Design & Performance analysis of Portable Solar Water Heating System for Rural Areas: Himalayan Regions, India

Abstract

Domestic Solar Water Heating systems (SWHs) have very low penetration specifically in the rural areas of Northern, Eastern and North-Eastern Himalayan States as the present SWHs are expensive, non-availability of good sun shine hours and weak manufacturing base & supply chain of this product in selected states. The paper is focused on field performance of developed low cost solar water heater for domestic applications for the rural areas of Himalayan regions. Field Performance data of Portable Solar Water Heating System (PSWHs) has been recorded during summer and winter months. It is observed that on solar Global Radiation of 3.28kWh/m2, the maximum temperature of hot water has reached 690C at ambient temperature of 270C within four to five hours showing a temperature difference of 420C and maximum thermal efficiency of 74%.

Keywords

• Solar Global Radiation, Low Cost & Light Weight Portable Solar Water Heater, Thermal Performance