Solar Water Heating

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Solar Water Heating

• EDSGN 100.008
• Team 7
• Rachel Lower
• Jimmy Hankins
• Alex Nadolny
• Eric Hanley
• Sean McKee

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Our Objectives

• Create a system for heating water and storing
• 6 gallons per minute at 110 degrees F
• Solar powered
• Minimize costs in order to
• increase profit

Figure 1 - http//www.neatitems.com/ images/Nouvea
u_Jet_Shower_Head.JPG
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Our Market
Figure 2 - www.borton-lawson.com
Figure 3 - www.solardecathlon.org Right Figure
4 - http//blog.visiondecor.com/imgs/environmenta
lly20friendly.jpg
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Background

• Build a hot water system
• Solar Decathlon, a competition between
  international universities for the design of a
  house powered by the sun.
• Raise awareness of solar power and introduce
  these technologies into the market faster.

Figure 5 - http//www.insepsis.com/ images/portfol
io/portLarge /goingGreen.jpg
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Borton-Lawson - The Sponsors

• Borton-Lawson is a team of design professionals
• Founded by two Penn State graduates in 1988
• Strives to be green by protecting the environment
  
• Combines engineering with architecture, a purpose
  of the Solar Decathlon

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Solar Water Heating Background

• Pulstar Corporation made several major
  advancements for solar water heating in the
  1980s
• DC pumps and PV modules were used
• In the late 1980s, 95 of manufacturers of solar
  water heaters went out of business
• Solar water heating components are very expensive

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Solar Water Heating Today

• Low demand because people are not concerned with
  the limited supply of fossil fuels left on the
  Earth
• Alternative energy source needs to be developed
• Cost effective, environmentally safe hot water
  system
• Maintaining the temperature of the water using
  solar power only while minimizing heat losses
• Developing a cost effective water system
  affordable for the customer

Figure 6 - http//www.insepsis.com/ images/portfol
io/portLarge /goingGreen.jpg
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Tube Fence
Figure 7 - Fence Model
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Tapered Pipes
Figure 8 - Tapered Pipe
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Skylight
Figure 9 - Skylight
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Our Solution

• Solar Cell
• Energy transferred to heating coils wrapped
  around copper pipe
• Water inside pipe absorbs heat
• Pipe insulated to prevent heat loss

Figure 10 - Solar Cell
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Our Solution

• Large 115 gallon storage tank
• Provides the residents of the house with 34
  gallons of 110 degrees F water per hour

Figure 11 - Tank
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Figure 12 - CAD Prototype