Thermal and Economic Analysis of Low Cost Water Heater made by Plastic Tub

Abstract

A solar water heater is a device that heats water using solar energy. The technology is widely employed on a huge scale all over the world. Even though it is used on a massive scale, many with lower incomes still cannot afford it. The objective of the proposed work is to design and build a low-cost solar water heater which will be cost and performance efficient for the people belonging to lower income group. A basic plastic water storage tub has been converted into a low-cost water heater. The design includes an insulated storage tub, a reflector made of card and aluminum foil, and a floating cover made of bamboo strip. The transparent plastic sheet at the top and the black polythene at the bottom make up the floating cover. Black polythene absorbs sun radiation after it is sent from the top. When water comes into contact with a lower, black face, it warms up. The attached reflector increases the amount of solar energy that is received. The proposed heater's mathematical model has been created and experimentally verified. The performance of the proposed heater has been determined for a typical day in winter season for the climate of Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India (21.2514° N, 81.6296° E). The proposed water heater with reflector has been compared with heater without reflector. It is seen that the heater with reflector showing better performance than the heater without reflector, the maximum water temperature achieved in a day is 37.6^oC, water is heated maximum up to 17.6^oC for heater with reflector. The total amount of heat energy supplied for a day is 1812.2kJ which is about 13% more than the total heat supplied to water without heater. The cost of the proposed water heater is Rs0.0165/L(US$0.00002/L).it is found to be economical and can be affordable to people belonging to lower income group.