Exergy and exergoeconomic analysis of domestic scale solar water heater by the effect of solar collector area

Abstract

The increased usage and demand for non-renewable resources cause several environmental pollutions. Solar energy is well-renowned renewable energy, which is clean and can provide a long-term sustainable solution for the wicked problem. The solar water heater is the most popular solar energy utilization technique because of its simpler technology and economic feasibility. This article presents the exergey analysis of solar water heaters. Exergy is the maximum useful energy that is available in a system. Exergy analysis focuses on the quality of the energy instead of the quantity of the energy. The three-procedure theory demonstrates the exergy flow within a solar water heater. The three procedures include conversion, utilization, and recycling procedure. In this research, the exergy efficiency of the solar water heater has been evaluated. The effect of different solar collector area on the exergy efficiency was also identified. Other than exergy analysis, this research further analysed the exergoeconmics of solar water heaters. Exergoeconomic analysis is a technique that utilizes exergy analysis to determine the cost of the output product. Exergoeconomic analysis supports identifying the cost rate of exergy destruction. It was found that the exergy efficiency of the solar water heater is very low (2–3%). The results showed that the increase in solar collecting area would decrease the solar water heater’s exergy efficiency. Moreover, it was found that the cost rate of exergy destruction is greater when larger solar collector areas are used.