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Analysis and performance of a low-cost solar heater

Author

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  • Siqueira, D.A.
  • Vieira, L.G.M.
  • Damasceno, J.J.R.

Abstract

One of the alternatives to reduce the consumption of electricity for heating water is by popularizing the use of solar energy. This work contributes with studies on a Low-Cost Solar Heater (LCSH), a new concept of solar water heater made entirely of polymeric materials, which requires a relatively low investment and is user-assembled. The solar collector, which absorbs solar energy and transfers it to water in the form of heat, is composed of uncovered flat panels of rigid PVC. The storage tank that holds the water heated during the day is made of polyethylene coated with polystyrene. The results of the LCSH were compared with those of a conventional solar heater composed of a glass-covered copper collector and a stainless steel storage tank. The efficiency of the systems was evaluated by measuring the incident solar radiation and water temperature with the systems operating naturally (thermosiphon). The heat loss in the hot water storage tanks was measured to estimate the thermal performance of the solar heaters. Considering that the target temperature for the heated water is slightly above the ambient temperature, the results indicated that the LCSH showed a satisfactory global heat transfer coefficient for storage tanks and that it attained an excellent thermal performance, although it is not as efficient as the conventional heater.

Suggested Citation

  • Siqueira, D.A. & Vieira, L.G.M. & Damasceno, J.J.R., 2011. "Analysis and performance of a low-cost solar heater," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(9), pages 2538-2546.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:36:y:2011:i:9:p:2538-2546
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2011.02.019
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    Cited by:

    1. Filipović, P. & Dović, D. & Horvat, I. & Ranilović, B., 2023. "Evaluation of a novel polymer solar collector using numerical and experimental methods," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    2. Arun Uniyal & Yogesh K. Prajapati & Lalit Ranakoti & Prabhakar Bhandari & Tej Singh & Brijesh Gangil & Shubham Sharma & Viyat Varun Upadhyay & Sayed M. Eldin, 2022. "Recent Advancements in Evacuated Tube Solar Water Heaters: A Critical Review of the Integration of Phase Change Materials and Nanofluids with ETCs," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-25, November.
    3. Filipović, Petar & Dović, Damir & Ranilović, Borjan & Horvat, Ivan, 2019. "Numerical and experimental approach for evaluation of thermal performances of a polymer solar collector," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 127-139.
    4. Barbosa, Eloiny Guimarães & Araujo, Marcos Eduardo Viana de & Lopes, Roberto Precci & Martins, Marcio Arêdes & Moraes, Maria Joselma de & Barbosa, Elisa Guimarães & Falconí, Javier Hernán Heredia, 2020. "Exergetic, economic and environmental (3E) analysis of a low cost solar heater in different configurations," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 1096-1104.

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