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 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.

scholarly journals Review on solar water heating in Libya

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Abdunnabi ◽  
Ibrahim Rohuma ◽  
Essam Endya ◽  
Esmaeel Belal
Keyword(s):  
Hot Water ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Wide Spread ◽  
Water Heating ◽  
Solar Water Heating ◽  
Solar Water ◽  
Water Heaters ◽  
Industrial Sectors ◽  
Solar Water Heaters ◽  
Annual Amount

This review paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the history and the best practices of solar water heaters in Libya. Although, Libya is blessed with high solar potential, there is no wide-spread implementation of this technology due to many reasons such as: the cheap price of both electricity and electric water heaters, lack of clear and systematic policy, and lack of environmental awareness. The Center for Solar Energy Research and Studies (CSERS) has given attention to this technology since its establishment in 1978, and the solar water heating system field test project is one of the research projects in the Center. The paper has shown that there was no attention paid to this technology and even to renewable energy in general in the previous years. However, preliminary information clearly shows the importance of continuing research in this field. Numerous valuable information on solar water heating systems from literature were dedicated and made available for researchers and decision makers. The studies conducted in this field for Libya are arranged in this review on the bases of the topic studied: performance evaluation, optimization, on-site measurements and policies and strategies. One of the most important results retrieved from these studies show that the daily quantity of hot water withdrawn per capita at 45 °C is estimated around 60 liters. The estimated annual amount of energy consumed for water heating per person is 510 kWh. For average Libyan family of six persons, the annual amount of energy consumed per dwelling is estimated about 3060 kWh. The review also presented the history of solar water heaters implementation, manufacturing and testing facilities for quality control in Libya. The study calls upon the Libyan decision makers to take their responsibility and put an urgent action plan to help the wide-spread implementation of solar water heaters in the residential, services and industrial sectors. Such a plan will surely alleviate the ever increasing demand for electricity, save fossil fuel reserves and mitigate GHG emissions.

scholarly journals Decoupling the Monitoring of Solar Water Heaters and their Usage Profiles

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 3186
Author(s):  
Julian C. Nwodo ◽  
Ochuko K. Overen ◽  
Edson L. Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Housing Sector ◽  
Water Heating ◽  
Solar Water Heating ◽  
Solar Water ◽  
Water Heaters ◽  
Low Cost Housing ◽  
Solar Water Heaters ◽  
Evacuated Tube

South Africa is the most technologically advanced nation in Africa. However, the country is plagued with constant load shedding. The country receives about 2500 sunshine hours annually, with daily average irradiation levels of 4.5–6.5 kWh/m2. Despite these potentials, the use of electricity for domestic water heating is still prevalent in the country. The mass rollout of solar water heating (SWH) technologies in the low-cost housing sector across the country were met with massive failures. This study aims to assess the energy yield of a passive flat plate and an evacuated tube solar water heating system by evaluating the performance of these systems to address the energy crisis in South Africa. The flat plate (FP) and evacuated tube (ET) solar water heating systems were monitored for four days, characterised by varying sky conditions through instantaneous data measurement at 5 s. The parameters measured were water temperature, ambient temperature, irradiance at the plane of array, relative humidity, wind speed and direction. The results obtained show that a maximum irradiance of 1050 W/m2 was obtained on a clear day and corresponded to a hot water temperature of about 58 °C and 65 °C for the FP and ET, respectively. However, a cloudy day with a maximum irradiance of 400 W/m2 produced about 22 °C and 29 °C of hot water for the FP and ET, respectively. The results obtained in this study will guide stakeholders in the renewable energy sector towards employing SWH systems to replace or augment the electric geyser. Solar water heaters (SWH) can be used in the low-cost housing sector to provide hot water. Hence, the assessments in this study offer essential information for the deployment of these systems to reduce demand on the ailing South African electricity utility, Eskom, and mitigate climate change.

Field Performance of Photovoltaic Solar Water Heating Systems

1997 ◽  
Vol 119 (4) ◽  
pp. 265-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. H. Fanney ◽  
B. P. Dougherty ◽  
K. P. Kramp
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Operating Characteristics ◽  
Water Heating ◽  
Heating Systems ◽  
Solar Water Heating ◽  
Solar Water ◽  
Photovoltaic Modules ◽  
Water Heaters ◽  
Solar Water Heaters

Energy consumed for water heating accounts for approximately 17.9 EJ of the energy consumed by residential and commercial buildings. Although there are over 90 million water heaters currently in use within the United States (Zogg and Barbour, 1996), durability and installation issues as well as initial cost have limited the sales of solar water heaters to less than 1 million units. Durability issues have included freeze and fluid leakage problems, failure of pumps and their associated controllers, the loss of heat transfer fluids under stagnation conditions, and heat exchanger fouling. The installation of solar water heating systems has often proved difficult, requiring roof penetrations for the piping that transports fluid to and from the solar collectors. Fanney and Dougherty have recently proposed and patented a solar water heating system that eliminates the durability and installation problems associated with current solar water heating systems. The system employs photovoltaic modules to generate electrical energy which is dissipated in multiple electric heating elements. A microprocessor controller is used to match the electrical resistance of the load to the operating characteristics of the photovoltaic modules. Although currently more expensive than existing solar hot water systems, photovoltaic solar water heaters offer the promise of being less expensive than solar thermal systems within the next decade. To date, photovoltaic solar water heating systems have been installed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, MD and the Florida Solar Energy Center in Cocoa, FL. This paper will review the technology employed, describe the two photovoltaic solar water heating systems, and present measured performance data.

scholarly journals Economic assessment and optimizing of the solar water heating system

2018 ◽  
Vol 210 ◽  
pp. 02023
Author(s):  
Jan Skovajsa ◽  
Martin Zálešák
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Optimal Solution ◽  
Heating System ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Optimal Parameters ◽  
Water Heating ◽  
Solar Water Heating ◽  
Solar Water ◽  
Solar Water Heating System

The article deals with the economic evaluation of investment and optimization of the solar water heating system for family houses. From the point of view of solar systems, the optimal solution is based on the specific application of it. The design is dependent on the location of solar thermal collectors and ration between active aperture area and real daytime consumption. Common calculations according to actual standards often give overstated results, which also reflected in the value of the investments. The article presents the research of optimal parameters of the thermal solar system for preparing of domestic hot water. A combination of related standards and software TRNSYS are used to find optimal parameters. Thanks to created and verified simulation models, it is possible to design parameters so as to avoid under-dimensioning or over-dimensioning of the solar system. Energy price is another factor affects the payback period of investments. This is affected by the used energy sources and their combination. For example, buildings that use electricity to heat water or heating have different energy charges than a building that uses natural gas. So, the aim is to find technically and economically efficient solution.

scholarly journals Determination Of Thermal Parameters Of Solar Water Heating Collectors Using The “Dark” Testing Method

2020 ◽  
Vol 02 (11) ◽  
pp. 62-67
Author(s):  
Nizomjon Orifovich Usmonov ◽  
◽  
Xayrulla Sunnatullaevich Isakhojaev ◽  
Saodat Rakhsulaevna Akhmatova ◽  
Feruza Abdullaevna Khoshimova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Characteristics ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Thermal Testing ◽  
Water Heating ◽  
Solar Water Heating ◽  
Solar Water ◽  
Testing Method ◽  
Hot Water Supply ◽  
Hot Water Supply System

In the production of flat solar water heating collectors, thermal testing occupies a special place, the purpose of which is to determine their thermal characteristics experimentally. The corresponding approximation expressions are proposed for determining the coefficient of heat loss, inclined to the horizon at an angle of 300 for the average conditions of their operation in the hot water supply system

scholarly journals Assessment and Modeling of Household-Scale Solar Water Heater Application in Zambia: Technical, Environmental, and Energy Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Mehdi Jahangiri ◽  
Esther T. Akinlabi ◽  
Sam M. Sichilalu
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Ghg Emission ◽  
Water Heater ◽  
Ghg Mitigation ◽  
Solar Water ◽  
Water Heaters ◽  
Industrial Sectors ◽  
Solar Water Heaters

Solar water heaters (SWHs) are one of the most effective plans for general and easy use of solar energy to supply hot water in domestic and industrial sectors. This paper gives the first-ever attempts to assess the optimal localization of SWHs across 22 major cities in Zambia, as well as determine the possibility of hot water generation and model the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission saving. The climate data used is extracted by using the MeteoSyn software which is modeled in TSOL™. Results show the high potential of GHG emission reduction due to nonconsumption of fossil fuels owing to the deployment of SWHs, and three cities Kabwe, Chipata, and Mbala had the highest GHG mitigation by 1552.97 kg/y, 1394.8 kg/y, and 1321.39 kg/y, respectively. On average, SWHs provide 62.47% of space heating and 96.05% of the sanitary hot water requirement of consumers. The findings have shown the potential for the deployment of SWHs in Zambia. The techno-enviro study in this paper can be used by the policymakers of Zambia and countries with similar climates.

Uniquely Designed Solar Tube in a Natural/Forced Mini-Water Heating System

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanie N. Abdelmessih ◽  
Siddiq S. Mohammed
Keyword(s):  
Solar Energy ◽  
Forced Convection ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Heating System ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Water Heating ◽  
Solar Water Heating ◽  
Solar Water ◽  
Water Heaters ◽  
Solar Water Heating System

Solar power is a clean source of energy, i.e. it does not generate carbon dioxide or other air pollutants. In 2017, solar power produced only 0.6 percent of the energy used in the United States, according to the Energy Information Administration. Consequently, more solar energy should be implemented, such as in solar water heaters. This research took place in Riverside, Southern California where there is an abundance of solar energy. In house uniquely designed and assembled solar tubes were used in designing a mini solar water heating system. The mini solar water heating system was set to operate under either natural or forced convection. The results of running the system under forced convection then under natural convection conditions are reported and discussed in the article. In addition, comparison of using two different solar water storage systems are reported: the first was water; the second storage medium was a combination of water and gravel. Since water heaters are extensively used for residential purposes, this research mimicked the inefficiencies in residential use and is compared with ideal operating conditions. The performance of the different cases studied is evaluated.

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