|
|
|
|
Statement of Need
Solar thermal water systems sold today have a number of problems that prevent their wide spread adoption. Most solar thermal water systems cost between $1000-3000 to purchase and install. The systems also have to include freeze protection and over heat protection, which require an added cost and reduces reliability. Finally, a solar collector has zero efficiency any time the collector is not at a temperature in excessive of the heat transfer temperature.
Dr. Lonnie Draper, the chairman of Avocare, has requested the design of a solar thermal system that uses air as the heat transfer medium. The challenge will be to effectively transfer the heat between the sun and the air and between the air and the water. The system will be comprised of three main components. First, a solar collector will be build to transfer heat between the sun and the air. The next component is some type of pump or compressor used to move the air. The last component will be a heat exchanger to transfer heat between the air and the water storage tank.
|
|
|
