Sizing of an Autonomous Individual Solar Water Heater Based in Oran, Algeria

Abstract

The study concerns an autonomous individual solar water heater installed in the Oran region in Algeria. Supplied by two sources of solar thermal and photovoltaic energy, this solar water heater provides domestic hot water for the needs of an average family of 6 people. A comparative approach was made to find the most adequate solution between increasing the surface area of the thermal solar panel or those of the photovoltaic panels, by analyzing the solar fraction and the efficiency of the thermal panels. The choice was make for a thermal panel with a surface area of 4 m2 and complete with 16 photovoltaic panels, thus resulting in a total surface area of 14 m2 to obtain an autonomous solar water heater powered only by solar energy. Another option was considered by incorporating a photovoltaic thermal panel, and substantial savings were found.

Comprehensive Investigation of Solar Water Heater System Performance, Stratification, Charging, and Discharging Efficiency Using TRNSYS Software

“…For this study, consumption is 240 liters per day at a temperature of 60°C for a family of six people. The fraction of consumption per hour adapted from [23] is shown in Figure 5; the profile is variable and reaches peaks of 10% in the early morning and the evening; the rest of the day it oscillates between 0, 2, and 4%.…”

“…By doing the simulation with the TRNSYS code, the temperature of several nodes was followed for a day, and the behavior of the system was analyzed. Baki et al [20] analytically studied a solar water heater by comparing the balance of inputs, outputs, and accumulation at the tank level; the approach was formulated mathematically, which made it possible to determine the powers and the internal temperature of the balloon. Shuhong et al [21] experimentally studied the performance of the position of the exchanger in a storage tank of a solar water heater, as well as the efficiency of charging and discharging.…”

Influence of the Number of Tanks on the Performance of a Domestic Solar Water Heater

“…Figure6 depicts the evolution of the solar fraction as the collector's surface increases; the more the surface increases, the more the solar fraction is important, then tends to a limited value, so our choice will be made on a surface of 4m 2 , where the solar fraction is greater than 0.6 and, beyond that, the temperature inside the flask is close to boiling, as indicated by Baki and others. [15]…”

“…The decrease of the thermocline and the influencing parameters in idle and dynamic modes were presented, as well as the improvement in performance and its quantification were illustrated. Baki and others [10] have studied the performance of a forced circulation solar water heater for the hot water needs of an average family by mathematical formulations. After taking stock of the inputs and outputs at the level of the tank, the average temperature of the tank was followed, showing that it can exceed 50°C without adding auxiliary energy.…”