Development of a freeze-tolerant solar water heater using crosslinked polyethylene as a material of construction. Final report, June 18, 1976--October 1, 1977

Technical Report · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1978

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5149534· OSTI ID:5149534

Bradley, J. M.

The feasibility of building a freeze-tolerant absorber for a solar water heater out of carbon-black-reinforced crosslinked polyethylene has been explored. Ten-foot tube specimens made from various crosslinked polyethylene formulations were filled with water at various pressures, and then placed into a deep freeze, then thawed and frozen again for 100 freeze-thaw cycles, or until the tube specimen failed. Tube diameters were measured before and after each freezing to determine how much distention the freezing caused, and how much permanent distention was caused by the strains of repeated freezings. Five tube specimens containing water at as high as 80 psi survived 100 freeze-thaw cycles. Also, a flat plate collector was fabricated using as absorber surface a single 400 ft tube of carbon-black-reinforced crosslinked polyethylene in the form of a flat spiral coil and this collector was tested for performance at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. The performance test indicates that the absorbancy of such a flat spiral coil to solar radiation is similar to typical black surfaces used on solar absorbers. Thus, it does seem very feasible that domestic water can be directly heated in a solar collector having an absorber made from crosslinked polyethylene, and that this collector can safely withstand at least 100 freeze-thaw cycles.

• Research Organization: Polyset, Inc., Manchester, Mass. (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5149534
• Report Number(s): COO-2956-8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
141000* -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
ABSORPTIVITY
APPLIANCES
DESIGN
ELECTRIC APPLIANCES
FLAT PLATE COLLECTORS
FREEZE PROTECTION
FREEZING
GAS APPLIANCES
HEATERS
MATERIALS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POLYETHYLENES
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
SOLAR ABSORBERS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR WATER HEATERS
TESTING
THERMAL CYCLING
TUBES
WATER HEATERS