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Solar Water Heating Basics PDF
Solar Water Heating Basics PDF
Courtesy of DOE/NREL
PG&E
Pacific Energy Center, San Francisco
Energy Training Center
Center, Stockton
Instructor
Pete Shoemaker
PG&E Pacific Energy Center
(415) 973-
973-8850
pjsy@pge.com
• Industry overview
• Essential physics
• Terms and concepts
p
• Collector and System types
• Site evaluation and design
The Full Energy Picture
1) Reduce consumption as
much as possible. Reduce
Energy
Use 2) Get the
“greenest”
power you
Partnership
3)) Offset any
y can.
remaining Education
carbon Outreach
Renewable
emissions. ClimateSmart Power
Supply
Different Types of “Solar”
Light
Li ht energy
Photovoltaic (PV)
Electricity produced directly from light
Heat energy
C
Concentrated
t t dSSolar
l Power
P (CSP)
Electricity produced by steam
Courtesy of DOE/NREL
M t
Mature industry
i d t with
ith main
i markets
k t in
i C
California
lif i andd Fl
Florida.
id
Overview
Courtesy CCSE
Overview
Courtesy CCSE
Overview
Courtesy CCSE
Overview
Courtesy CCSE
SHW Industry Overview: World
Courtesy ofNASA
10 -3 10 -7
heat light
Courtesy of Wikipedia
Continuum of energy
energy.
Greenhouse Effect
Ozone layer
Long waves
a es are trapped
heat
Earth
Greenhouse Effect
Glass
Heat
absorber Long waves
a es are trapped
heat
SWH
collector
Color Absorption
Li ht colors
Light l absorb
b b little,
littl reflect
fl t a lot
l t
Metal Conductivity
Fluid Fluid
Pipe
p cross-section
Copper Iron
Water Behavior
Steam Ice
Moving
g water will NOT freeze.
Water Behavior
• Greenhouse effect
• Light
g enters but heat trapped
pp
• Color absorption
• Dark colors absorb and light colors reflect
• Metal conductivity
• Copper conducts more than others
• Water
W t behavior
b h i
• Expands when heated and frozen
• Moving water will not freeze
• Warm water rises, cold water sinks
• Water contains dissolved minerals
Which leads to …
Glass-covered collectors,
dark-colored, with copper or
aluminum piping…
Courtesy ofNASA
Terms and Concepts
BTU: British Thermal Unit
Unit. Amount of heat needed to raise
one lb. of water one degree F.
Watt-hour: 3.4 BTU Kilowatt-hour: 3,413
, BTU
Therm: 100,000 BTU (29.3 kWh)
Th
Thermosiphon:
i h N t l process off h
Natural hott water
t rising
i i (i
(in a ttube).
b )
Stratification: Separation of hot and cold water (in a tank).
Heatt exchanger:
H h D i th
Device thatt ttransfers
f heat
h t from
f one medium
di
to another.
Climate zones: Areas of distinct seasonal temperatures
temperatures.
Hard freeze: A freeze in which seasonal vegetation is
y
destroyed, ground is frozen solid, and heavy
g y ice is formed.
Stagnation: Condition when collectors are not used and
become overheated.
Terms and Concepts
Example:
Design to cover 100% of usage year-round, including winter.
Minimal sun in winter, so need many collectors (expensive).
Courtesy of DOE/NREL
Change in perspective
solar + backup
p
Courtesy ofNASA
Standard Water Heaters
Direct flue.
Much
M h heat
h t loss
l “up
“
the chimney”.
Low efficiency.
((50 – 70%)
%)
Courtesy PG&E
Standard Water Heaters
Improved model:
Condensing heater.
Extended flue which
releases much of its heat
to the water before
venting.
ti
Vent gases are cool
enough to condense.
Efficiency
y around 80 –
90+%
Source: Energy Star
Standard Water Heaters
New model:
Heat pump.
Like refrigerator in
reverse.
Electric powered, no gas
burning.
Best to replace electric
water heater.
Tankless
Gas or electric.
Can require special
hookup service.
Effectiveness related to
usage patterns.
Special
valves,
pumps,
processes,
Gas or etc.
Water or electric
Solar
glycol heater
panel
p Storage
g
tank
System Overview
1 O
1. Open Loop
L 2 Closed Loop
2.
(Direct) (Indirect)
water glycol
1 O
1. Open Loop
L 2 Closed Loop
2.
(Direct) (Indirect)
1 P
1. Passive
i 2. Active (electric
(natural) pump)
Thermosiphon
Must have electric
process.
source.
Tankk mustt be
T b higher
hi h
Tank can be anywhere.
than collector.
Collector Types
Fi
Figure courtesy NREL
ICS: Integral Collector Storage
Heat Heat
C ll i
Collection St
Storage
Solar
panel Storage
tank
ICS: Integral Collector Storage
Courtesy energybychoice.com
ICS: Integral Collector Storage
Cold
water in
Holds 20 to 40 g
gallons of water
ICS: Integral Collector Storage
Courtesy NREL
Flat Plate Collector
Headers Risers
Souce: PG&E
Flat Plate Collector
Header
Hott water
H t
out
Rooff
R
Risers
tilt
Header
Cold
C ld
water in Holds about one gallon of fluid
Evacuated Tubes
Courtesy of DOE/NREL
Evacuated Tubes
Heat
eat moves
o es
up to bulb.
Souce: PG&E
Evacuated Tubes
Figures courtesy Thermomax
6
1. Vacuum tube 7
2
2. Heat pipe
3. Cold liquid 1 8
9
2
4. Hot vapor 3
5. Absorber 4
5
6. Collector return
(hot)
7. Collector supply
(cold)
8. Heat exchanger
9. Shock absorber
Evacuated Tubes
H d
Header
Roof
tilt
Roof
tilt
Return
Supply Return
S
Supply
l
ICS: Integral Collector Storage
The Simplest
p Form of Solar
Benefits
• Low first cost
• No moving parts
• Inherent overheat protection
• Moderate freeze protection
Disadvantages
• Sensitive to ambient temperatures
• Weight
Figure courtesy SunEarth
Sample specifications
Hot water is
drawn into tank
Passive
• No pumps, nothing requiring outside power
Open Loop
• New fluid (water) is constantly entering—system is “open”
to outside elements
Sample specifications
Courtesy CCSE
Thermosiphon Passive Systems
T k
Tank—potable
t bl water
t
Heat-exchange
loop—”closed” to
outside elements
120 degree
g water goes
g
Water
W t comes in
i into house
to tank from main
Heat is transferred to
water in tank
Passive
• No pumps, nothing requiring outside power
Closed Loop
• Heat-exchange loop is closed to new elements
Open Loop
• New fluid (water) is constantly entering—system is open
to new elements
P
Active Systems
Can be Open-
p or Closed-loop
p
Benefits
• Highest thermal performance
• Freeze protection to –60 F
• Lightweight low roof profile
Disadvantages
Figure courtesy SunEarth Inc
• Some active components
• More expense and maintenance
Courtesy of DOE/NREL
Active Systems
Active
• Uses pumps and other active elements
Open Loop
• Potable water itself is heated
or
Closed Loop
• Glycol is heated and heat-exchanger
heat exchanger is used
Drip valves are good backup protection against mild freezes, but
are vulnerable to failure, particularly in hard-water areas.
Direct Forced Circulation (DFC)
In freeze
conditions, Freeze drain valve
reverse flow
gi es up
gives p heat
to protect the
system.
Hot water
Collectors are
always empty
when
hen system
s stem
(pump) is not
running.
Start up:
Collectors are
filled and
heating cycle
begins.
Shut down:
Collectors
automatically
drain and
heating cycle
ends.
• Closed loop
• Can use water or g glycol
y in heat-collection loop
p
• Fluid is drained from collectors whenever
system is not running
• Needs large pump to push water into collectors
• Pipes must be sloped properly for drainage
Courtesy ofNASA
Site Evaluation and Design
Criteria:
• Solar resource
• A il bl space and
Available d orientation
i t ti
• Climate zone (temperature range, freezes)
• Hot water usage amount and patterns
• Economics
Courtesy of DOE/NREL
Solar Resource
Source: DOE National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Resource Assessment Program
http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/old_data/nsrdb/redbook/atlas/serve.cgi
Shading
Solar Window
“Shade-free from 10 to 3”
Tilt and Orientation
Tilt = angle
l from
f the
th horizon.
h i
Orientation = Azimuth = direction north-south in
which the panels are facing
facing.
tilt
Ex. 30º angleº
axis
From Horizon
Tilt Azimuth
Surface Orientation Factor (SOF)
San Francisco, CA
90
SOF
0.40-0.50
60
0 50 0 60
0.50-0.60
0.60-0.70 Tilt
0.70-0.80
0 80 0 90
0.80-0.90 30
0.90-1.00
0
-90 -60 -30 0 30 60 90
East West
Chart courtesy
y NREL
Azimuth
Rough Home Estimate
•D
Do you h
have 60 to 80 square ffeet off rooff ((or
ground) space that is unshaded from 10 to 3?
• Is it on a non-North facing slope (flat is OK)?
• Handheld
measurement
d i that
device th t
accurately
measures solar
access and
shadingg (about
(
$1400)
Three ways:
1. Direct measurement
2 Bill analysis
2. l i
3. Estimation from industry standards
Industry Standards / Surveys
4 person household =
20 + 15 + 10 + 10 = 60 gallons per day
OG 300
OG-300
System ratings
OG-100
Panel ratings
Sample Costing
Savings:
• Average yearly usage 210 therms
• Solar saves 70% of that, or 147 therms
• Average cost per therm $1.37
• Yearly savings about $200 (first year)
Cost:
• Total installed price $7000
• State rebate $1875 (147 * $12.82 up to max)
• Tax credit ((7000-1875) * .3) = $1537
• Net cost = (7000 – 1875 – 1537) = $3588
Sample Costing
Glycol:
y
• Will need to be recharged every 5 – 10 years
• Best to be professionally done
• Estimate of $250 per visit
• Total about $750
Pump(s):
• At least one replacement
• Estimate
E ti t off $500 - $1000,
$1000 use $750
Payback:
• First cost: $3
$3,600
600
• Maintenance adder: $750
• Total
T t l lifecycle
lif l cost:
t $4350
• Savings first year: $200
• Straight payback (no inflation factor) =
4350 / 209 = 21 years
• With inflation factor of 5.5%, payback
shortens to about 15 years.
Economics
It s recommended that you get at least three bids from
It’s
reputable contractors. The bids should all contain the
following, clearly specified:
• Saves money
• Lowers greenhouse gas emissions (local
and national goals)
• Qualifies for state and federal incentives
• Promotes energy independence
• Keeps money in local economy
Thank you for participating!
PG&E Pacific
P ifi Energy
E Center
C t