Installation Of Solar Water Heaters Research Articles

Investigation of Performance Parameters Affecting the Efficiency of Solar Water Heater: A Review

The need for installation of Solar Water heater is increasing in society because of several factors such as rapid urbanization, government interventions, low cost of installations, and environment-friendly application acting as a direct replacement to fossil fuels. During the past few years, the research and development associated with the technological enhancement of the utilization of solar energy have increased exponentially. However, there are various challenges involved in the selection of proper solar technology to provide a high-performance energy harvesting application for domestic water heating requirements. There is a wide literature available on various performance parameters required to develop an efficient Solar Water Heating System. This paper investigates a state-of-the-art review of the performance parameters affecting the efficiency of Solar Water Heaters by component-wise analysis of parameters divided broadly into the design, operational and external parameters. The technological advancements in solar water heaters are classified based on performance parameters and the paper summarizes the possibility of combining different performance parameters to achieve more efficient and cost-effective solar water heaters for the society as future scope of the review for researchers working in the similar domain.

Evaluating greenhouse gas emission reductions by using solar water heaters: A case of low income households in Ekurhuleni, South Africa

This work evaluates and analyses the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission reduction potential of Solar Water Heaters (SWH) in Daveyton, in Ekurhuleni. As an energy intensive country, with its energy mix dominated by fossil-fuel energy sources, South Africa is among the largest emitters of GHGs globally. Consequently, the country made commitments to substantially reduce its carbon footprint from the energy sector, through renewable energy initiatives. A solar water heater programme was subsequently introduced as an initiative to reduce GHG emissions in the residential sector. Objectives of the study were to determine the amount of energy saved and GHG emission reduction through the installation of SWHs; to determine the efficiency and sufficiency of SWHs for the average family; and to determine the contribution of SWHs towards reduction of GHG emissions. These objectives were achieved by conducting a survey in low-income households that were piloted for the SWH installation programme in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni. The findings of the study suggested that a total saving of 89.74 kWh of energy per day and reduction of 63.1 kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent were achieved through the SWH programme for the entire sample area per day. In conclusion, solar water heating in domestic sector of Ekurhuleni could potentially reduce reliance of households to fossil fuels, thus reducing GHG emissions.

“Socially neglected effect” in the implementation of energy technologies to mitigate climate change: Sustainable building program in social housing

The residential sector is the third largest energy-consuming sector in Mexico and an important contributor to energy related carbon dioxide emissions after transport and industry. The objective of this study is to evaluate the implementation and social acceptance of energy efficient technologies and renewable technologies in the so called sustainable social housing program in Mexico City, and compare the real reduction of CO2 emissions to the theoretical potential. To do so, two estimations are developed: 1) the technical and economic CO2 emission reduction potential of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies in new social housing in Mexico City, and 2) the real avoided emissions based on social acceptance of technologies obtained by housing surveys and physical revision of performance status of implemented technologies. We found that due to lack of information and training to households an important part of dwellers ended up rejecting mitigation technologies developing what we called the socially neglected effect of mitigation technologies. These results were used to estimate three scenarios for year 2025: baseline, mitigation and neglected effect. Due to the neglected effect a reduction of 25% with respect to the baseline scenario was obtained instead of 45% of emission reduction in year 2025. In the case of efficient lighting and refrigerators, where Minimum Energy Efficient Standards are in place the socially neglected effect disappears once the replacement of old to new technologies takes place. This result shows that minimum energy performance standards are the main mitigation policy to eliminate socially neglected effect in the long run. Obligatory standards for installation of solar water heaters can be developed as well, although it is important to develop additional follow-up policies for adequate installation of these technologies.

Assessment of CO2 emission reduction and identification of CDM potential in a township

This paper presents the theoretical investigation of CDM opportunity in a township at Jaipur, India. The purpose of study is to identify and analyze the various opportunities viz., installation of solar water heater, energy efficient lighting, energy efficient air conditioners, and energy efficient submersible water pumps in desert coolers and thus achieve a considerable (65.7 %) reduction in GHG emissions. Out of the various opportunities considered, the retrofitting with solar water heater can be recommended for CDM. Though, the retrofitting with energy efficient lighting, energy efficient air conditioners and energy efficient submersible water pumps in desert coolers claimed CO2 emission reduction of 104.84, 25.92, and 36.94 tons per annum, respectively, but the only opportunity which got through CDM was retrofitting with solar water heater claiming 115.70 tCO2 (100 %) emission reductions per annum which could result into net earnings of 115.70 CERs. The simple and discounted payback period for all four project activities are also calculated with and without CDM and tax benefits.

What contribution does the installation of solar water heaters make towards the alleviation of energy poverty in South Africa?

The South African government has publicized plans to install one million solar water heaters in households throughout South Africa by the year 2014, with the goals of reducing strain on existing electricity resources, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, creating employment and alleviating poverty. This paper examines two existing solar water heater installation projects with the aim of investigating the social contribution of the installation of solar water heaters in low-income households in South Africa. The Sustainable Urban Livelihoods approach (SULA) was adjusted to provide an analytical framework for the development of suitable indicators of social change in the context of renewable energies and energy poverty. Increases in household capital and the reduction of household vulnerability to shocks, stressors and seasonal variability as the result of solar water heater installation were investigated in projects in low-income housing developments in the cities of Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, South Africa.Data collected from paired household surveys (before and after installation) in over 600 households and qualitative information (Most Significant Change stories) show that the provision of a constant, cheap source of heated water contributed positively to the alleviation of energy poverty. Household capitals (categorised as Human, Social, Financial, Physical, Natural and Gender capital), including aspects such as health benefits and time and financial savings, were all positively effected by the installation of solar water heaters. In addition, improved energy security greatly reduced household vulnerability to shocks, stressors and seasonal variability. Comparison between the two projects revealed that the geographical setting (climatic conditions in particular), and the approach and strategies adopted by the implementers of the solar water heater installation project, greatly determine the extent to which benefits to the households are realised.

Solar water heaters in Taiwan

Solar water heater has been commercialized during the last two decades in Taiwan. The government initiated the incentive programs during 1986–1991 and 2000–2004. This created an economic incentive for the end-users. The total area of solar collectors installed was more than one million square meters. The data also show that most of the solar water heaters are mainly used by the domestic sector for hot water production (about 97%). The regional popularization analysis indicates limited installation of solar water heaters in the northern district. In the eastern district and remote islands, the problems of climatic conditions and availability of localized installers/dealers are addressed.

443 太陽熱温水器の地域別導入可能性評価

Although many solar water heaters were installed just after the oil crises, the installation decreased rapidly and keeps small amount recently. However, the government expects to have four times as many as current solar water heaters by 2010 to reduce primary fuel consumption for mitigating global warming. The objective of this study are to investigate possible installation of solar water heaters in each prefecture in Japan and to estimate the potential of energy saving by the technology. The installation in a detached house is modeled to minimize the pay back year from the economical point of view taking place specific solar irradiation into consideration. The result shows the pay back years range from 7 to 1.1 Assuming monotonously decreasing relationship between the pay back year and installation possibility, the installation and the effect of primary fuel reduction is estimated. Since the aggregated installation over Japan is less than the target, sensitivity analysis with respect to the cost of solar water heaters was conducted to investigate requirement of the cost reduction to attain the target. The results indicate that the cost needs to be reduced down to 60% to 20% of the current level.

Financing solar thermal technologies under DSM programs: an innovative approach to promote renewable energy

A wide range of demand side management (DSM) options has been practiced so far in developed as well as in developing countries. However, solar thermal technologies have been left out from DSM programs considering them as supply side options. This study argues that a number of solar thermal technologies, which provide the same services as electric appliances, can be considered as DSM options and examines the possibility of promoting solar water heaters (SWH) under DSM programs in Thailand. The study found that installation of SWH in place of conventional electric water heaters (EWH) to meet hot water demand in the residential sector would be economically beneficial to the country as a whole. However, switching to SWH from EWH would be unlikely without having government interventions as there would be no incentives to individual consumers in doing so. If the government or state electric utilities provide funding to residential consumers through DSM programs for replacing their EWH by SWH, the total electricity generation in Thailand during the 2000–2015 period would decrease by 3.8 per cent. Moreover, promotion of SWH under DSM programs would cause 3.35 and 1.41 per cent reductions of total power sector CO2- and NOx-emissions respectively, during the same period. This study also reveals that solar thermal technologies, especially the SWH, could be better options for DSM programs compared to the end-use efficiency improvement options in Thailand. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A parametric study of swimming pool heating—I

This paper describes the first phase of the study the effective installation of solar water heaters and heating of swimming pool water at a high altitude in northern India. Collector specifications, structural designs, various losses and other useful parameters have been calculated for efficient operation of the system.