The objectives of this work were three-fold. First, to aid in the design and construction of an experimental research facility, the Urbandale Centre for Home Energy Research in Ottawa, Canada. Second, to develop a simulation model to predict system and building performance. Third, to size the diurnal storage system and establish a suitable control method for charging and discharging seasonal and diurnal thermal stores in conjunction with a solar thermal combisystem to meet the space heating and DHW loads whilst achieving a high solar fraction.

An initial system design was established and the results analysed on a seasonal and diurnal basis with the primary metric being solar fraction. A parametric study was carried out to evaluate the initial inputs and an improved system design was developed. The work concludes it is possible to achieve a solar fraction of 90% using diurnal and seasonal thermal stores in a Canadian climate.