VARIATIONAL METHOD IN THE DESIGN OF AN OPTIMUM SOLAR WATER HEATER STORAGE TANK
Keywords:
Solar, solar water heater, thermosyphon-flow solar water heating, Lagrange multiplier methodAbstract
Solar water heaters are now have been accepted as a reliable source ojproviding
hot water heating in many domestic homes and are becoming more popular.
Unfortunately, solar water heaters are still considered luxurious hardware in
Malaysia. A cheaper and efficient solar water heater system is required to he
designed. 11,e only way to produce cheaper and efficien t product is through the
optimization process to obtain the minimum cost but still maintain the
specification required or known as constraints. In this paper, the vertical water
storage tank will be analyzed to obtain the optimum cost. Thermosyphon-j1ow
solar water heating system is prefe rred for obvious economic reasons since they
do not require circulation pumps and control units. Average temperature of the
hot water tn the storage lank is determined through tempera/lire distribution
simulation. The overall average temperature obtained is 49.i c and is used 10
solve the optimization problem. The cons traints in the optimization process are the
tank volume and heat losses from the water in the tank. The Lagrange multiplier
method, which is based on the differentiation of the objective f unction and the
constraints is applied. The minimum cost obtained/or storage tank volume of225
litres i.f R.\J.lJ21.66.
References
I. Chuawittayawuth, K. and Kumar, S., 2002. Experimental investigation of temperature and flow distribution in a thennosyphon solar water heating system, Renewable Energy, 26, 431- 448.
Oliveski, Krenzinger and Vielmo, 2003. Cooling of cylindrical vertical tanks submitted to natural internal convection, Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer , 46, 20152026.
Oliveski, Krenzinger and Vielmo, 2003. Comparison between models for the simulation of hot water storage tanks, Solar Energy. 75, 121-134.
Yogesh Jaluria, 1998. Design and Optimization of Thermal Systems, New York: Mcgraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
S. Ong, K.S., 1994. Solar Water Heaters Engineering and Applications, Kuala Lumpur. University ofMalaya Press.
Misha, S., 2006. Variational Method in the Design of an Optimum Solar Water Heater Storage Tank, Final Year B.Eng. Thesis. Facu lty of Mechanical Engineering, UTM Skudai.
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