On-Grid Flat Plate Solar Water Heater Collector Application for Electrical Energy Saving Contribution

Year 2025, Volume: 38 Issue: 1, 159 - 165

Aed I. Owaid , Sabah M. Hadi , Mohamed S Mahdi , Husam Sabeeh Al-arab , Hassan I. Mohammed

https://doi.org/10.35378/gujs.1463435

Abstract

This study introduces a novel approach in Baghdad, Iraq, where flat plate solar heaters are directly connected to the electric heater without the use of storage tanks. This setup operates in a manner similar to solar cells connected to the electric grid, without the need for electrical energy storage during daylight hours (on-grid). A series of solar heaters, covering a total area of 3 m2, have been linked to the electric water heater. This arrangement allows the water supplied to the electric heater to either be pre-heated by the solar heaters or delivered directly. The percentage of electrical energy saved to obtain 100 liters of hot water at 40 °C using a water mixer was 53% and 57% when adjusting the electrical heater thermostat to 60 °C and 80 °C, respectively. This was found by comparing the electrical energy usage of the electric heater in both cases (preheating and direct supply).

Keywords

Solar collector, Electrical water heater, Electrical energy saving, Thermal batteries, On-grid

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