Design and Construction of an Adjustable Solar Water Heater using the Thermosyphon Principle

Abstract

Solar water heating systems (SWHs) have gained prominence as a sustainable solution for domestic and industrial water heating needs. The reliance on fossil fuels and the increasing demand for renewable energy have intensified research on improving the efficiency and adaptability of SWHs. This study focuses on the design, construction, and experimentation of an adjustable solar water heating system employing the thermosyphon principle. The system’s performance was evaluated across various conditions, emphasizing the correlation between irradiance levels, outlet temperature, and efficiency. The study highlights the critical role of optimizing system orientation and tilt angle, particularly in regions with changing weather patterns and diverse sunlight angles. The efficiency of the system was found to be significantly influenced by the collector tilt angle, with optimal configuration identified for maximizing energy conversion efficiency. The adjustable solar water heater achieved impressive results, including a peak outlet temperature of 79.30°C, a recorded irradiance level of 940 W/m 2 , and a peak efficiency of 76.08%. these findings underscore the importance of thoughtful system design and optimization in advancing sustainable water heating solutions. Future recommendations, including collector design optimization and integration of temperature controls, offer promising avenues for further improving system performance and user convenience.