scholarly journals What contribution does the installation of solar water heaters make towards the alleviation of energy poverty in South Africa?

2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 27-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holle Linnea Wlokas
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Seasonal Variability ◽  
Solar Water Heater ◽  
Water Heater ◽  
Energy Poverty ◽  
Solar Water ◽  
Water Heaters ◽  
Household Vulnerability ◽  
Solar Water Heaters

The South African government has publicized plans to install one million solar water heaters in households throughout South Africa by the year 2014, with the goals of reducing strain on existing electricity resources, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, creating employment and alleviating poverty. This paper examines two existing solar water heater installation projects with the aim of investigating the social contribution of the installation of solar water heaters in low-income households in South Africa. The Sustainable Urban Livelihoods approach (SULA) was adjusted to provide an analytical framework for the development of suitable indicators of social change in the context of renewable energies and energy poverty. Increases in household capital and the reduction of household vulnerability to shocks, stressors and seasonal variability as the result of solar water heater installation were investigated in projects in low-income housing developments in the cities of Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, South Africa.Data collected from paired household surveys (before and after installation) in over 600 households and qualitative information (Most Significant Change stories) show that the provision of a constant, cheap source of heated water contributed positively to the alleviation of energy poverty. Household capitals (categorised as Human, Social, Financial, Physical, Natural and Gender capital), including aspects such as health benefits and time and financial savings, were all positively effected by the installation of solar water heaters. In addition, improved energy security greatly reduced household vulnerability to shocks, stressors and seasonal variability. Comparison between the two projects revealed that the geographical setting (climatic conditions in particular), and the approach and strategies adopted by the implementers of the solar water heater installation project, greatly determine the extent to which benefits to the households are realised.

Thermal Properties Study of a Solar Water Heater Tank with a Mantle Exchanger

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mourad Chikhi ◽  
Rabah Sellami ◽  
Nachida Kasbadji Merzouk
Keyword(s):  
Heat Exchanger ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Supply And Demand ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Solar Water Heater ◽  
Water Heater ◽  
Solar Water ◽  
Incentive Programs ◽  
Water Heaters ◽  
Solar Water Heaters

The development and use of renewable energy sources and technologies are becoming vital for the management of energy supply and demand. For development solar water heaters, the incentive programs are supported by the Algerian government to generalize the using of this kind of energy especially in Sahara. This study is a part of program to develop a new solar water heater in UDES (Algeria). In this research work, the thermal performance of a solar water heater with a mantle heat exchanger is investigated numerically using Comsol Multyphysics software. The objective is to investigate the influence of the mantle heat exchanger thickness on the performance of solar water heaters. The results show, for 160 liters capacity of the solar water heaters tank, the 13mm of the heat exchanger thickness leads to improve the efficiency of the solar water heater.

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.

Characteristic Heat Removal Efficiency for Thermosyphon Solar Water Heaters During the System Application Phase

2004 ◽  
Vol 126 (3) ◽  
pp. 950-956 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Chang
Keyword(s):  
Removal Efficiency ◽  
Empirical Model ◽  
System Application ◽  
Heat Removal ◽  
Solar Water Heater ◽  
Water Heater ◽  
Solar Water ◽  
Water Heaters ◽  
Heat Removal Efficiency ◽  
Solar Water Heaters

The overall performance rating of a thermosyphon solar water heater should take into consideration its heat removal efficiency during the system application phase. This study employs a precise on-line operation to first identify physical heat removal patterns of a thermosyphon solar water heater, and then develops an empirical model for deriving its characteristic heat removal efficiency. This empirical model is in the form of a logarithmic curve, and has a high data correlation coefficient of 0.889 to 0.967. Based upon the empirical model, this study defines a characteristic heat removal efficiency parameter for thermosyphon solar water heaters. Finally, this study establishes a storage tank design method which enables the characteristic heat removal efficiency of the complete system to be optimized.

Dissemination of solar water heaters in South Africa

2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 2-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keh-Chin Chang ◽  
Wei-Min Lin ◽  
Greg Ross ◽  
Kung-Ming Chung
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Solar Water ◽  
Market Expansion ◽  
Water Heaters ◽  
Global Concern ◽  
The Government ◽  
Solar Water Heaters ◽  
Widespread Dissemination

Global concern over a looming energy crisis, water scarcity and man-made climate change are driving a huge demand for clean technologies, which focus on preserving the earth’s resources. In South Africa, the economy is very energy-intensive with coal being the main national energy supply. In view of the growing depletion of fossil fuel, it is important for South Africa to adopt a more sustainable energy mix. This study examines the potential for widespread dissemination of solar water heaters (SWHs) in South Africa. Barriers and constraints to market expansion are analyzed to determine strategies for overcoming these barriers. It is found that payback period of a SWH is shorter than the life-span of the system itself, indicating that SWHs are economically viable even with low production cost of electricity and thus represent a profitable investment proposition for end users, manufacturers and distributors. However, the subsidy programs offered by the government of South Africa may not be sufficient to facilitate diffusion. This is attributed to the high initial capital cost of the system and low affordability of the majority of the South Africa population with low income. Alternative financing mechanisms are required.

Evacuated Tube Solar Collectors Integrated With Phase Change Materials and Silicone Oil

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexios Papadimitratos ◽  
Sarvenaz Sobhansarbandi ◽  
Vladimir Pozdin ◽  
Anvar Zakhidov ◽  
Fatemeh Hassanipour
Keyword(s):  
Phase Change ◽  
Solar Collector ◽  
Phase Change Materials ◽  
Silicone Oil ◽  
Solar Water Heater ◽  
Water Heater ◽  
Solar Water ◽  
Water Heaters ◽  
Evacuated Tubes ◽  
Solar Water Heaters

This paper presents a novel method of integrating Phase Change Materials (PCMs) and Silicone oil within the Evacuated solar Tube Collectors (ETCs) for application in Solar Water Heaters (SWHs). In this method, heat pipe is immersed inside the phase change material, where heat is effectively accumulated and stored for an extended period of time due to thermal insulation of evacuated tubes. The proposed solar collector utilizes two distinct phase change materials (dual-PCM), namely Tritriacontane paraffin and Erythritol, with melting temperature 72°C and 118°C respectively. The integration of Silicone oil for uniform melting of the PCMs, utilizes the convective heat transfer inside the evacuated tubes, as this liquid polymerized material is well known for its temperature-stability and an excellent heat transfer medium. The operation of solar water heater with the proposed solar collector is investigated during both normal and stagnation (on-demand) operation. The feasibility of this technology is tested via small scale and large scale commercial solar water heaters. Beyond the improved functionality for solar water heater systems, the results from this study show show efficiency improvement of 26% for the normal operation and 66% for the stagnation mode compared with standard solar water heaters that lack phase change materials and silicone oil. The benefit of this method includes improved functionality by delayed release of heat, thus providing hot water during the hours of high demand or when solar intensity is insufficient such in a cloudy day and during night time.

An analysis of the economic viability and greenhouse gas emissions reductions resulting from the use of solar water heaters in a typical Brazilian dwelling

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Leandra Altoé ◽  
Delly Oliveira Filho ◽  
Joyce Correna Carlo ◽  
Paulo Marcos Barros Monteiro ◽  
Isabella Theresa Almeida Martins
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Economic Viability ◽  
Solar Water Heater ◽  
Water Heater ◽  
Emissions Reductions ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
Solar Water ◽  
Water Heaters ◽  
Solar Water Heaters

Several countries have reduced their energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions levels in buildings by promulgating laws, formulating standards and instituting certification programs. In this context, Brazil launched an energy efficiency certification for buildings in 2009. This study aimed to analyze the economic viability and potential greenhouse gas emissions reductions associated with the use of solar water heaters in a typical Brazilian dwelling. Solar thermal systems were simulated at different energy efficiency levels and shower water flow rates. It was found that the use of solar water heater, as compared with electric heater without a hot water storage, presented internal return rate of approximately 26% per year, simple payback around 4.5 years; net present value about US$ 2,194.00 and cost of conserved energy around US$ 0.12 kWh-1. This study also verified that solar water heater use in a typical Brazilian dwelling reduced emissions compared with electric and gas heating by approximately 95 and 256 kgCO2equivalentyear-1, respectively. The total reduction potential of greenhouse gas emissions by use solar water heaters for the Brazilian residential sector was substantial, around 5.75 million tCO2equivalentyear-1.

Experimental Study on the Heat Exchanger Performance of Parabolic Trough Solar Water Heater

2014 ◽  
Vol 1008-1009 ◽  
pp. 58-62
Author(s):  
Bin Yang ◽  
Wei Wang ◽  
De Gong Zuo
Keyword(s):  
Solar Water Heater ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Water Heater ◽  
Average Efficiency ◽  
Solar Water ◽  
Daily Average ◽  
Water Heaters ◽  
Solar Energy Flux ◽  
Energy Flux Density ◽  
Solar Water Heaters

This paper introduces a new type of solar water heater——Parabolic trough solar water heater,the biggest feature of the solar water heater is that the parabolic trough reflector can reflect light onto the tube with reflective principles,which may lead to lots of advantages,such as more strong solar energy flux density,fewer losses,fewer tubes used.In a word,the cost is reduced while the performance is guaranteed.On this basis,we built a collector area of about 1.54 square meters of parabolic trough solar water heaters bench and made experiments to test.Instantaneous average efficiency and daily average efficiency of the water heater can be calculated.Efficiency curve can also be generated.Meanwhile we measured the heat loss coefficient of the water heater.The results showed that the daily average efficiency of the parabolic trough concentrating solar collector is between 30% and 50%,while at higher temperatures the collector showed its good insulation properties.

Experimental Characterization of an Aluminum-Based Minichannel Solar Water Heater

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerardo Diaz
Keyword(s):  
Operating Costs ◽  
Solar Water Heater ◽  
Water Heater ◽  
Solar Water ◽  
Water Heaters ◽  
Residential And Commercial Sectors ◽  
Solar Water Heaters ◽  
The University ◽  
Aluminum Base

Water heating accounts for a significant fraction of the energy consumption in the residential and commercial sectors. A wide variety of water heater configurations are available some of which have higher operating costs than others. The use of solar water heaters is becoming more widespread in many countries usually due to the low operating costs associated with the technology. This paper describes the first implementation of an aluminum-base minichannel solar water heater currently being tested at the University of California Merced.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document