Experiences With Using Solar Photovoltaics to Heat Domestic Water

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian P. Dougherty ◽  
A. Hunter Fanney
Keyword(s):  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Maximum Output ◽  
Solar Photovoltaic ◽  
Water Heating ◽  
Water Heater ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Solar Water Heating ◽  
Solar Water ◽  
Photovoltaic Modules ◽  
In Series

Abstract The solar photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to make progress in increasing the efficiency while reducing the manufacturing costs of PV cells. Economies of scale are being realized as manufacturers expand their production capabilities. Products are commercially available that integrate photovoltaic cells within building façade, fenestration, and roofing components. Legislation and incentive programs by government and commercial entities are supporting both reduced first costs and greater rates of return. The combination of factors support improved cost-effectiveness. As this trend continues, more options for using PV become possible. One such application is a stand-alone, PV-direct, solar water heating application. Solar water heating can be effectively accomplished by directly using the DC power production from solar photovoltaic modules. A simple controller having multiple power relays connects the PV modules with different combinations of in-tank resistive elements. The controller actively changes the resistive combination so that the photovoltaic modules generate power at or near their maximum output. The technology, which has been patented and licensed, is applicable to configurations that use a single water heater and to two water heaters that are piped in series. Prototypes using both tank configurations have been in operation at four field sites. This paper emphasizes the single-tank application and the field results from installations in Maryland and Florida.

Experiences With Using Solar Photovoltaics to Heat Domestic Water

2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian P. Dougherty ◽  
A. Hunter Fanney
Keyword(s):  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Maximum Output ◽  
Solar Photovoltaic ◽  
Water Heating ◽  
Water Heater ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Solar Water Heating ◽  
Solar Water ◽  
Photovoltaic Modules ◽  
In Series

The solar photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to make progress in increasing the efficiency while reducing the manufacturing costs of PV cells. Economies of scale are being realized as manufacturers expand their production capabilities. Products are commercially available that integrate photovoltaic cells within building fac¸ade, fenestration, and roofing components. Legislation and incentive programs by government and commercial entities are supporting both reduced first costs and greater rates of return. The combination of factors support improved cost-effectiveness. As this trend continues, more options for using PV become possible. One such application is a stand-alone, PV-direct, solar water heating application. Solar water heating can be effectively accomplished by directly using the DC power production from solar photovoltaic modules. A simple controller having multiple power relays connects the PV modules with different combinations of in-tank resistive elements. The controller actively changes the resistive combination so that the photovoltaic modules generate power at or near their maximum output. The technology, which has been patented, is applicable to configurations that use a single water heater and to two water heaters that are piped in series. Prototypes using both tank configurations were monitored at four field sites. This paper emphasizes the single-tank application and the field results from installations in Maryland and Florida.

scholarly journals Thermal efficiency and cost analysis of solar water heater made in Rwanda

2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 1147-1161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esdras Nshimyumuremyi ◽  
Wang Junqi
Keyword(s):  
Cost Analysis ◽  
Thermal Efficiency ◽  
Solar Water Heater ◽  
Water Heating ◽  
Water Heater ◽  
Solar Water Heating ◽  
Solar Water ◽  
Water Heaters ◽  
Solar Water Heaters ◽  
Made In

Solar water heating is a technology of capturing the energy from the sun's radiation for the purpose of raising the temperature of water from water supply temperature to the desired higher temperature depending on the use. There are many views and discussions on the questions of thermal efficiency of solar water heaters and their associated cost, especially different customers/users want to replace their existing conventional water heating energy by solar water heating systems. In this present paper, a deep investigation has been accomplished to determine thermal efficiency and cost analysis of solar water heater made in Rwanda. During manufacturing of solar water heater, the collector was the main part to emphasize on. The high efficiency of the system was achieved by replacing galvanized iron sheet by aluminum sheet slotted and black painted as an absorber plate. The ambient temperature and average solar radiation of the three sites where solar water heaters are installed were investigated. The used materials, specifications and sizing were discussed in this paper.

Solar Water Heaters: A Review of Systems Research and Design Innovation

Green ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Norton
Keyword(s):  
System Development ◽  
Unit Cost ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Water Heating ◽  
Water Heater ◽  
Solar Water Heating ◽  
Solar Water ◽  
Water Heaters ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
And Performance

AbstractSolar water heating can be considered to be an established mature technology. The achievement of this status is the outcome of over a century of system development that culminated with a flourish of innovation in the last thirty years. Drivers for research and development have been achieving economic viability by devising systems that, for specific applications in particular climate contexts produced more hot water per unit cost. Reductions in both initial capital and installation costs have been achieved as well as in those associated with subsequent operation and maintenance. Research on solar water heating is discussed with the emphasis on overall systems though some key aspects of component development are also outlined. A comprehensive taxonomy is presented of the generic types of solar water heater that have emerged and their features, characteristics and performance are discussed.

scholarly journals Performance Evaluation of a low cost integrated collector storage solar water heater with independent plane reflectors

2015 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 147-154
Author(s):  
Zakariya Kaneesamkandi
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Storage Systems ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Heating System ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Water Heating ◽  
Water Heater ◽  
Beam Radiation ◽  
Solar Water Heating ◽  
Solar Water

High initial cost is one of the reasons why consumers think twice before investing on the conventional solar water heating systems, especially in low income countries. Integrated collector storage systems are available at a lesser cost, but with a penalty of decreased efficiency. In this paper, yet another attempt to reduce cost of solar water heating system has been made by using independent plane reflectors along with an insulated storage tank provided with a heat absorbing aperture. With no tracking arrangement, this system uses only the intense beam radiation available from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM with a concentration factor of 10. A theoretical study was conducted using commercial computational fluid dynamics software which was followed by an experimental validation of the results. The theoretical results were in agreement with the experimental results. The efficiency of this system was less than collector storage systems reported in the literature by about 10-15%. Maximum average tank temperature of 350 K and efficiency of 0.61 was obtained. Overall loss coefficient was identical with that of existing integrated collector storage systems. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjsir.v49i3.22128 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 49(3), 147-154, 2014

System Performance of an Indirect Collector Storage Preheater in Series With a Conventional Electric Resistance Water Heater

Solar Energy ◽  
2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Boies ◽  
K. O. Homan
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Performance ◽  
System Performance ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Electric Resistance ◽  
Water Heating ◽  
Water Heater ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Solar Fraction ◽  
Storage Volume ◽  
In Series

Solar integral collector storage (ICS) devices are a potentially low cost means of displacing a portion of the energy required for domestic water heating. However, since ICS systems are rarely used as a stand-alone system and are more typically utilized as a preheater for conventional water heaters, it is imperative to analyze the overall water heating system in order to determine the advantage of any improvements in the thermal performance of the ICS component. In particular, this paper analyzes the performance of a solar ICS heater, in divided and undivided storage configurations, in series with a conventional electric resistance water heater (ERWH) for a range of ICS storage volumes, heat exchanger NTU, initial ICS temperature, and ERWH storage volumes. The undivided storage configuration corresponds to the typical UPICS system whereas the divided storage configuration corresponds to a recently proposed concept for improving the thermal performance of the ICS device. The results show that the ICS preheater does provide significant increases in solar fraction when adequately sized. Although comparison of the divided to undivided storage concept, with the same total ICS storage volume, shows only modest gains of 5–10% in solar fraction, the ICS storage volume necessary to attain the same solar fraction is much less for the divided storage concept. The smaller required storage volume would, in turn, enable faster charging times and potentially higher initial temperatures thereby leading to even further improvements in overall system performance.

Applied Research of Solar Water Heater Integrated with Modern Architecture

2013 ◽  
Vol 756-759 ◽  
pp. 4492-4496
Author(s):  
Bo Yang Zhang ◽  
Ya Hui Xie ◽  
Shun Xiang Sun
Keyword(s):  
Water Storage ◽  
Heating System ◽  
Modern Architecture ◽  
Solar Water Heater ◽  
Storage Tanks ◽  
Water Heating ◽  
Water Heater ◽  
Solar Water Heating ◽  
Solar Water ◽  
Solar Water Heating System

This paper describes the application forms of building integrated with solar energy. We explain a solar water heating system; its solar collectors and water storage tanks are placed together. We discuss another solar water heating system, its solar collectors are placed together but its water storage tanks are placed in every resident's home. This paper also introduces the wall-hung SWH and the application of solar refrigeration and solar heating. At last we analyze the problems of the development of solar water heater integrated with modern architecture.

Evaluation of Solar Water Heating Systems in Botswana

2013 ◽  
Vol 824 ◽  
pp. 459-466
Author(s):  
M.T. Oladiran ◽  
E. Ossenburg
Keyword(s):  
System Design ◽  
Payback Period ◽  
Local Market ◽  
Solar Water Heater ◽  
Water Heating ◽  
Water Heater ◽  
Heating Systems ◽  
Solar Water Heating ◽  
Solar Water ◽  
Suitable System

This paper presents results of an assessment of several solar water units to determine causes of their malfunctioning. A survey of solar water heater (SWH) installations in the Gaborone area, Botswana was carried out to obtain performance characteristics of SWH in the local market. Extensive inspections were performed on both in-service and non-functioning units, problems were diagnosed and pragmatic solutions were proffered. The paper presents some of the discoveries made during the investigation, namely, several units did not last up to the payback period of say 10 to 15 years. The results obtained could provide guidance in selecting operating criteria and suitable system design for solar water heating applications.

scholarly journals PERFORMANCE OF HORIZONTAL WATER-IN-GLASS EVACUATED TUBE SOLAR COLLECTORS

2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-134
Author(s):  
Daniel E. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Solar Collectors ◽  
Water Heating ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Heat Gain ◽  
Single Row ◽  
Solar Water Heating ◽  
Solar Water ◽  
Horizontal Tubes ◽  
Evacuated Tube

Water-in-glass evacuated tube solar collectors are widely used in two main configurations: (1) a single row of tilted tubes connected to a header tank, and (2) two rows of horizontal tubes on either side of a central manifold. Published studies on water-in-glass collectors have been focused almost entirely on the former, commonly used for domestic water heating applications. This study considers the latter type, which is well suited to larger solar water heating applications. Experimental data from outdoor testing demonstrates a good fit to the ISO 9459-2 expression for collector performance. This daily heat gain model is used in simulations to illustrate sizing and design applications.

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