A TRNSYS building simulation model.
We provide specialist consultancy services to industry and government bodies in relation to thermal & PV energy systems
In particular:
- TRNSYS simulations for solar & heat pump water heaters
- Heat & mass transfer calculations
- Engineering design and energy efficiency assessments
- Measurement of solar radiation and optical properties of materials.
Our office is in Perth (Western Australia).
OUR SERVICES
We assist you with your most challenging problems
Our services include:
- Solar & heat pump water heater AS/NZS 4234 performance assessment auditing.
- TRNSYS simulations for solar & heat pump water heaters to calculate STCs, VEECs or ESCs for the Clean Energy Regulator, Victorian Energy Upgrades or NSW Energy Saving Scheme.
- Assistance for manufacturers with solar & heat pump water heater standards, testing and approval processes.
- Measurement of optical properties (thermal emissivity and from 2024 onwards also solar reflectivity).
- Technical advice on thermal and PV systems (e.g. building efficiency and PV powered water heaters).
A PV panel powering a heat pump.
Experience & Expertise
Our team has over 40 years of combined industry and research experience
HARRY SUEHRCKE
(PhD, MIEAust, CPEng, Director)
Harry has over 25 years of engineering experience and is a skilled design and research engineer and a former academic specialising in energy systems. His expertise includes thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat and mass transfer and computer modelling. He holds several patents, has several research publications on instantaneous solar radiation (see: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Harry-Suehrcke) and in 2013 received a best paper award and prize by the International Solar Energy Society (ISES). Harry also has detailed knowledge of Australian standards and policies for solar & heat pump water heaters and is a member of the CS-028 Australian Standards and ISO/TC 180/SC1 committees.
Rodney Lowe
(MEngSc, MIEAust, Consultant engineer)
Rodney has 20 years of experience in engineering preceded by ten years as a mechanical tradesman before attending university. His forte is experimental measurement and follow-up analysis of thermal and fluid systems. He has experience to complement many aspects of prototype design, proof-of-concept development and performance measurement. Rodney also has experience of detailed computer modelling of heat and mass transfer systems. Rodney also holds several patents together with Harry, including one on a welding joint and one on an integral collector storage (ICS) solar water heater.
Our Tools
Some of our engineering tools include:
Software
- A Transient Systems Simulation Program (TRNSYS), for the simulation of thermal energy systems,
- TRNAUS, the Australian extensions to the TRNSYS program for AS/NZS 4234 calculations,
- Engineering Equation Solver (EES), an equation solver with in-built fluid properties,
- Solidworks, a parametric 3D solid model design and finite element analysis program.
Hardware
- Two data acquisition systems (Datataker DT605 & DT85),
- An Inglas emissivity meter (TIR 100-2),
- CMP21 Kipp & Zonen and LI-COR solar pyranometers.
Standards
- Australian and ISO standards applicable for the Australian solar water heating industry and solar radiation measurements.
Sunspin pty ltd