Integration of heat pipe solar water heating systems with different residential households: An energy, environmental, and economic evaluation

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2020.100662Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • Hourly-based energy, environmental, and economic evaluations of HPSWH systems.

  • One, two, and four-occupant households in Perth as case studies.

  • 36–51% contribution of HPSWH system in supplying required energy in winter.

  • 387–1146.8 kg of CO2 emissions avoidance by implementing the solar system.

  • Most economic feasibility in houses with more occupants and electric backup system.

Abstract

This study presents a detailed methodology for evaluating the energy, environmental, and economic contributions of heat pipe solar water heating (HPSWH) systems in various households. The hot water consumption patterns of Perth residents in Australia in one, two, and four-occupant houses are extracted in hourly basis throughout a year. The annual performance of the system is evaluated based on parameters such as saved energy, solar fraction, avoided CO2 emission, saved money, and payback period. Moreover, an experimental rig is designed, manufactured, and tested. The results show that the contribution of the solar system in meeting the hot water demand is around 99% in summer, while this contribution drops to 36–51% in winter. Almost 387–1146.8 kg of CO2 emissions can be avoided annually in Perth if HPSWH systems are integrated with the conventional heating systems. In addition, it is shown that the HPSWH system has its most economic justification in households with higher number of occupants. Moreover, the payback period is much lower for houses with conventional electric water heating systems compared to houses with LPG systems.

Keywords

Heat pipe
Thermal performance
Energy evaluation
Solar water heating

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