EE3037D Non Conventional Energy Systems &

Applications

SOLAR WATER
HEATER DESIGN

Instructor:
Dr. Deepthi S. Nair
Dept. of EE
NITC

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 REQUIREMENT
• Design a solar water heater for a family of 4 members.
• Take standard tank capacity = 200 litres.
• Hot water usage: 20 litre/person/bath.

For a family of 4 who baths for 2 times in day ~ 160 litres/day

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 ASSUMPTIONS
Required Temp. of water : 70oC
Ambient Temp. : 30oC
Daily Solar Radiation: 5.5 kWh/m2/day
Solar Collector η : 40%
Heat Capacity of Water (C) : 4.18 kJ/Kg-K

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 Step 1: Find useful solar heat energy
per unit area
= Daily Solar Radiation * Solar Water Heater η

= 5.5 kWh/m2/day * 0.4

= 2.2 kWh/m2/day

= 2.2 * 3600 kJ/m2/day = 7920 kJ/m2/day

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 Step 2: Find Required Energy to heat
up the water
= m C ΔT

= 200 * 4.18 * ( 70 – 30 )

= 33440 kJ/day

m = Mass of water
= Density * Volume
= 1000 kg/m3 * .200 m3
= 200 kg
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 Step 3: Find the collector area required
Required heat energy
=
Useful heat energy per unit area

=33440/ 7920

= 4.2 m2

Two flat plate collectors each of 2 m2 area is taken

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PAYBACK PERIOD FOR SOLAR
WATER HEATER
• No. of years in which the investment cost is paid back by
savings
• SWH can last up to 15 to 20 yrs
• A 200 LPD SWH price ~ Rs. 37,500

Heat Energy required to heat the water

= 33440 kJ = 9.3 kWh
Electricity required, if using an electric heater
= 9.3 /0.9 = 10.3 kWh

Heater efficiency
7
 Payback Calculation
• Cost of electricity reqd./day
= 10.3 X 6.4 = 66 Rs.
KSEB tariff for monthly consumption b/w 151 to 200 units

• Taking the savings for 300 sunny days in a year

• Savings per year = 66 X 300 = 19,800 Rs
• Simple Payback period
= Investment/Annual Savings
= 37,500 / 19,800 = 1.9 years