DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A SOLAR WATER HEATER FOR DOMESTIC USE


DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A SOLAR WATER HEATER FOR DOMESTIC USE 

ABSTRACT

Producing a substitute to the use of an electric heater for producing steam, a health and environmentally friendly source of producing steam lead to the design and construction of solar heater for domestic use which can  generate steam of 0.5 kg at about 100oc 30 minutes, using parabolic trough collector.

The solar heater consists of two collectors in order to attain this desired temperature. The collector heats the water to a temperature of 100oc in a maximum of 15 minutes.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page                                        i

Approval Page                                    ii

Certification iii

Dedication                                        iv

Acknowledgement                                v

Abstract                                        vi

Table of Contents                                vii-ix

CHAPTER ONE

1.1Introduction                                1

1.2Solar Energy                                1-3

1.3Use of Solar Energy 3

1.4Principle of Application 3-4

1.5Storage of Solar Energy 4

1.6Environmental Impacts of Solar System 5-6

1.7Concept of Heater 6-7

1.8Steam Raising 7-8

1.9Solar Water Heater for Domestic use 8

1.10The Benefit of Solar Water Heater 8-9

1.11Working Principle of the Solar Water Heater 9-10

CHAPTER TWO

2.1Literature Review 11-13

2.2Solar Radiation and Collectors 14

2.3Solar Constant 14-16

2.4Solar Geometry16-18

2.5Measuring Solar Radiation 19

2.6Solar Collectors 19

2.7Efficiency of a Collector 19-20

2.8Types of Collector 20-25

2.9Parabolic Trough Concentration 25-26

2.10Problems Associated with Parabolic Trough Collector 26

2.11Composition of Collectors 27-28

CHAPTER THREE

3.0Objective of the Project 29

3.1Design of Solar Collector29

3.2Methodology 30

3.3Basic Geometry 30-31

3.4Design Specification for Solar Heater Collectors 31-32

3.5Optical Efficiency 32

3.6Energy Loss before Absorption 33-35

3.7Rim Angle Selection 35-39

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1Earth Sun Geometry Calculation 40-47

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0Materials Selection and Construction 48

5.1Materials Selection 48

5.2Construction Process 48-50

5.3Cost Analysis 50-51

5.4Description of Solar Heater Collector 52

5.5Test and problems Encountered 53

5.6Suggestion For Improvement 53-54

5.7Conclusion 54

5.8Recommendation 54-55

References 56-57

  LIST OF TABLE

Table  2.1     Monthly Variation Of Extraterrestrial Solar Radiation. 15-16                                           

Table 3.1 For Collectors Sizing Consideration                  36                         

Table 3.3 Cartesian Co-ordinate Of Parabolic Reflector             39      

Table 4.1 Annual  Movement Of The Sun                     46-47   

Table 5.1 Construction Process Of Solar Collectors                 50  

Table 5.2 Cost Analysis Table                             51       

LIST OF APPENDICES

1a.     Solar Constant.               

b.     Angle  Of The Sun's Declination and Latitude Of The Sub-solar Point Throughout The Year.         

2a.     Comfort Chart For  Still Air.

b.     Modified Comfort Chart.                                                  

c.    Variation Of Effective Temperature With Air Velocity.

CHAPTER ONE

1.1    INTRODUCTION

Flat plate collectors for solar water heat were population in Florida and southern California in the 1920s. Photo type Israeli solar water heater, the first commercial company to manufacture solar water heater due to abundance of sunlight is it used by 20% of the population by year 1967.

1.2    SOLAR ENERGY

Solar energy is the light which come in form of electromagnetic radiation. Electromagnetic radition is a wave like phenomenon that move energy across distance.

Solar energy is the most abundant continuing source of energy available to the human race. Solar energy is not being used as primary sources of fuel energy but a large research and development effort has being underway to develop economical systems to harness solar energy as a major source of energy particularly for the heating and cooling of buildings.

Solar has the following advantage

i)         It is very attractive

ii)      It is non polluting

iii)      It is non deflectable (not quickly use)

iv)      It is reliable and free.

On the other hand, solar energy has this disadvantage

It is not constant for terrestrial application.

Solar energy can be converted directly into other form of energy in their separate conversion process, they are: 

1)           THE HELIOTHERMAL PROCESS : This is absorption of solar radiation and conversion of the energy into thermal energy is the only solar conversion that has a theoretical conversion efficiency of 100%

2)           THE HELIOCHEMICAL PROCESS: This is the photosynthetic reaction. The reaction is the sources all biomass and fossil fuel.

3)           THE HELIOELECTRICAL PROCESS: This is the production of electricity by photovoltaic  or solar cells.

It is estimated that the rate at which solar energy arrives at the earth is about 1.72 x 10MW. The amount of solar energy incident on a horizontal surface range from 3.5 to 7kwh/m2/day. About 30% of the total amount is reflected to space, 47% is converted to low temperature heat and reradiated to space and 23% powers the evaporation/ precipitation cycle of the biosphere. Less than 1/2 % is represented in the kinetic energy of the wind and waves and in photosynthetic storage in plant.

1.3    USE OF SOLAR ENERGY

Over the years solar energy has been put to several uses ranging from drying of cloth and agricultural product to sun tanning the body and of course for food preservation. Other areas of solar energy use is air conditioning for cooling and heating of a building for human comfort using absorption cooling system.

Other area of uses of solar energy is solar cooler, warming pools, operating engine pumps, solar furnace and generating of electricity.

1.4    PRINCIPLE OF APPLICATION

Energy received from the sun comes in form of light but not all the rays are visible to human eye. When the sun radiation hits an object, solid or liquid, these rays are absorbed, refracted and reflected. The absorbed rays are transformed into thermal energy which aids the object to get warm and heat is stored in the object.

When the sun rays strike the mirror or the glass, it reflects the rays back to other material in its surroundings obeying the laws of optics, if the mirror or glass is shape in form of a cylinder or parabola.

The Edge ray principle states that “If a ray of light is perpendicular to a parabolic surface, it reflects the rays back to the focal point. If a material for example, absorbent pipe is placed at the focus, there will be increase of solar energy resulting to an increase in temperature and if this is done, the rays are said to be concentrated. This is the principle employed in this project.

1.5    STORAGE OF SOLAR ENERGY

Storage is impedance in the research and use of solar energy since it cannot be stored in its original form. In order to use solar energy effectively. The thermal storage systems incorporate the use of fluid. .Also steam accumulator rocks which are capable of storing both sensible and latent heat, while chemical energy storage uses the output of the solar collector to provide a chemical that can be used until the energy is required like the photovoltaic cell in the generation of electrical energy from solar radiation.

1.6    ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF SOLAR SYSTEM

Solar systems are usually considered to be rather beneficial. One of the reasons for the use of solar energy is to reduce environmental pollution and associated costs for its control. However they are a negative impact which has been identified. These are some of the impacts of solar usage.

1)      AIR POLLUTION: The replacements of fossil fuel combustion with solar heat with reduce the emission of pollutants like CO2 NO, SO2, particulates, and unnamed hydrocarbons. However, certain solar systems using chemical reactants for storage or organic fluid for heat transport pose the threat of release of CO, SO2, SO3, hydrocarbon vapour and other noxious gases. A fire hazard may exist if overheated, organic working fluids are present near an ignition source form of air “pollution” exist near focus of larger solar reflectors or refractors. Human tissue would be destroyed upon only a short contact.

2)      LAND USE: One of the largest impacts of solar collection is the requirement of relatively large amounts of land. This represents a severe problem in industrialized area such as the North East of the United States. The land intensiveness of solar plant is offset to some extent because they do not generate solid or liquid waste requiring land for disposal. Collector fields producing shading not normally represented over large areas. Impacts on the local ecosystem include an increase of shade – seeking flora, which may impair collector function.

3)      THERMAL POLLUTION: Solar system elumiciate the local thermal pollution produced by fossil fuel combustion solar flux, formerly reflected or absorbed by the local environment, is partially collected and transported to a nearby solar- thermal conversion facility. Hence the thermal effects of solar plant are minor. If electric power by a solar plant is used hundreds of miles away in a city, some reductions in the local environment heat budget occur.

1.7    CONCEPT OF HEATER

Solar hot water is water heat by the use of solar radiation energy. Solar heating systems are generally composed of solar radiation collector to its point of usage. The systems may be used to heat water for a wide variety of uses including home, business and industrial uses.

Most solar water heater require a well insulated storage tank, solar storage tanks have an additional outlet and inlet connected to from the collector. The pressure at which all the water in the heater has been converted to steam.

1.8       STEAM RAISING

Many ways are used to raise steam for domestic and industrial uses. The chemical energy, which is contained in a heater fuel, is converted into heat energy when the fuel is burned. However, if a heating element is used, electrical energy is converted into heat energy. This heat is transmitted by conduction through the wall of the heater furnace to the water.

In another way, energy from the sun can be used to produce steam by focusing the rays on an absorber when water passes through the absorber. This is the focus of this project.

Heat energy, which produces a rise in temperature when it is passed into the water, is known as the specific enthalpy of water (hf). As more heat passes through the water the temperature of the water does not rise so long as the water is at atmospheric pressure but the heat is used in vaporizing the water and converting it into steam and the heat energy is called the specific enthalpy of evaporation (latent heat of vaporization) denoted as hfg. The water change to steam as long as heat is added.

The specific enthalpy of dry “saturated” steam at any pressure denoted as hg is given as:

Hg = hf + hfg.

1.9    SOLAR WATER HEATER FOR DOMESTIC USE

-              ­The utilization of solar energy for domestic hot water.

-              They can be used in any climate and the fuel they use sunshine is free

-              Solar water heating systems use free heat from the sun to warm domestic hot water.

-              Solar water heating can now reduce your domestic water.

1.10    THE BENEFIT OF SOLAR WATER HEATER

-              HOT WATER THROUGHOUT THE YEAR: The system works all year round though you will need to heat the water further with a boiler or immersion heater during the winter months.

-              CUT YOUR BILL: Sunlight is free, so once you have paid for the initial installation your hot water cost will be reduced.

-              CUT YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT: Solar hot water is a green renewable heating system and doesn’t release any harmful carbon dioxide or other pollutants.

1.11    SOLAR WATER HEATING TECHNOLOGY

Solar water heating is a simple technology that uses free energy from the sun of heat water generally in collector mount.

There are two type of solar water heater (Active and Passive). Active system use electric pumps valves and controller to circulate water or they are more expensive than passive systems. Passive system move household water or a heat transfer liquid through the system without pumps.

1.12      WORKING PRINCIPLE OF THE SOLAR WATER             HEATER

Solar water heater system use solar panel glass/mirror called collectors fitted to your tank. These collects heat from the sun and use it to warm water which is stored in a hot water tank (cylinder). This is when light ray from the sun strikes the solar collector and heats the black metal sun strip absorber underneath the glass cover.

A boiler or immersion heater can then heat this water further until reaches the temperature set by the cylinder thermostat this should be set at 60oc.

Larger solar panels can also provide energy to heat your home as well. Through usually only in the summer months when home heating is unnecessary.

.


TYPE IN YOUR TOPIC AND CLICK SEARCH.






RESEARCHWAP.COM

Researchwap.com is an online repository for free project topics and research materials, articles and custom writing of research works. We’re an online resource centre that provides a vast database for students to access numerous research project topics and materials. Researchwap.com guides and assist Postgraduate, Undergraduate and Final Year Students with well researched and quality project topics, topic ideas, research guides and project materials. We’re reliable and trustworthy, and we really understand what is called “time factor”, that is why we’ve simplified the process so that students can get their research projects ready on time. Our platform provides more educational services, such as hiring a writer, research analysis, and software for computer science research and we also seriously adhere to a timely delivery.

TESTIMONIES FROM OUR CLIENTS


Please feel free to carefully review some written and captured responses from our satisfied clients.

  • "Exceptionally outstanding. Highly recommend for all who wish to have effective and excellent project defence. Easily Accessable, Affordable, Effective and effective."

    Debby Henry George, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, USA.
  • "I saw this website on facebook page and I did not even bother since I was in a hurry to complete my project. But I am totally amazed that when I visited the website and saw the topic I was looking for and I decided to give a try and now I have received it within an hour after ordering the material. Am grateful guys!"

    Hilary Yusuf, United States International University Africa, Nairobi, Kenya.
  • "Researchwap.com is a website I recommend to all student and researchers within and outside the country. The web owners are doing great job and I appreciate them for that. Once again, thank you very much "researchwap.com" and God bless you and your business! ."

    Debby Henry George, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, USA.
  • "I love what you guys are doing, your material guided me well through my research. Thank you for helping me achieve academic success."

    Sampson, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
  • "researchwap.com is God-sent! I got good grades in my seminar and project with the help of your service, thank you soooooo much."

    Cynthia, Akwa Ibom State University .
  • "Great User Experience, Nice flows and Superb functionalities.The app is indeed a great tech innovation for greasing the wheels of final year, research and other pedagogical related project works. A trial would definitely convince you."

    Lamilare Valentine, Kwame Nkrumah University, Kumasi, Ghana.
  • "Sorry, it was in my spam folder all along, I should have looked it up properly first. Please keep up the good work, your team is quite commited. Am grateful...I will certainly refer my friends too."

    Elizabeth, Obafemi Awolowo University
  • "Am happy the defense went well, thanks to your articles. I may not be able to express how grateful I am for all your assistance, but on my honour, I owe you guys a good number of referrals. Thank you once again."

    Ali Olanrewaju, Lagos State University.
  • "My Dear Researchwap, initially I never believed one can actually do honest business transactions with Nigerians online until i stumbled into your website. You have broken a new legacy of record as far as am concerned. Keep up the good work!"

    Willie Ekereobong, University of Port Harcourt.
  • "WOW, SO IT'S TRUE??!! I can't believe I got this quality work for just 3k...I thought it was scam ooo. I wouldn't mind if it goes for over 5k, its worth it. Thank you!"

    Theressa, Igbinedion University.
  • "I did not see my project topic on your website so I decided to call your customer care number, the attention I got was epic! I got help from the beginning to the end of my project in just 3 days, they even taught me how to defend my project and I got a 'B' at the end. Thank you so much researchwap.com, infact, I owe my graduating well today to you guys...."

    Joseph, Abia state Polytechnic.
  • "My friend told me about ResearchWap website, I doubted her until I saw her receive her full project in less than 15 miniutes, I tried mine too and got it same, right now, am telling everyone in my school about researchwap.com, no one has to suffer any more writing their project. Thank you for making life easy for me and my fellow students... Keep up the good work"

    Christiana, Landmark University .
  • "I wish I knew you guys when I wrote my first degree project, it took so much time and effort then. Now, with just a click of a button, I got my complete project in less than 15 minutes. You guys are too amazing!."

    Musa, Federal University of Technology Minna
  • "I was scared at first when I saw your website but I decided to risk my last 3k and surprisingly I got my complete project in my email box instantly. This is so nice!!!."

    Ali Obafemi, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Niger State.
  • To contribute to our success story, send us a feedback or please kindly call 2348037664978.
    Then your comment and contact will be published here also with your consent.

    Thank you for choosing researchwap.com.