Solar Water Heaters design

Xavier Vallv, TTA

Spain
p
 Solar Thermal Energy
Solar energy is the most plentiful energy source in Lebanon
Solar radiation incident at 40 ((kWh/m2 mean average
g monthlyy day)
y)
Tripoli Nabatiye et Tahta Zahl Beirut
- Very regular all year- 3420'37" North, 3322'59" North, 3350'34" North, 3352'57" North,
round 360'25" East, 3526'59" East, 3555'8" East, 3530'46" East,
Elevation: 1382 m.s.m Elevation: 403 m.s.m Elevation: 935 m.s.m Elevation: 61m.s.m
- Average energy (4 Jan 3.536 3.598 3.809 3.488
meteo stations): 5,15 Feb 4.225 4.230 4.484 4.117
solar hour peak/day Mar 5.162 5.204 5.250 5.057
- 12 % more than Apr 5.552 5.716 5.925 5.544
Barcelona (Spain) (4,5 May 5.661 5.697 5.713 5.537
Hp) and 31% (3,51 Hp) Jun 6.194 6.094 6.151 5.917
more than Munich Jul 6.258 6.162 6.243 5.998
(Germany) Aug 6.299 6.194 6.313 6.033
Sep 6.170 6.129 6.354 5.895
Oct 5.219 5.282 5.383 5.055
Nov 4.002 4.314 4.240 4.091
Dec 3.213 3.532 3.600 3.309
Ao 5.128 5.183 5.291 5.007
Hp year 5,13 5,18 5,29 5,01
Solar Thermal Energy Applications

Hot water
Space heating
Solar cooling
Swimming pools
 Solar water heating

Primarycircuit:
Collectorsarray
Collectors array
Closedcircuit
Pumpandexpansiontank
Regulation
Heatexchanger
 Solar water heating

SolarTank:
Externalorinternalheatexchanger
External or internal heat exchanger
Verticalcylinder
Corrosionresistantmaterial
Thermalinsulation
Thermalsensorandtermometer
 Solar water heating
HW consumption

Auxiliaryheater:Boiler
SSolartankasapreheatingbefore
l k h i b f
theboiler
Solartankasapreheatingofthe
p g
SWtankheatedbytheboiler/or
themodulantboiler

Cold water
 Solar water heating

Solarcontrol
A
Atleast2thermalsensors(atthetopof
l 2 h l ( h f
solarcollectorandthebottomofthe
solartank)
Thecirculationpumpturnson/off
dependingontemperaturedifferential
betweenbothsensors
 Solar collectors

Flat plate
Flatplate
Evacuatedtube
Flatt plate
Fl l t
collector
Flatplatecollectorheat
balance:
solarradiation
solar radiation
absorption,
thermallosses
usefulheat
 Solar Flat Plate collector

Flatplatecollector
efficiency
characterization
Opticallosses
Thermallosses
(dependingtemperature
differencebetween
absorberandambient)
 Solar Flat Plate collector

Differentcollectors
efficiency
characterization
unglazed
glazedflatplate
selectivecoat
evacuatedtube
 Solar Flat Plate collector

Absorberdesign:grillshape,
serialgrill,andmeandershape

Theflowpersquaremeterisdifferentinthesethreedesigns
 Solar Flat Plate collector
Mostsolarflatplatecollectorsarearound2m2.Butalsolargersolarcollectors
of7,10ormorem2adequateforbiginstallations:fewerconnections,less
q g
thermallosses
3 9 72

1580
0
1698
8
1 0 03 983 98 3 1 0 03
Exampleoflargeflatplatecollectors
Distance from obstacles

d=h/tan
d=(Lsin)/tan
D=hxk Lebanon: 33 N
 Solar Flat Plate collector
CEDROminimal performance
requirements
opticalefficiency:0,7
thermallosses:5,5W/m2K
thermal losses: 5,5 W/m2 K

Ifavailablespaceisnotenough,ahigher
performancecollectorcanbeused
p y ,
opticalefficiency:0,79
thermallosses:3,21W/m2K
 Solar collectors mounting

Strongwindcandestroy
solarinstallationsifthe
structureorblocksthat
supportpergravityare
t it
undersized
 Structure and piping

Pipinglengthsshallbe
Pi i l th h ll b
minimizedtoreduceheat
lossesandpressuredrop
(lower than 40 mm wc /m)
(lowerthan40mm.wc./m)
Theflowspeedshallbe
calculatedintherangeof
2 5 3 m/s
2,53m/s.
St
Structure
t

The total
Th t t l load
l d shall
h ll
guarantee no risk of wind
uplift of the solar
collectors
co ecto s / support
suppo t
frames for wind speeds
up to 120 km/hour.
Outdoor piping insulation protection
Aluminum sheet

Flexible plastic sheet Paint coat

 C ll t
Collectors connection
ti

serial
se a
parallel

No

B l
Balance b
by valves
l

Balance by
reverse return
C ll t
Collectors
Balance by valves

Balance by
reverse return
Coupling and connection terminals
Threaded coupling for connecting
t bes or accessories conical
tubes
pressure, etc..

Thermal expansion absorber

 Primary circuit
Piping:cooperorstainlesssteel
Slopeatleast1%fordrainagepreferablewithoutairlocks
Pipediametersizing:pressuredrop<40mmwcperlinealmeter
Pipeflowspeed:2m/s(indoor),3m/s(outdoor)
Pi fl d 2 / (i d ) 3 / ( d )
Flowrate:usually50l/hperm2ofcollector(refertocollectormanufacturer)
Thermalinsulation:20to30mm(indoor)and30to40mm(outdoor)
Thermal insulation: 20 to 30 mm (indoor) and 30 to 40 mm (outdoor)
InsulationprotectionagainstUVradiationandmechanicalerosion(outdoorpipes)
Thethermaltransferfluidnonfreezingunderthecolderlocalevent.Safefortheuseinsuch
applicationsandenvironmentallysuitable.
Allcircuitcomponentsshallresistthemaximumdesigntemperature(valves,airvents,etc.)
Heat exchanger

Solar
tank

Sizing:itsratedpowershallbenolessof500xcollectors
surface.
Theheatexchangersshallbesuitableselectedand
installedtooptimizetheheattransferefficiencyandeasy
toremoveforperiodiccleaning.
Solar hot water tank

Solartankcharacteristics
Goodthermalinsulation
Height>thandiameterand
verticallyinstalled
Externalprotection
Heatexchanger:internalor
external
Internalsurfaceprotection
Internal surface protection
Anticorrosivedevice
Solar hot water tank
Solartanklocation
Asclosetothesolararraythanpossible
As close to the solar array than possible
Betterinsideatechnicalroomthanoutdoor

Thetankinsulationpolyurethanewith
minimumthicknessof50mm
 Solar hot water tank

When
Whenmorethanonesolar
more than one solar
tankisnecessary,theyare
connectedinseries
 Regulation

Solar
collectors

B1

B1 turns on when T=T1

B1turnsonwhen T T1 T2>ex:47C
T2 > e 4 7C
B1turnsoffwhen T=T1 T2<ex:1 2C)
 Regulation

Solar
collectors

B1 B1 B2

B1turnsonwhen Solarradiationis>ex.300W/m2
B2turnsonwhen T=T1 T2=ex:4C)
B2turnsoffwhen T=T1 T2=ex:2C)
 Monitoring

Calorimeter
Flow meter
 Calorimeters
Measure solar
energy produced

Measure Hot Water

energy consumed

Q =V ce t
Data logging and performance indicators
 Anti legionella circuit

Thermaltreatmentagainstthelegionellabacteria
Thelegionellabacteriaisharmfulwheninhaledviamicrodropletsoraerosol(example
at a shower)
atashower)
Theoptimaldevelopmenttemperatureforthelegionellabacteriais35 37C,butcan
reproducebetween25and45C.At70Cormoreisdestroyed
TopreventthelegionellasicknessaregularthermaltreatmentoftheHWinstallationis
h l i ll i k l h l f h i ll i i
recommended(iscompulsoryforpublicbuildingsinmanycountries)
Aspecificrecirculationcircuitisneededtotransferhotwaterfromtheboilertanktothe
solartanksuntill70Cdegreesareattained.Sometimesthesetemperaturesarealso
l k ll h l
reachedwithsolarenergy
CEDRO SHW reference hydraulic schematics
Solar Collector
array
Temperature
p
sensor
Mixing
valve
Reversed
return
HW consumption and
recirculation loop

Primary
circuit
pump

Booster
pump

Solar Existing
tanks HW tank Boiler
 Sports arena: hydraulic schematics
25.000HWlitres/day[235users]
f=35%.
Sports arena: solar collectors and heat dissipation
Sports arena: solar tanks and pumps
 Heat dissipation
Whenthemaximumsolartankstemperature
, p p
isreached,thecirculationpumpturnsoffand Passivedissipation
p
aheatdissipation maybenecessary

Activedissipation
Reference values for a SWH model
GENERAL SPECIFICATION
Demand Daily hot water demand 2200 L/day
( Rated output temperature
60C)
Type Flat-plate
Solar array
arra Tilt/orientation 455/020 S
Total Collector area (1) 45 m2
Piping system Primary circuit Pressure drop 40 mmwc
Flow velocity 2,5-3 m/s
S
Secondary
d circuit
i i P
Pressure d
drop 40
40 mmwc
Flow velocity 2,5-3 m/s
Pump Flow 2025 L/h
Pressure drop 6 mwc
Number/Capacity 1/2000 L; 1/100L
Hot Water Tank Connection Series inverted
Installed capacity 3000 L
Expansion tank Volume ~ 160L
Heater exchanger External ~ 32 kW
Minimum Data logger and processor Performance evaluation: temperatures, water
consumption, solar energy produced, energy balance,
reference radiation and ambient temperature.