A

Presentation
on
Solar Water Heater

By
Santosh Thapa
072MSREE517

Objectives:
Main Objective:
To know about solar water heater

Specific Objective:
To know about different types of solar water heater , existing
technologies, financial, SWOT analysis ,environmental effect etc.

Introduction
Solar water heaters were developed some two hundred years ago. The first
known flat plate collector was made by H.B. de Sausurre, a Swiss.
Used for heating the water, for producing the steam for domestic and
industrial purposes by utilizing the solar energy.
heapest and most easily affordable clean energy .
Expose a dark surface to solar radiation so that the radiation is absorbed. A
part of the absorbed radiation is then transferred to a fluid like air or water.
Consists 3 parts which are Heat collection system, heat storage system and
auxiliary heating system

Working principle of solar water heater

A solar water heater is an array of solar collector to
collect solar energy and an insulated tank to store hot
water.
Both are connected to each other.
During the day time, water in solar collectors get
heated which is either pumped or flown automatically
on thermo-siphon principle to the storage tank.
Hot water then stored in the tank can be used for
various applications.

Types:
Passive system:
There are no pumps used in the operation.
The collector is close to the area where heat is stored or required.
Natural process such as conduction, convection and radiation are used to transfer heat .
cheaper than active systems.
example is a thermo-siphon solar water heater system

Active system:
The energy is used or stored in a location away from the surface
being heated by the sun.
Pump or fans are used to transport the fluid heated by the collector
to the storage unit and sometimes from the storage unit to the load.
A common example is solar pool heating system.

Existing technology
Existing technology of solar water heater are
a) Flat-plate collector based SWH technology.
b) Evacuated tube collector(ETC) based SWH
technology.
c) Integral collector-storage SWH technology.

a) Flat-plate collector based technology:

Fig: Front view of FPC

Fig: Side view of FPC

 The solar radiation is absorbed by flat plate collectors which consist

of an insulated outer metallic box covered on the top with glass
sheet.
Inside there are black metallic absorber(selectively coated) sheets
with built in channel or riser tubes to carry water.
The absorber absorbs the solar radiation and transfer the heat to
the flowing water.
The flat-plate collector is the important type of solar collector
because it is simple in design, has no moving parts and requires
little maintenance. It can be used for a variety of applications in
which temperatures ranging from 40C to about 100C are
required.

b) Evacuated tube collector based technology:

 Evacuated tube collector is made of double layer

borosilicate glass tubes evacuated for providing
insulation.
Each tube contains a glass outer tube and metal
absorber tube attached to a fin. The fins coating
absorbs solar energy but inhibits radiative heat loss
Evacuated-tube collectors generally have a smaller
solar collecting surface because this surface must be
encased by an evacuated glass tube.

c) Integral collector-storage system

 Other solar water heating systems the collector and storage

tank are separate components.
In an integral collector storage (ICS) system, both collection
and solar storage are combined within a single unit.
The entire unit is exposed to solar energy throughout the day.
The resulting water is drawn off either directly to the service
location or as replacement hot water to an auxiliary storage
tank as water is drawn for use.

Installation setup

 Strength

SWOT Analysis

source of energy is never ending

totally pollution free
can be utilized for different purpose like bathing , cooking, drying , washing etc .
easy to operate
minimum working expenditure
saves fossil fuel and electricity cost
A 100 liters capacity solar water heater saves 1500 units of electricity annually.
A solar water heater of 100 liters capacity can prevent emission of 1.5 tons of
CO2 per year.
Weakness

back-up is needed in cloudy day

initial investment is high
not yet taken on priority list
Not much tracking or monitoring of systems at present
suitable storage tank is needed for using on no sunshine hours.
the legal, technical and economical conditions are not yet completely defined.

 Opportunity
vast opportunity for expansion in many use.
pollution free
unstable access to fossil fuel
adequate technology for local market
increasing price of energy

Threats
threat from oil lobby
threat from coal lobby
low demand
fluctuation due to weather may discourage consumers
insufficient government support

Financial analysis
Financial analysis is required while taking purchase
decisions of solar water heater

Factors used for financial analysis are interest

rate, inflation rate, unit cost of electricity/fuel rate,
operation and maintenance cost and solar water
heater service life.

 Payback periods
1) when electricity is replaced:
payback period = 2 to 4 years
2) when coal is replaced:
payback period = 5 to 6 years

Comparison of cost between FTC and ETC type

SWH
FPC 125 LPD
Rs)

(IC

ETC 130 LPD (IC Rs)

Initial cost

25000

20165

Installation cost

3000

3000

One time maintenance cost

1000

1000

Operational expenditure/year

Related Organizations
National
Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC)
Centre for Renewable Technology (CRT)
Other private companies like Lotus Energy, Gham
Power, Sipradi Energy, etc.

International
International Renewable Energy Agency (IREA), etc.

Role on Energy Conservation and Climate change issues

Renewable Energy Source

No Carbon Emission
A SWH of 100 liters capacity can prevent
emission pf 1.5 tones of CO2 per year
Decrease the use of fuels to generate
electricity or direct use.
Reduce Green house gases

Conclusions
Renewable Energy with no harmful emissions
Free and abundant source of energy
High starting cost and unaffordable by medium
class people

References
www.aepc.gov.np
http://www.heliodyne.com/industry_professiona
ls/downloads/Evacuated%20Tube%20Comp.pdf
http://www.undp.org/content/dam/india/docs/use
r%E2%80%99s_handbook_on_solar_water_heaters.pd
f
http://www.waaree.com/downloadPDFs/Faqs_FAQ_So
lar_Water_Heater.pdf
http://libgen.io/scimag/get.php?doi=10.1016/S0
196-8904(00)00153-9&open=1

Thank You