Polaris: a new technology for low-cost solar/gas water heaters. Final report Dec 80-Feb 82

Technical Report · Mon Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:6823679

Pelka, D G

A low-cost solar/gas augmented system (POLARIS) was designed, fabricated, and tested in prototype form. Based upon F-chart analysis, and when averaged over the U.S., this system would supply 48% of the annual heating load for a family of four. As part of this system, a new type of optical lens was fabricated which has major advantages over existing Fresnel lens systems. A new Freon driven tracking system was developed as part of the POLARIS system. This system tracked to within 1 degree accuracy and required no electric power for operation. The projected installed cost of the POLARIS system to the consumer is $900. In addition, modeling of various solar/gas interface scenarios was accomplished. These studies indicated that the most cost-effective overall system use occurred when an instantaneous point-of-use gas water heater was incorporated into the POLARIS system.

• Research Organization: Northrop Univ., Inglewood, CA (USA). Energy Research Center
• OSTI ID: 6823679
• Report Number(s): PB-83-126060
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140907* -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Water Heating
APPLIANCES
BUILDINGS
BURNERS
COST
DESIGN
EQUIPMENT
F-CHART
GAS BURNERS
HEATERS
HELIOSTATS
LENSES
PERFORMANCE
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR TRACKING
SOLAR TRACKING SYSTEMS
SOLAR WATER HEATERS
WATER HEATERS