Experimental evaluation of a solar water heater integrated with a corrugated absorber plate and insulated flat reflectors

Abstract

When it comes to renewable energy, solar water heaters are among the fastest-growing technologies. Comparatively speaking, integrated collector-storage solar water heater systems cost less than other solar water heater designs. Therefore, both the construction and the operation of a combined collector-storage solar water heater are quite straightforward. The integrated storage solar collector coupled with reflectors has been experimentally investigated. The reflectors were insulated from the back side when working during the day hours and as insulated cover during the night hours. While comparing the combined collector-storage solar water heater with and without insulated reflectors, the results showed that the insulated reflectors increased the thermal efficiency by 23%. Furthermore, on the coldest day, the stored water reached a high of 82 degrees Celsius, though it was only 46 degrees Celsius that same morning.