Solar Collecting Water Heating System

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Solar Collecting Water Heating System

• Victor Salinas
• Josh Wilkins
• Christian Cantu

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Overview of the situation being addressed

• The demand of Energy is on the Rise
• Energy demand is increasing as third world
  countries industrialize
• Alternative methods of energy are being sought to
  minimize consumption of natural resources
• Several systems in the past have been developed
  to harness solar energy as a means to heat water

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Need statement

• Previous systems using renewable energy to heat
  water have been found to be bulky and have a high
  initial and maintenance cost. Our client requires
  a system that is lightweight and cheap, but
  strong enough for various operating conditions.

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Goal/Objectives

• Goal
• Create direct solar powered water heating system
• Solar collector (parabolic dish and frame)
• Water circulation system
• Objectives
• Build a collector that uses the optimal materials
  available
• Make a strong and lightweight frame for collector
• Must allow for optimal heating of water
• Design for future mass production with low cost

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Constraints

• Strong and durable
• Withstand up to hurricane winds (75 mph)
• Withstand sunlight degradation (UV resistance for
  10 years)
• Capacity of the System
• Storage tank can hold (40 gallons)
• High efficiency
• Have an Output over input efficiency of at least
  90
• Affordable
• Mass Production cost must be under 500
• Adjustable
• Allow for optimization due to sun position
  (entire planet)
• Can be mounted on roof tops
• Inclinations up to 45o

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Market Assessment (Benchmark)

• Conventional Water Heater (W.H.)
• Storage tank capacity 20-80 gal
• Fuel options Electric, natural gas, oil,
  propane
• 30-45 efficiency
• Initial cost 150-450
• Draw Back standby losses energy needed to
  keep hot
• Professional Solar Water Heating Systems
• Suns energy harnessed to reduce operating cost up
  to 90
• Last 15-40 years
• Uses energy to directly heat water, various means
• Initial cost 1500-3500
• 4-8 years payback with savings in gas/electricity
• Draw Back initial price too high (requires
  backup water heating source)

Energy star
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Final Concept Selection

• FRAME Single Post
• DISH Fixed
• WATER CIRCULATION Direct Heating w/ Convective
  flow

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Pr0-e Model
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frame Verification (Dimensions)
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Road Map

• Baseline analysis of previous systems, and
  varying types of aluminized reflective film have
  been established
• Initial SCRIMP fabrication of dish has been
  completed. Phase two of fabrication will take
  place once materials are in place.
• Stand for testing original dish
• Water system setup and analysis

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Angle optimization

• Developing program that will tell position of the
  sun as a function of time, day, latitude and
  longitude
• Current program dictates position of sun for
  Edinburg, TX

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Questions?