The overall performance rating of a thermosyphon solar water heater should take into consideration its heat removal efficiency during the system application phase. This study employs a precise on-line operation to first identify physical heat removal patterns of a thermosyphon solar water heater, and then develops an empirical model for deriving its characteristic heat removal efficiency. This empirical model is in the form of a logarithmic curve, and has a high data correlation coefficient of 0.889 to 0.967. Based upon the empirical model, this study defines a characteristic heat removal efficiency parameter for thermosyphon solar water heaters. Finally, this study establishes a storage tank design method which enables the characteristic heat removal efficiency of the complete system to be optimized.

Issue Section:
Technical Papers
Keywords:
solar heating, solar absorber-convertors, thermal energy storage, tanks (containers), heat transfer
Topics:
Heat, Solar energy, Storage tanks, Water
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Copyright © 2004
 by ASME
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