Comparative Analysis of Six Generic Solar Domestic Hot Water Systems

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5477625· OSTI ID:5477625

Farrington, Robert; Noreen, Darryl; Murphy, L. M.

Results were analyzed from experiments on six solar domestic hot water systems tested at National Bureau of Standards. Use of pumps, fans, controls, and solenoid valves in the pumped systems resulted in high parasitic energy consumption. Storage losses from double tank systems were greater than expected due to poor storage tank insulation. Direct systems performed better than indirect systems as expected. The thermosyphon delivered the most solar energy to the hot water load for the lowest initial cost. The air system performed poorly due to the parasitic energy consumption and poor heat transfer across the air-to-water heat exchanger. Reliable freeze protection needs to be developed for direct systems, especially thermosyphon systems, to take advantage of direct heat transfer.

• Research Organization: Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 5477625
• Report Number(s): SERI/TP-351-549
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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