Fabrication and testing of a low cost flat plate collector-cum-storage solar water heater
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Date
1990
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Department of Farm Power Machinery and Energy, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur
Abstract
The study was conducted with the objectives of developing and testing the Collector – cum storage type solar water heater to evaluate its performance. The collector – cum storage heater was consisted of a concrete tank with dimensions 150 x 70 x 10 cm and had a capacity of 100 litres of water. An absorber plate of size 152 x 72 cm was made of Aluminium sheet and was fixed into the tank. The front face of the absorber sheet was painted black to absorb maximum solar radiation. Glass cover was fixed at the top, leaving an optimum air gap of 40 mm. The heater was inclined to the latitude of Tavanur and was oriented to south for collecting maximum solar radiation.
The solar water heater was filled daily at 8 am with fresh water. The performance of the water heater was observed from 20th October 1989 to 26th January 1990. Optimum inclination of the heater was found to be 100 52’ 30”.
The water heater was found to attain a maximum outlet temperature of 520 C at 3 pm. Efficiency of the heater was calculated to be 51%. Solar intensity meter read a maximum solar flux of 1120 w/m2 at 12 O’clock in the month of October.
The heater can supply 100 litres of hot water at 50 – 520 C at a very reasonable cost of Rs. 777.5. The cost per unit of thermal energy obtained with this water heater is 8 paise per kwh. There is a remarkable break – through in its cost and performance as compared to a conventional natural circulation type solar water heaters.
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