DESIGN OF A SOLAR

THERMAL SYSTEM
Ricardo Alberto Bordes Garca
Juan Carlos Carpio lvarez
Galo Andrs Durazno Palacios
Juan Andrs Rubio Segovia
Gilson Wladimir Triana Ruiz
Jos Luis Vargas Jurado
ABSTRACT

In this project we developed a design for a solar thermal

system for heating water up to 50C for the consumption
inside a house with three people. A flat plate collector
was selected for this purpose. This kind of collector
seemed as the perfect choice because of its easy
construction and installation and an adequate range of
operation. Dimensions and payback period were
calculated to show how this could be a feasible
alternative to electrical or gas powered systems.
INTRODUCTION

Today, the consumption of energy from hydrocarbons has

increased its economic and environmental costs, due to
the depletion of these non-renewable natural resources,
making it necessary to make a change in our consumption
of energy sources. One of the areas where large amount
of energy is consumed in homes is heating water, in terms
of a water heater can replace the use of gas by solar
energy.
GENERAL OBJECTIVE

Design a solar heating system to heat water up to

50 C for consumption in a house with three
people.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

Learn the types and parts of a solar heater.

Understand how a solar heater works.

Design a solar collector to the required specifications.

Show if it is feasible to install this kind of system.

FLATE PLATE COLLECTOR

They consist of a sealed box with a

glass cover or some other
transparent material. Inside an
absorber plate which is in contact
with tubes for circulation of a heat
carrying liquid is located.

The flat plate collectors are very

sophisticated greenhouses that
catch and use the heat of the sun to
increase the temperature of the
water up to 70C
FLAT PLATE COLLECTOR

The normal collectors of

serpentine or parallel tubes
consist of several copper tubes
oriented vertically with respect
to the collector and in contact
the dark colored plate , this plate
is generally metal although in
some cases may be plastic or
some other material.
DEVELOPING

Hot water requirements vary from person to person, but

for the calculations are estimated values:

Table taken from Users Handbook on: SOLAR WATER HEATERS.

DEVELOPING
Considering a household with three people and losses.
= 40 + 10 + 15 1.2 3 = 234 /

To calculate the area of the collector needed we consider:

Supply water temperature = 20C
Requirement temperature = 50C

For our solar collector efficiency we use the following table:

Table taken from Users Handbook on: SOLAR WATER HEATERS.

DEVELOPING
Where our T = 30 C, so the efficiency would be The following equation is used to calculate
0.57 the area,

The energy absorbed by the water is:

=
=
Where = 1 /2
= 234 4156.25 50 20

= 29176.88
In the equator, the daily irradiation time
approaches 5.7 hours, so we have:

It is also known that: 51187.51

=
5.7 3600
= 2.5 2

=
Commercially in the country are 1.3 m2 solar
29176.88 collectors. So for our design will be require
=
0.57 two solar collectors of 1.3 m2.
= 51187.51 Each collector has within an average of 9-13
copper tubes, depending on its
configuration.
PAYBACK PERIOD
We compare this system to a It is 24.31 dollars a month, being
typical electric heating system. a total of 291.72 dollar annually.
The approximate cost of two solar
collector is $1200.
From:
= 29176.88
1200/291.72 = 4.11
Knowing that 1 kWh = 3.6 MJ
So we will have a return of the
initial investment by the 4th year.
With an electric resistance
efficiency of 100%.
We got 8.1 kWh by 30 days a
month = 243.14 kWh at a cost of
10 cents/kWh
CONCLUSIONS
The solar thermal system to heat water in a home where three people
live is very useful, it is efficient and clean at the same time.

The design of a system that meets the required specifications and

maintain all controlled variables was develop.

To reach an appropriate system, we had to understand the entire

system and the types at which we could use.

Various methods of heat transfer and energy were used to establish

the necessary parameters and get the desired results.

Considering the average life of a solar collector system is 15 years, a

payback period of 4 years seems like a feasible option for water
heating.