Short communication simple transient thermal model for solar colector/storage water heaters

This note presents a simple transient model for predicting the thermal performance of some novel solar water heaters which combine both collection and storage of solar energy. These heaters consist of either (i) an insulated rectangular tank whose top surface is blackened and suitably glazed, or (ii) an insulated open shallow tank with black bottom/inner sides and a top glass cover (shallow solar pond). the heaters are adequately covered with an insulation during the night to reduce the heat losses. the proposed model is based on different characteristic equations during sunshine and off-sunshine hours. It is seen that the model predicts the water temperature in close agreement with the experimental observations and earlier theoretical investigations.     

Comparative performance investigation of integrated collector‐storage solar water heaters with various heat loss reduction strategies

A detailed comparative assessment is reported on the thermal performance of integrated collector‐storage (ICS) solar water heaters with various strategies for reducing top heat losses. The objective of this investigation is to assess and compare heat loss reduction strategies. The shape of ICS solar water heater considered in present investigation is rectangular. The thermal performance of the solar water heater is evaluated and analyzed for the following cases: (1) single glass cover without night insulation; (2) single glass cover with night insulation; (3) double glass cover without night insulation; (4) transparent insulation with single glass cover; and (5) insulating baffle plate with single glass cover. Energy balances are developed for each case and solved using a finite difference technique. The numerical assessment of the system performance is performed for a typical July day in Toronto. Each strategy is observed to be beneficial, reducing top heat losses, and improving system performance. The greatest performance enhancements are observed for the water heater with a single glass cover and night insulation and for the system with a double glass cover and without night insulation. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparative study of transparent insulation materials cover systems for integrated-collector-storage solar water heaters

The thermal performance of transparently insulated integrated-collector-storage solar water heaters is investigated theoretically as well as experimentally for a comparative study of cover systems having transparent insulation materials devices placed between the top glazing and the absorber. The data on solar transmittance, heat loss reduction characteristics and solar collector-storage efficiencies of various configurations is generated for the system performance comparisons. These hot water systems exhibit average (diurnal basis) solar collection and storage efficiencies in the range of 20–40% at a collection temperature of 40–50°C. The performance of water heaters with cover system having absorber-perpendicular configuration of TIM excel over absorber-parallel TIM covers. The effect of variation in the temperature of heat collected and cost of cover systems on the performance comparisons is also discussed.     

Transient behaviour of collector/storage solar water heaters for generalised demand patterns

This communication presents a simple transient model for predicting the thermal performance of collector/storage solar water heaters for generalised demand patterns. These heaters consist of either (i) an insulated rectangular metallic tank whose top surface is blackened and suitably glazed (i.e. a built-in storage solar water heater) or (ii) an insulated open shallow tank with black bottom.inner sides and a glass plate at the surface in contact with the water (i.e. a shallow solar pond water heater). The time dependence of the water temperature for the withdrawal of hot water from the system at constant flow rates constantly or intermittently has been explicitly evaluated. Numerical results for the operation of the system in industrial and community service applications are discussed.     

Effect of absorption of solar radiation in glass-cover(s) on heat transfer coefficients in upward heat flow in single and double glazed flat-plate collectors

Absorption of solar radiation in the glass cover(s) of a flat plate solar collector increases the temperature of cover(s) and hence changes the values of convective and radiative heat transfer coefficients. The governing equations for the case of single as well as double glazed collector have been solved for inner and outer surface temperatures of glass cover(s) with/without including the effect of absorption of solar radiation in the glass cover(s), with appropriate boundary conditions. The effects of absorption of solar radiation on inner and outer surface temperatures and consequently on convective and radiative heat transfer coefficients have been studied over a wide range of the independent variables. The values of glass cover temperatures obtained from numerical solutions of heat balance equations with and without including the effect of absorption of solar radiation in the glass cover(s) are compared. For a single glazed collector the increase in glass cover temperature due to absorption of solar radiation could be as high as 6°. The increase in temperatures of first and second glass covers of a double glazed collector could be as high as 14° and 11°, respectively. The effect on the convective heat transfer coefficient between the absorber plate and the first glass cover is substantial. The difference in the values of the convective heat transfer coefficients between the absorber plate and the first glass cover (h_cp1) of a double glazed collector for the two cases: (i) including the effect of absorption and (ii) neglecting the effect of absorption in glass cover, could be as high as 49%. Correlations for computing the temperatures of inner and outer surfaces of the glass cover(s) of single and double glazed flat plate collectors are developed. The relations developed enable incorporation of the effect of absorption of solar radiation in glass cover(s) in the relations for inner and outer surface temperatures in a simple manner. By making use of the relations developed for inner and outer surface temperatures of glass cover(s) the convective and radiative heat transfer coefficients can be calculated so close to those obtained by making use of surface temperatures of glass cover(s) obtained by numerical solutions of heat balance equations that numerical solutions of heat balance equations are not required.     

Prospects for integrated storage collector systems in central Europe

The concept of an improved integrated storage collector is evaluated for Central European temperature and radiation conditions where integrated storage collector systems have so far not been used. The system studied works without a heat exchanger loop because care is being taken to prevent freezing. This is accomplished by a sufficiently large volume of water to provide inertia plus the use of high quality transparent insulation materials for the front cover. This extremely simple system is modelled using actual weather data for a year with exceedingly low temperatures. The conditions under which freezing is excluded are determined and the optimized system is evaluated for the entire year regarding solar fraction for a four person household and conversion efficiency. Also evaluated are different types of auxiliary heaters: Solar fraction ranges from 55.6 to 41.0% and efficiency from 35 to 26% for a 4 m² integrated storage collector. This is compared with other collector systems. It is found that the ISC is superior to active flat plate systems and thermosyphon systems. It is not as efficient as a very good system based on vacuum collectors.     

CPC type integrated collector storage systems

Integrated collector storage (ICS) solar water heaters with stationary compound parabolic concentrating (CPC) reflectors are designed and test results are presented. The systems consist of single and double cylindrical horizontal tanks properly placed in truncated symmetric and asymmetric CPC reflector troughs. The suggested designs aim to achieve low cost systems with improved performance by the reduction of their thermal losses and the increase of water temperature rise by using the non-uniform distribution of solar radiation on the absorber surface. Four experimental models were constructed and tested outdoors to determine their mean daily efficiency and thermal losses during the night. Test results showed that asymmetric CPC reflectors contribute to lower thermal losses and the two connected in series cylindrical storage tanks result in effective water temperature stratification. The system with the single cylindrical storage tank and the symmetric CPC reflector performs satisfactorily during the day as well as during the night and regarding its simpler design it could be considered cost effective among the studied ICS systems. A typical thermosiphonic system with flat plate collector was tested for performance comparison, by which the improved daily efficiency of ICS systems and also their moderate water storage heat preservation during the night were confirmed.     

A low cost collector-cum-storage type solar water heater

A low cost collector-cum-storage type solar water heater has been developed. The cost of the heater is reduced by replacing window glass cover with 0.2 mm thick PVC film to avoid glass breakage in transportation and maintenance. In this paper the performances of solar water heaters having double glazing of PVC and glass have been compared. It was found that their performances are similar. Moreover, by providing an insulating cover in the night, the water remains warm till next morning for taking a bath etc. in the early hours when there is no sunshine.     

蓄能材料PCM-S自动灌装机的研制

介绍相变蓄热材料和蓄换热装置,分析相变蓄热材料的灌装要求。从温度控制、压力控制、惰性气体保护等方面综合考虑,研制了蓄热体自动灌装系统,解决了相变蓄热材料灌装过程中的凝固、变性等问题,实现了蓄热材料的定量灌装。经太阳能热水器的放水试验验证:带蓄热体的太阳能热水器输出热水量比无蓄热体的多约20%。     

Dimensioning, thermal analysis and experimental heat loss coefficients of an adsorptive solar icemaker

The dimensioning, a thermal parameters analysis and the experimental heat loss coefficients of an adsorptive solar refrigerator prototype used for ice production are presented. The solar icemaker operates in an intermittent cycle, i.e. without recovering heat. It uses the activated carbon–methanol pair whose basic components are an adsorber coupled to a static solar collector, a condenser and an evaporator. Some innovations were considered, especially those brought about by French researchers, in which the adsorber was always box-shaped with extended surfaces, and air condensers were used. For the present system, the adsorber is bi-facially irradiated and covered with transparent insulation material (TIM), the geometric configuration of the main components is multi-tubular, and a water condenser is used. TIM polycarbonate covers are used on the top and bottom of the adsorber. The components of the prototype were dimensioned after the results from numerical simulations using meteorological data valid for the hottest six months in João Pessoa (7°8′S, 34°50′WG), whose climate is typically hot and humid. The machine was designed to produce up to 10 kg of ice/day per square meter of solar collection surface. Analyses of the thermal parameters influence on the ice production as well as parameters for dimensioning each component of the machine are presented. The overall heat loss coefficient by the top and the bottom of the adsorber–solar collector component are experimentally evaluated. The tests were performed using an incandescent lamp panel disposed on a 1 m² surface, totalizing a thermal power of 3600 W. The results show a good efficiency of the TIM covers, achieving overall heat loss coefficient values between 0.54 and 1.90 W m⁻² K⁻¹.     

Latent heat storage applied to horticulture

A new concept of solar heat storage applied to horticulture has been tested through a full heating season in a professional greenhouse. This experiment is run in a 500 m² multi-span, single-glazed greenhouse of traditional geometry devoted to rose production. The solar heat available inside the greenhouse is transferred and stored by recycling the air through an underground network of flat heat exchangers filled with a phase change material. In an attempt to reach quasi autonomy in a mild climate, the glass is doubled on the inside with an insulating polyethylene Air-Cap (R) film.The solar greenhouse compartment is compared with a traditional greenhouse compartment of identical geometry bearing the same plantation. The cover of this control compartment is single glazed. Thermal and cultural performances were analysed from December 1979 to April 1980. The solar compartment achieved 80 per cent savings in propane gaz, compared with the control compartment run at the same temperature. Compared with a control compartment doubled with Air-Cap polyethylene, the savings would reduce to 60 per cent. The electrical consumption of the fans of the solar system amount to less than 10 per cent of the basic heating loads.The solar prototype cost twice as much as the control compartment which compares favorably with other solar prototypes known at this time.     

INVESTIGATIONS OF FLAT PLATE COLLECTORS USING TRANSPARENT INSULATION MATERIALS

Theoretical and experimental investigations have been carried out on a flat-plat collector using covers employing Transparent Insulation Material (TIM). It has been found that for a minimum front heat loss coefficient an air gap of 20?mm between the plate and the TIM and 15?mm between the TIM and the outer cover should be used. The collector performance indicates that there is no advantage in using a TIM for domestic hot water heating, but that it could usefully be employed for medium temperature applications, i. e. aboye 80°C. A value of U/rη₀=3.53 W/m²K has been achieved for the flat-plate collector with 100 mm TIM encapsulated between two Teflon films and an outer Tedlar cover.     

ICS solar systems with two water tanks

Integrated collector storage (ICS) systems are compact solar water heaters, simple in construction, installation and operation. They are cheaper than flat plate thermosiphonic units, but their higher thermal losses make them suitable mainly for application in locations with favourable weather conditions. Aiming to the achievement of low system height and satisfactory water temperature stratification, new types of ICS systems with two horizontal cylindrical storage tanks, properly mounted in stationary CPC reflector troughs are suggested. The non-uniform distribution of solar radiation on the two absorbing surfaces is combined with the seasonal sun elevation, resulting to effective water heating. In addition, the inverted absorber concept design can be applied to ICS systems with two storage tanks. In this paper, we present the design and performance of double tank ICS solar systems, which are based on the combination of symmetric and asymmetric CPC reflectors with water storage tanks. The analytical equations of the collector geometry of all models are calculated with respect to the radius of the cylindrical water storage tank and the reflector rim angles. Experimental results for the variation of the water temperature inside storage tanks, the mean daily efficiency and the coefficient of thermal losses during night are given for all experimental models. The tests were performed without water draining and the results show that the double tank ICS systems are efficient in water temperature rise during day and satisfactory preservation of the hot water temperature during night, with the upper storage tank being more effective in performance in most of the studied models.     

Exergy analysis of domestic-scale solar water heaters

Solar water heater is the most popular means of solar energy utilization because of technological feasibility and economic attraction compared with other kinds of solar energy utilization. Earlier assessments of domestic-scale solar water heaters were based on the first thermodynamic law. However, this kind of assessment cannot perfectly describe the performance of solar water heaters, since the essence of energy utilization is to extract available energy as much as possible. So, it is necessary to evaluate domestic-scale solar water heaters based on the second thermodynamic law.No matter the technology process, from the property of energy utilization perspective, we can separate the technology process into three intimately related sub-procedures, namely conversion procedure, utilization procedure, and recycling procedure. An energy analysis entitled ‘Three Procedure Theory’ can be conveniently conducted as presented by Professor Hua Ben. Compared with other theories of energy analysis, three procedure theory exhibits great advantages. The utilization procedure puts forth requirement for the design of parameters in conversion procedure and sets up limits in the consideration of recycling procedure. Of course, under specific conditions, the utilization procedure also receives feedback from other procedures. Three procedure theory furnishes us a good platform to perform energy analysis.The study in this paper is based on three procedure theory. Exergy analysis is conducted with the aim of providing some methods to save cost and keep the efficiency of domestic-scale solar water heater to desired extent and at the same time figuring out related exergy losses. From this survey, it is shown that for an ordinary thermally insulated domestic-scale solar water heater, D_ju (exergy losses due to imperfectly thermal insulation in collector) and D_jR (exergy losses due to imperfectly thermal insulation in storage barrel) cannot be avoided. D_ku (exergy losses due to irreversibility in collector) is mainly caused by irreversibility of heat transfer and D_kR (exergy losses due to irreversibility in storage barrel) is dominated by the mixing of water at different temperature. D_ku acts as the driving force for the system while D_kR is of little contribution. A good design of storage barrel with little D_kR will go a long way in improving exergy efficiency. An equation for computing D_kR is presented. For the collector, which is the core of the domestic-scale solar water heater, a judicious choice of width of plate W and layer number of cover is necessary. We define collector exergy efficiency η_xc to be η_xc=E_xo/E_xu. The relation between collector exergy efficiency and width of plate together with layer number of cover is also analysed.     

Physics of shallow solar pond water heater

This communication presents a theoretical analysis of a shallow solar pond water heater, which is in good agreement with the experiments of Kudish and Wolf (1979) and the authors. the heater consists of an insulated metallic rectangular tank with black bottom and sides and a transparent cover at the top. After the collection of solar energy during sunshine hours the heater stores a substantial amount of heat because the top glass cover is covered by an adequate insulation in the night. Analytical expressions for the transient rise of temperature of water in the tank have been derived taking into account the appropriate heat transfer processes during day and night. These experimental results as well as those of Kudish and Wolf (1979) have been found to be in good agreement with the theory presented in this paper. the effects of one more glass cover on the top, and of the thickness of the bottom and side insulation and tank depth on the water temperature have also been studied.     

Numerically assisted analysis of flat and corrugated plate solar collectors thermal performances

The paper presents the results of experimentally supported numerical analysis performed in order to investigate the possibilities to improve the thermal efficiency of plate solar collectors. Different numerical models were developed in order to asses the influence of design and operating parameters such as bond conductance between absorber plate and tube, tube diameter, glass cover to absorber plate distance, optical properties of absorber and flow rate on thermal efficiency of collectors. Following the results, two designs of collector without tubes, with parallel flat and corrugated absorber plates of chevron type, is further considered and shown to be an effective way to increase the thermal efficiency of solar energy conversion beyond that of commercial glazed and unglazed solar water heaters. Based on the results, the guidelines for design of a new collector prototype consisting of chevron type corrugated plates normally used in plate heat exchangers are provided.     

CFD analysis of the thermal losses on the upper part of a flat solar collector

To investigate the reduction of heat losses on the upper part of a flat solar collector, a two‐dimensional study was carried out by CFD analysis using Fluent. For this purpose, the heat transfer behavior in the air gap over a wide range of thicknesses of the latter (1‐20 mm) and the addition of a second glass cover fixed at midheight of the air gap spacing have been investigated. For small thicknesses of the air gap (1‐8 mm), the heat transfer is essentially conductive. An increase in the thickness leads to the intensification of the natural convection which induces high thermal losses. The simulation results have shown that the addition of a second cover glazing leads to the weakening of the natural convection and thus to an average enhancement of the solar collector temperature over the range of thicknesses studied of approximately 17%. The overall thermal losses coefficient is then reduced by an average of 26% compared with the single‐glazed solar collector. They have also shown that the thickness of the air gaps resulting in the minimum overall heat losses is 8 mm and that the thickness of the second glass cover has no significant effect on these results. In addition, this study has highlighted the importance of taking into account the radiation heat transfer in establishing the thermal balance of a flat solar collector. Indeed, this consideration leads to an average decrease of the absorber temperature of about 30%.     

Performance of hot water systems with tanks in series

It is usual to extract hot water from a storage tank, using displacement by cold water from the mains; this causes the temperature of the outgoing hot water to decrease with time. In order to alleviate this undesirable feature a number of tanks in series may be employed. In this communication the effect of number of tanks on the outlet temperature of hot water, has been analytically investigated; it has been assumed that the only heat exchange, taking place in the tanks is on account of flow of water. The considerations in this analysis are similar to those made by Rabinovich and Fert [1] and Rabinovich [2], for a system of tanks in a solar collector loop without any outflow of water. Thus the analysis is best applicable when hot water is extracted at a fast rate, so that the gain or loss of heat by other mechanisms is negligible, compared to that due to the flow of water. The analysis should also be applicable to shallow solar ponds, Sodha et al. [3], and built in storage water heaters, Sodha et al. [4].     

Solar ICS systems with two cylindrical storage tanks

Two types of ICS solar water heaters designed, constructed and tested. The systems consist of two cylindrical storage tanks, which are connected in series and are horizontally incorporated in a stationary asymmetric CPC type mirror. The efficient operation of the system is due to the thermal losses suppression of the two inverted cylindrical surfaces and the effective use of the two tanks during sunshine period. Low cost and durable materials are used to construct the systems. The mean daily efficiency and the thermal performance of the hot water storage during night are calculated from outdoor experimental data. The results show that the proposed ICS systems are efficient and suitable for practical use as DHW systems.     

Low-cost solar heating of community pools using pool covers

Enormous energy savings may be obtained by incorporating solar pool blankets on community-size heated swimming pools. Installation of a removable, practicable cover can eliminate evaporation, which is by far the biggest heat loss factor. The cover also has a considerable effect in reducing convective heat losses. The large volume of water in swimming pools provides built-in thermal storage. The ability of the store to maintain standard comfort water temperatures over lengthy periods in various seasons is shown using the results of comparative thermal testing with two scaled systems, each of 4.71 m³ capacity and the applicability of these results to installed systems is reviewed.