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In this study 4 solar and pellet heating systems have been studied with the help of annual dynamic simulations. Two of the systems comprised a pellet stove and two systems were solar combisystems; one with a store integrated pellet burner, the other with a separate pellet boiler.

The aim was to evaluate their thermal performance and their CO-emissions. The systems have been modelled based on lab measurements of the single system components. The used models allow a detailed study of the dynamic behaviour of the systems.

The stove systems have the least primary energy consumption provided the auxiliary electricity is taken into account with a conversion factor of 100%. If the auxiliary electricity is taken into account with a conversion of 40% and/or the systems are placed in the heated area the combisystems need less or a similar amount of primary energy.

Modulating combustion power reduces the number of starts and stops and for most pellet units this reduces the total CO emissions. The obtained annual CO emissions are higher than the values obtained from the standard test methods. It was shown that the average emissions under realistic annual conditions were greater than the limit values of two Eco-labels.

The system performance can be significantly improved by a proper control of the pellet heater and by sizing the pellet heater according to the size of the peak space heating demand.

Based on these findings from the simulations two prototypes of a combined solar and pellet heating system has been designed, built and tested; one for the lab and one that has been installed in a demonstration house. The system is very compact and is suitable for detached houses with no heating room or little space for a heating room.