Forced versus natural circulation solar water heaters: A comparative performance study

An experimental study has been carried out to compare the performance of natural and forced circulation domestic solar water heaters. Several measurments have been made for the two cases which included; the collector water inlet and outlet temperatures, the mass flow rate, the tank temperature, the ambient temperature and the solar insolation. The main parameters for the solar collector are calculated for the natural and forced circulation systems. These included; the top, back, and overall loss coefficients, the heat removal factor, the efficiency factor, the useful energy gain and the instantaneous efficiency. The comparison showed that the efficiency of the forced circulation system could be 35 to 80% higher.     

Parametric study of the overall performance of a solar hot water system

The effect of varying individual parameters on the overall performance and feasibility of a solar hot water system has been investigated by a mathematic model which employs the concept of a decay constant and feasibility factor. TRNSYS results were used as inputs to apply the model. Parameters investigated include emittance of the collector plate, collector plate absorptance, transmittance absorptance product, storage tank set temperature, mass flow rate, load, and ratio of tank volume to collector area. It was found that the model is a useful tool for solar system design. Specific examples are detailed for illustration purposes.     

Experimental investigation and theoretical analysis of the solar adsorption cooling system in a green building

A solar adsorption cooling system was constructed in the green building of Shanghai Institute of Building Science. The system consisted of evacuated tube solar collector arrays of area 150 m², two adsorption chillers with nominal cooling capacity of 8.5 kW for each and a hot water storage tank of 2.5 m³ in volume. A mathematical model of the system was established. According to experimental results under typical weather condition of Shanghai, the average cooling capacity of the system was 15.3 kW during continuous operation for 8 h. The theoretical analysis of the system was verified and found to agree well with the experimental results. The performance analysis showed that solar radiant intensity had a more distinct influence on the performance of solar adsorption cooling system as compared with ambient temperature. It was observed that the cooling capacity increased with the increase of solar collector area, whereas, solar collecting efficiency varied quite contrary. With the increase of water tank volume, cooling capacity decreased, while, the solar collecting efficiency increased. The system performances can be enhanced by increasing the height-to-diameter ratio of water tank. Additionally, it was observed that solar collecting efficiency decreased with the increase of the initial temperature of water in the tank; however, cooling capacity varied on the contrary. Also can be seen is that optimum nondimensional mass flow rate is 0.7 when the specific mass flow rate exceeds 0.012 kg/m² s.     

Thermal Modelling of a Natural Convection Solar Water Heating System with a Thermal Trap Collector

A mathematical model has been developed to study the performance of a solar water heating system with a thermal trap flat plate collector and in which the flow of water between the collector and the storage tank is maintained by natural convection. An expression has also been developed for the mass flow rate in terms of known parameters. The model yields exact expressions for the temperature of water in the storage tank as a function of time in terms of collector's parameters and the solar insolation. Numerical calculations have been performed to compare the performance of the hot water heating system with a thermal trap collector with the one with an ordinary flat plate collector.     

Experimental investigation of a domestic solar water heater with solar collector coupled phase-change energy storage

Phase change materials (PCMs) have good properties such as high thermal capacity and constant phase change temperature. Their potential use in solar energy storage is promising. Tests of exposure and constant flow rate are performed to investigate the thermal performance of a domestic solar water heater with solar collector coupled phase-change energy storage (DSWHSCPHES). Due to the low thermal conductivity and high viscosity of PCM, heat transfer in the PCM module is repressed. The thermal performance of the DSWHSCPHES under exposure is inferior to that of traditional water-in-glass evacuated tube solar water heaters (TWGETSWH) with an identical collector area. DSWHSCPHES also performs more efficiently with a constant flow rate than under the condition of exposure. Radiation and initial water temperature have impacts on system performance; with the increase of proportion of diffuse to global radiation and/or initial water temperature, system performance deteriorates and vice versa.     

Simulation of the long term performance of thermosyphon solar water heaters

A finite element simulation model for predicting the long term performance of thermosyphon solar water heaters is presented, and the simulation results are compared with the measured performance of six systems supplying typical domestic hot water loads. To obtain consistent simulation results the storage tank temperature stratification had to be accurately simulated using 20 nodes with 5 min time steps for vertical tanks and 30 nodes with 2 min time steps for horizontal tanks. A distributed return model for the mixing of the collector return flow in the tank was also found to be necessary to accurately model tank temperature stratification. The performance of single tank thermosyphon systems is shown to improve as the flow through the collector is reduced to approximately 1 tank volume per day and thermosyphon systems are shown to be slightly more efficient than equivalent pumped circulation systems.     

强制循环式太阳热水系统动态特性分析

基于集热器，水箱及换热器等部件热,地晴天无负荷条件下运行的强制循环式太阳能热水系统进行数值模拟，分析了贮热水箱内温度分层，水量，高径比和水流率等对瞬时集热效率和系统日效率的影响。特别探讨了带热交换器的复合回路系统在两种介质热容流率比值改变时，系统热性能变化规律。对设计和控制运行强制循环式太阳热水系统提出了一些建议。     

Performance study of thermosyphonic circulation solar water heaters using packed bed collectors

In the present investigation the performance behaviour of thermosyphonic circulation solar water heaters using packed bed collectors has been analysed. Iron chips, gravels and stones have been used as packing materials. Average tank water temperature, collector as well as system efficiency and mony pay-back for these packed bed solar water heaters are compared with those for solar water heater using a plane collector. Experimental results reveal that the performance of solar water heater improves appreciably by packing its collector with packing material. Among the packed-bed solar water heaters tested the iron chips packed-bed solar water heater gives the overall best performance.     

Analysis of natural circulation solar water heating systems

This paper presents an analysis of the performance of a solar water heating system with natural thermosyphon circulation between the collector and the storage tank. The analysis is based on the formulation by Ong except that provision for withdrawal of hot water from the tank (for domestic/ industrial use) has been made in the energy balance equation; further in contrast to the use of the finite difference method by Ong, explicit expressions have been obtained. The results of the present analysis (in the absence of withdrawal of hot water from the tank) are seen to be in better agreement with experiments than the corresponding results of Ong, obtained by use of the finite difference method.

Numerical results, corresponding to hot water retrieved from the storage tank, have been presented for two modes of hot water withdrawal viz. the constant flow rate and constant mean storage tank water temperature.     

无盖板渗透型太阳能空气集热器热性能的实验研究

无盖板渗透型太阳能空气集热器是一种易于实现建筑一体化的高效新风预热及干燥装置。为了掌握无盖板渗透型集热器在实际工况下的热性能,建造了集热面积为2.2 m2的太阳能空气加热系统实验台,并在2009年2月至2009年4月对其热性能进行了户外瞬态实验研究。实验结果表明出口空气温度随辐射强度的增加而升高,太阳辐射强度是影响集热器出口空气温度的最重要因素,而室外空气温度的影响极小。空气温升随风量的增加而减小,集热器热效率随风量的增加而增大。在三个测试日中集热器的平均热效率分别为58%、63%和72%,高于普通平板太阳能空气集热器。     

Optimal design of a forced circulation solar water heating system for a residential unit in cold climate using TRNSYS

An indirect forced circulation solar water heating systems using a flat-plate collector is modeled for domestic hot water requirements of a single-family residential unit in Montreal, Canada. All necessary design parameters are studied and the optimum values are determined using TRNSYS simulation program. The solar fraction of the entire system is used as the optimization parameter. Design parameters of both the system and the collector were optimized that include collector area, fluid type, collector mass flow rate, storage tank volume and height, heat exchanger effectiveness, size and length of connecting pipes, absorber plate material and thickness, number and size of the riser tubes, tube spacing, and the collector’s aspect ratio. The results show that by utilizing solar energy, the designed system could provide 83-97% and 30-62% of the hot water demands in summer and winter, respectively. It is also determined that even a locally made non-selective-coated collector can supply about 54% of the annual water heating energy requirement by solar energy.     

Performance investigation on a thermal energy storage integrated solar collector system using nanofluid

The effect of Fe nanofluid on the performance enhancement on solar water heater integrated with thermal energy storage system is investigated experimentally. A 0.5% wt fraction of Fe nanoparticle was synthesized with the mixture of water/propylene‐glycol base fluid. The experimental implementation utilized 40‐nm‐size Fe nanoparticle, 15 ° collector tilt angle, and 1.5 kg/min mass flow rate heat‐transfer fluid circulation. The system efficiency reached 59.5% and 50.5% for with and without nanofluid. The water tank temperature was increased by 13 °C during night mode. The average water tank temperature at night mode was 47.5 °C, while the average ambient temperature was 26 °C. The Fe nanofluid improved the system working duration during night mode by an average of 5 h. The techno‐economic analysis results showed a yearly estimated cost savings of 28.5% using the Fe nanofluids as heat transfer fluid. The embodied energy emission rate, collector size, and weight can be reduced by 9.5% using nanofluids. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The optimization of tank-volume-to-collector-area ratio for a thermosyphon solar water heater

Through the use of the TRNSYS simulation program, the performance of a domestic solar water heating system operating with natural circulation (thermosyphon) and a daily hot water load has been analysed. The effect of tank height on the annual solar fraction of the system has been investigated for different hot water load temperatures and storage tank volumes. Optimum values (values which maximize the annual solar fraction of the system) for storage tank height and volume are calculated for operating temperatures ranging from 50 to 80°C. The response of the system to the ratio of the storage tank volume to the collector area is investigated. The dependence of the solar fraction on tank height was observed to be more notable in the case of large tank volumes and high load temperatures. The results indicate the existence of an optimum value for the tank volume at a given tank height and a high load temperature. At lower temperatures, the solar fraction rises rapidly with tank volume to a nearly constant level. An optimum value of the storage-tank-volume-to-collector-area ratio was also observed at high load temperatures.     

熔盐储罐预热过程优化研究

基于CFD方法研究阶梯式预热过程中熔盐储罐温度分布和热应力分布,并分析温度端差和预热气体入口流量等参数对预热时间和罐体最大热应力的影响。结果表明：温度端差和质量流量各增加1倍时,预热时间分别缩短78.1%和61.5%,温度端差比质量流量对熔盐储罐预热过程的影响更显著。     

Measurement and simulation of flow rate in a water-in-glass evacuated tube solar water heater

This paper evaluates the characteristics of water-in-glass evacuated tube solar water heaters including assessment of the circulation rate through single ended tubes. A numerical model of the heat transfer and fluid flow inside a single-ended evacuated tube has been developed assuming no interaction between adjacent tubes in the collector array. Flow measurement using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) has been undertaken to validate the numerical model. The experimental rig consists of a single full-scale tube coupled to a storage tank. A non-dimensional correlation has been developed of the circulation rate through a single evacuated tube mounted at 45° inclination over a diffuse reflector. Simulation results show that the natural convection flow rate in the tube is high enough to disturb the tank’s stratification and that the tank temperature strongly affects the circulation flow rate through the tubes. Circumferential heat distribution was found to be an important parameter influencing the flow structure and circulation rate through the tube, hence a separate correlation needs to be developed if a concentrating reflector is incorporated into the collector.     

An experimental investigation into the performance of a domestic forced circulation solar water heater under varying operating conditions

An experimental investigation is carried out on a forced circulation solar water heater to assess its performance under various operating conditions. The system consisted of two identical collectors of total absorber area of 3.45 m² and a storage tank of 200 litre capacity. Experiments were carried out during clear days with and without system loading for two water mass flow rates through the collector; namely 0.1305 kg/s and 0.06525 kg/s. The system was operated without thermostat control and with thermostat control at maximum and minimum settings. The collector efficiency improved with system loading. The improvement was better with increased hot water withdrawal from the system.     

Performance study of forced circulation solar water heaters using packed-bed collectors

A performance study of forced circulation solar water heaters using packed-bed solar collectors is presented. Iron chips, gravel and stones have been used as packing materials. Thermal energy stored in the tank, system overall efficiency and pay-back capital for these solar water heaters are compared with those for solar water heaters using a plane collector. It is observed that the performance of the solar water heater is improved appreciably by packing its collector with packing material. A solar water heater using an iron chip, packed-bed collector shows the best performance.     

Refrigerant-charged integrated solar water heater

The performance of two R-11-charged integrated solar water heater collectors was investigated experimentally for forced and natural circulation water flows. The heat transfer from the refrigerant loop to the hot water storage tank took place through a condenser of novel design integrated within the collector frame. The effect of the condenser inclination on the system efficiency was remarkable for natural circulation water flow but had no significant effect for forced circulation flow. The difference in thermal response between the refrigerant and water loops caused buildup of stored energy in the condenser. This energy affected the buoyancy forces and generated flow pulsation that caused a harmonic-like variation of the system efficiency. This effect vanished with forced water circulation flow. The system efficiency varied between 20 and 50% depending on the solar insolation.     

Modelling the thermosiphonic solar water heater with draw-off

A model of the time-dependent behaviour of the solar water heating system with natural circulation is modified to include the effects of water draw-off. Through computer simulation, the model is used to study the influence of the draw-off starting temperature T_s and the draw-off rate m_d on the overall system efficiency. Hot water withdrawal is assumed continuous from the moment the tank mean temperature reaches T_s. The results presented show that efficiency increases as T_s is decreased and/or m_d is increased. However, the draw-off parameters should be optimized in relation to the collector area and the tank volume for the location considered.     

Experimental study of the performance of a solar thermal-photovoltaic integrated system

In this work a self-contained solar heating forced water cooling unit was selected and assembled. It consists of three flat-plate solar collectors, each of area 1.2 m², a.d.c. pump, a photovoltaic module and a storage tank. The electrical power produced by the photovoltaic module operates the d.c. pump, which circulates the cooling water through the solar collectors to transfer the heat to the storage tank. The electrical voltage and current, the water rate of flow, and water temperature at inlet and outlet of the collector were all measured. Solar irradiation, wind speed and ambient temperature were also measured. Daily distribution of electrical current, water mass rate of flow, module efficiency and collector efficiency were plotted in figures. Module efficiency, pump efficiency and collector efficiency were taken as dependent variables, while the solar irradiation, ambient temperature and time were the independent variables. Optimum values were graphically indicated and related to each other in a clear discussion. An economic study and comparison of three different systems were carried out: a common thermosyphon system; an a.c. pump circulating system; and this system, which is a d.c. pump circulating system. Results revealed that collector efficiency reached a daily average value of 47% due to d.c. pump installation powered by photovoltaic electric output.