The evolutionary thermal performance and development of a novel thermal diode pre-heat solar water heater under simulated heat flux conditions

M. Smyth, P. Quinlan, J.D. Mondol, A. Zacharopoulos, D. McLarnon and A. Pugsley

Renewable Energy, 2017, vol. 113, issue C, 1160-1167

Abstract: This paper presents the development through experimental performance characterisation of a pre-heat ICSSWH that utilises a novel thermal diode operation to reduce ambient heat loss during non-collection periods. Using a bespoke thermal flux simulation test facility, 4 prototype versions of the pre-heat thermal diode ICSSWH were produced and evaluated (Mark I to IV) at Ulster University. Each prototype was developed and evolved on the previous design, encompassing performance improvements and fabrication enhancements. The concept has been designed and developed to be a sustainable, pre-heat alternative to other solar water heating systems traditionally used in DHW installations in retro-fit and social housing applications. The highest 6 h and 3 h collection efficiency was 33.2% and 41.97%, respectively under thermally simulated conditions for a unit with capillary matting and 150 mbar internal pressure (MIIIb 17). The lowest system ‘U’ value was 0.98 W m−2K−1 (long and thin raised pockets, MIV 12) under thermal (solar) flux simulation testing and no draw-off conditions. When the current prototype ICS units are compared with other conventional ICS systems, particularly in terms of thermal retention during non-collection periods, an improved performance is clearly demonstrated. The measured thermal losses were approximately 50% less than other similarly measured systems.

Keywords: ICSSWH; Pre-heat; Thermal flux simulation; Thermal diode (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148117305840
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:113:y:2017:i:c:p:1160-1167

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2017.06.080

Access Statistics for this article

Renewable Energy is currently edited by Soteris A. Kalogirou and Paul Christodoulides

More articles in Renewable Energy from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu (repec@elsevier.com).