MDB 3033 – HEAT TRANSFER

SEMESTER MAY 2018

GROUP PROJECT

TITLE: SOLAR WATER HEATER

LECTURER: DR. AKLILU TESFAMICHAEL BAHETA

GROUP 1

NAME ID
HTET SHINE 23109
MELVIN CHOONG WAI CHUN 23651
YEW HON WENG 23539
NURIN SOFIYAH BINTI MOHAMED TAIB 23701
NUR SYAMIMI BINTI MOHD ZAMERI 23926
LINGESWARA A/L SOUNDRARAJAN 23623

ABSTRACT
 As a 3rd year 1st semester student in Universiti Teknologi Petronas, the five of us were
tasked to design a simple solar water heater that can raise the temperature of water minimum
50% from inlet water temperature using the combination of natural convection and radiation,
and the maximum heat can be gained from the solar. To solve this project, we firstly had to
do some research on how to create a working solar water heater. Then, an analysis and
calculation had to be done in order to know the suitable size of flat box solar panel in m 2, the
rate of solar radiation gained in W/m2, the type flow region for air (solar panel) and water
(tube flow), total length of water tube attached to the solar panel, the total rate of heat transfer
to the water, the position angle  of the solar panel in order to gain the maximum solar
radiation and the efficiency of the solar water heater. However, to calculate these values, we
need to assume some of the temperature values, mass flow rate value and use the standard
pipe diameter. With the calculated values, we can design the solar water heater. After that,
the discussion was made. Lastly, the report was concluded, and a few recommendations were
presented in the report.

INTRODUCTION

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Solar energy has been a practical usage for supporting the energy problems faced by
the world. In the solar water heating system, the sunlight strikes and heats the absorber
surface within the collector which is where the energy is stored. The heated water is kept in a
different preheat tank until it is needed. If additional heat is required, the electricity or fossil-
fuel energy by the conventional water heating system will be provided. There are five types
of solar water heating system which are thermosiphon system, direct-circulation system,
drain down systems, indirect water heating systems and lastly the air system. In this project,
we are required to design a simple water heater that can increase the water temperature
minimum by 50% from the inlet water temperature given which is 34 oC by using the
knowledge of combination of natural convection and radiation. Besides, we also need to
obtain the maximum amount of heat that can be gained by our proposed design which can
been calculated by using the ambient temperature and the surface temperature of glass given
by 34oC and 50oC respectively, the sky temperature of 10oC and the absorber plate that has a
temperature of 90oC. Another requirement that need to achieve by the proposed design is that
the glass can transmit 90% of the incident radiation and also the glass given an emissivity of
0.8.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

In the current world, the usage of solar water heating is remaining low due to high
cost of commercial system. Efforts are continuously made to ensure the reducing of costs and
make it more affordable. Besides, the quality of the water heating system also needs to be
considered so that we can promote a higher number of customers that use the technology
based on renewable energy. By using this approach, we need to think about a design that
reasonable to the amount of cost that been paid by the customers. What are the factors that we
need to consider for designing such a high quality solar water heating system that can be
bought at an affordable price? And are the proposed dimensions are achieving the
requirement given in this project?

OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

In this case, some factors that need to be considering during the designing of solar
water heater are the type of the collector, the material used for the collector, the angle of
inclination and also the spacing between the glass cover and the absorber. For this project we
only focus on the factors such as the type of collector, the angle and also the type of flow
region. We need to predict a suitable dimension for the flat plate collector which needs a
bigger area of absorption so that the maximum amount of heat gained can achieve by
calculating the rate of solar radiation obtained for the plate’s design proposed. Next, we also
need to estimate the total length of water tube attached to the solar panel. In this case, we
need to choose a suitable length of tube so that we can reduce the pressure drop which can
minimize the power input to the circulating pump. Besides, the total rate of heat transfer to
the water also can be calculated since we have enough parameters for the solar panel.
Furthermore, the position angle of the solar panel also has been predicted in order to increase
the area of focusing by the sunlight onto the absorber. This is very crucial to gain the
maximum solar radiation. Lastly, the efficiency of the design also can be calculated based on
the obtained calculation from the predicted parameters.
COMPLETE DESIGN OF THE SOLAR WATER HEATER

a) The suitable size of flat box solar panel in m2.

A=9 m 2

b) The rate of solar radiation gained in W/m2.

Assumption of typical Malaysia solar radiation flux, Gsolar = 900 W/m2

c) The type flow region for air (solar panel) and water (tube flow).
For air, the flow should be turbulent flow.
For water, the flow should be transitional flow.

d) Total length of water tube attached to the solar panel.

L = 94.0 m

e) The total rate of heat transfer to the water.

Q̇ water =5957.955 W

f) The position angle  of the solar panel in order to gain the maximum solar
radiation.
 = 5o clockwise from horizontal line

g) The efficiency of the solar water heater.

E = 72.41 %
CALCULATIONS, RESULTS AND ANALYSIS.
Scope and Specifications
Material:
Absorber plate:
Emissivity , ε =0.18Surfacetemperature , T s=90 o C Thickness , t p =1 mm
Glass:
Transmissivity , τ=0.9Reflectivity , ρ=0.08
Thickness , t g=4 mm

Tube: (Assume thin tube)

Diameter , d i : 3 cm

Pump:
Volume flowrate , 5l /min ∨V̇ =8.33 x 10−5 m 3 / s

Power Input:
Gsolar =900 W /m 2 (Typical Malaysia Solar Radiation Flux)

Minimum Q to Increase the Temperature By 50 %

Initial temperature, T i=34 ℃

Exit temperature, T e =51℃
Bulk temperature, T b=(51℃ +34 ℃ )/2=42.5 ℃

Properties of water @ 42.5 ℃

Density, ρ=991.1 kg/m 3Heat capacity, c p=4180 J ⁄ kg . K
Thermal Conductivity: k =0.634 W / m2 . K Dynamic Viscosity: ¿ 0.6245 kg /m. s

Therefore, Q min is:

Q̇min =ṁ c p ( T e −T i )
ṁ=ρ V̇ =991.1 kg /m3 x 8.33 x 10−5 m 3 /s =8.256 x 10-2 kg/s
J
Q̇ min =¿8.256 x 10-2 kg/s¿( 4180 . K ) ( 51 ℃−34 ℃ )
kg
Q̇ min =5866.7 W
View factor calculations for radiation from the glass that is absorbed by the plate
Glass
L= 2 cm

x
y
 Absorber plate

X 1 Y 1
X́ = = =50Ý = = =50
L 0.02m L 0.02 m

Therefore,

viewfactor , f
1
(1+ X́ 2)(1+ Ý 2) 2 1 1
f=
2
π XY
´
ln
{[ 2
1+ X́ + Ý 2 ] 2 2
+ X́ (1+ Ý ) tan −1
X́

(1+ Ý )
1
2 2
2 2
+ Ý (1+ X́ ) tan−1
Ý

(1+ X́ )
1
2 2
− X́ tan−1 X́−Ý tan−1 Ý
}
f =0.9615

Heat lost
Due to convention from glass to ambient air
Surface Temperature: T s=50 ℃
Ambient Temperature: T ∞=34 ℃
(T ¿ ¿ s +T ∞ )
Film Temperature: =42℃ ¿
2

Properties of air at 42℃

Density: ρ=1.01198 kg /m3
Specific heat capacity: c p=1007 J /kg . K Thermal Conductivity: k = 0.02665 W/m.K
Kinematic Viscosity:  = 1.7212 x 10−5 m2 / s
Prandtl number: Pr = 0.7249

1 −3 −1
Coefficient of volume expansion: β= =1 /(42+273)=3.175 x 10 K
T
Grashof Number : (Assume L=4 m)
3 2 9.81 x 3.1746 x 10−3 x ( 50−34 ) x 4 3
Gr = gβ (T s−T ∞) Lc /υ =
(1.7212 x 10−5 )2
Gr = 1.0765 x 1011 (It is turbulent)

Nusselt number: Nu = 0.1 Ra1/l 4=0.1 x (1.0765 x 1011 )1/ 3 = 475.7

475.7 x 0.02665 W /mK
Heat transfer coefficient: h = Nuk / L = = 3.17 W/m 2 . K
4m
Heat flux lost: q = h((T ¿ ¿ s−T ∞ )¿= 3.17W /m 2 K x (50-34)K = 50.7 W /m 2 . K

Radiation heat lost from absorber plate to glass

q=ε plate σ ( T 4plate −T 4glass )
 q=0.18 x 5.67 x 10−8 ( ( 90+273 )4−( 50+273 )4 )
q=66.12 w /m2
Total heat loss: q lost =66.12+ 50.7=116.82 W /m2

Calculation for Absorber Plate Heat Flux

q̇ absorb =τ glass α plate f G solarq̇ absorb=0.9 ( 1 ) (0.9615)( 900 )=778.815 W /m2

q̇ plate= q̇absorb −qlost
q̇ plate=778.815−116.82=661.995W /m 2

Calculation for Water Heat Flux

Assuming negligible thermal resistance of the plate and the copper tube
q̇ net =q̇ plate −q̇ water
Insulation cause the q̇ net =0
q̇ plate= q̇water =661.995 W /m2

a) The suitable size of flat box solar panel in m2.

Q̇ 5866.7 W
Amin = =
q̇ water W
661.995 2
m

Amin =8.86 m2
It is suggested that the dimension of the solar panel used is 3 m x 3m with the area 9 m2

b) The rate of solar radiation gained in W/m2.

Assuming typical Malaysia solar radiation flux, Gsolar = 900 W/m2

c) The type flow region for air (solar panel) and water (tube flow).

Type of flow region of air :Turbulent (Since Ga ¿ 109)

Type of flow region of water: Transitional flow (Since 2300 < Re < 10000)
3
−5 m
8.33 x 10 m
Velocity: v = V̇ s = 0.1178
= s
A 0.25 x π x (0.03 m)2
Reynold’s Number:
kg m
991.1 3 x 0.1178 x 0.03 m
ρvd m s = 5608.56 (Transitional flow)
ℜ= =
μ −3
0.6245 x 10 kg . m/ s
d) Total length of water tube attached to the solar panel.

Q̇ 5866.7W
L= =
Q water
˙ =q̇ water A s =q̇ water π d i L q̇ water π di W L=94.0 m
( )
π 661.995 2 (0.03 m)
m

e) The total rate of heat transfer to the water.

q̇ water =661.995W /m 2
W
Q̇ water =661.995 2 ( 3 m x 3 m )=5957.955 W
m

f) The position angle  of the solar panel in order to gain the maximum solar radiation.

Position Angle  of the Solar Panel

5o

= 5o clockwise from horizontal line

g) The efficiency of the solar water heater.

E=
Q̇water q̇ A q̇ πd L
×100 %= water s × 100 %= water i × 100 %=
(
π 661.995
m2 )( 0.03 m ) (94.0 m)
×100 %
A Gsolar A Gsolar A Gsolar (9 m2)(900 W /m2)
¿72.41 %
DISCUSSION

In the process of designing a simple yet effective Solar Water Heater, numerous
research and journals papers, commercial products specifications and references are referred
to ease the completion of this project. First and foremost, the amount of incident radiation to

W
solar collector is determined to be 900 according to the Typical Malaysia Solar Radiation
m2
Flux and also denoted with G solar . To smoothen the calculation process, all materials
properties for glass and absorber plate are based on the commercial products specification.

Based on the calculation that have been done, the outlet temperature of water is able
to be increased by 50% from 34°C to 51C°. The minimum Q value to increase the
temperature by 50% is calculated by obtaining the properties of water at the bulk temperature
of 42.5°C. The minimum Q obtained is 5866.7 W .Furthermore, the view factor calculations
for radiation from the glass that is absorbed by the plate of 0.9615 also calculated by
considering the f formula from the table. On the other hand, the heat lost during convection
from glass to ambient air also taken into consideration during the calculation. The properties
of air are obtained from the film temperature of 42°C and the heat loss is 50.7 W /m 2 . K and
the radiation heat loss also calculated using the formula and obtained 66.12 W/m 2. The total
heat loss is 116.82 W /m2 .

The minimum area for flat-box size calculated for this project is 8.86 m2. However, it
is decided that 9 m2 is the suitable value where calculation for tube length would be easy.
Types of flow in the copper tube are determined by using Reynold number. The flow is
transitional where the value is between 2300<Re<10000. There is no air flow between glass
and absorber plate (evacuated).The total length of water tube attached to the solar panel is
94.0 m where it is calculated using the formula. The position angle of the solar panel is set to
5° clockwise from the horizontal line as it will increase the effectiveness of the solar panel.
Finally, the efficiency of the solar heater is calculated using this formula of

Q̇ water q̇ water A s q̇ water π d i L

E= ×100 %= × 100 %= × 100 % and will obtain 72.41 %.
A G solar A G solar A G solar
CONCLUSION

From this experiment, we can conclude that to design a simple yet effective solar
water heater, the heat loss due to conduction, convection and radiation, the absorber plate
heat flux, the minimum area, the length of the tube, type of flow region of air and water, and
position angle of solar panel should be considered. Thus, the main objective to design a
project where the outlet water temperature which increased to 50% is achieved. Lastly, it is
recommended that further investigation into the subject matter continued by implementing
different types of material properties for glass and absorber plate to design even a better solar
water heater.

RECOMMENDATION

Even though the project was successful, there are some recommendation on how we
can further improve the solar water heater. First of all, the inclination angle of the solar
collectors should be installed at an angle at least equal to the latitude of the site. Most of the
solar water heater systems examined has their collectors installed at the same angle as the
roof and little consideration appears to have been given to the inclination angle at which the
solar collector was installed at. Performance of the solar water heater can be improved by
installing the solar collectors at a high inclination angle. Lastly, we need to reduce the
standing losses of each system. If the losses of the system are reduced, more of the renewable
energy collected can go towards replacing the heat drawn-off from the system by the
household’s occupants. Then, the performance of parallel flow solar collectors is better than
the series flow collectors. The parallel flow collector has an improved thermal efficiency.