly sized system meets the clients expectations of
performance, cost, and longevity.
Over the years KDG has developed a suite of computer
simulation tools based on the industry standard TRNSYS-16
program to accurately predict system performance using real
weather data from over 250 US cities. In addition to
standard system types, we have the capability to develop models
for custom applications. We have developed simulation
models for the OM Solar Home (an air-based solar array),
combined photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) arrays for the US
Department of Energy, and combined space & water heating systems
for Zero Energy Homes (ZEH).
In addition to simulation and model development for complete
systems, KDG can offer analytical services for individual system
components. Our background in heat transfer theory and
transient thermal analysis allows us to simulate the performance
of solar collector designs and other components under any
conditions. We can then employ these custom component
models in TRNSYS to asses their performance in complete systems
across a range of climates. The figure you see at the top
of this page shows the efficiency of an unglazed air collector
across a range of flow rates and wind speeds. This is one
of many component models we have developed for our clients.
Controls Development
Small solar water heating systems typically demand very
little in the way of controls. A differential controller
is often all that is required. As systems become larger
and more complicated serving multiple loads such as pools,
spa's, space heating, and recirculation loops, the demands on
the control system increase. In many designs, the
complexity of the controls dwarfs that of the installed
mechanical equipment. At KDG we are capable of providing
customized or programmable control systems that implements the
logic demanded by multi-load systems. We are able to
provide turnkey controls systems with full documentation that
are pre-programmed for the system, which allows the installer to
simply connect the wires and walk away.
Energy & Policy Analysis
In addition to a masters degree in mechanical engineering, our
president Josh Plaisted carries a masters certificate in energy
analysis and policy from the University of Wisconsin - Madison.
His training in this area covered environmental & energy
economics, public policy, and air quality management. His
first project was assessing the potential impact of a carbon tax
on the busbar electric costs for the Wisconsin Public Service
Company across their fleet of generating plants. Mr. Plaisted has continued his
work in this area by providing many white papers for CalSEIA,
the California Energy Commission (CEC), and the San Diego
Regional Energy Office (SDREO) on the impacts and benefits of
solar energy systems.
Training & Seminars
Aside from incorporating knowledge of solar system
design into the individual projects it works on, KDG also offers
training seminars ranging from 30 minutes to 8 hours.
Topics cover everything from economics and policy issues to
design of commercial solar water heating systems. While
some companies hold onto their knowledge as a trade secret, our
mission is to provide as much information as transparently as
possible to yield a well informed and healthy market. We
are able to put together a wide range of presentations on most
topics for almost any audience. Some of our past & current
clients for this service include:
