International Journal of JOURNAL

Mechanical Engineering
and Technology (IJMET),
ISSN 0976
INTERNATIONAL
OF MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING
6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online) Volume 4, Issue 3, May - June (2013) IAEME
AND TECHNOLOGY (IJMET)

ISSN 0976 6340 (Print)

ISSN 0976 6359 (Online)
Volume 4, Issue 3, May - June (2013), pp. 273-280
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IJMET
IAEME

EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF SOLAR WATER HEATER USING

POROUS MEDIUM AND AGITATOR
Dr. R. P. Sharma
Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology
Mesra, Ranchi, 835215 India. E-mail: rpsharmabit123@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
The aim of the present study is to improve the thermal performance of flat plate solar
collector using a novel cost effective enhanced heat transfer technique. The present work
focuses on the process of energy conversion from the collector to the working fluid. This
experimentally accomplished by using agitator in the riser tube ,packing of collectors surface
with pebbles and stainless steel chips. The basic purpose of agitator in the riser tube is to
intensify heat transfer , packing of collector surface with pebbles and stainless steel chips is
for longer heat retention and enhanced heat capture respectively .it has been found that the
efficiency of collector with agitator and metal chips is highest among all other combinations.
Keywords: Porous medium, pebbles, agitator, solar water heater etc
1.

INTRODUCTION

In performance of flat plate solar collectors used in modern domestic hot water
systems have not changed significantly in past. In past in order to estimate the performance of
solar water heaters, water circulating to storage by thermosyphon was investigated. The use
of an optical element consisting of three specularly reflective surfaces and an infrared
reflective surface finding towards the absorber of a plate solar collector has been designed
[3]. By incorporating a panel of such optical elements in between the absorber and the
window of the flat plate solar water collector, the radiation and convection heat losses were
reduced.
Afterward, more comprehensive studies to evaluate the thermal performance of a
thermosyphone system were conducted. An experimental test ring, incorporating a system
having fine thermocouple on the bottom surface of the water pipes and six thermocouples on
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International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976

6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online) Volume 4, Issue 3, May - June (2013) IAEME

the bottom surface of the water pipes and six thermocouple on the bottom surface of the
absorber plate was designed and tests performed. Thermocouples were also placed in the
storage tank [1, 2]. The performance of a thermosyphone system with vertical or horizontal
storage tank was maximized when the daily collector volumetric flow was approximately
equal to the daily load flow. Am experimental study was conducted in a water flat plate
collector with laminar flow conditions to analyze the flow distribution through the collector
[4].it was conducted that the flow distribution depends on the relation between energy loss on
the risers and the energy losses in the manifolds. To obtain a homogeneous flow distribution
to influence of the energy losses in the risers must control the system. Laminar flow in
internally formed tubes by assuming constant and uniform heat flux in tube and fin surface
has been analyzed using fins should great enhancement in thermal performed [5].
2. EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
The experiments were conducted at the solar laboratory at the mechanical engineering
department, BIT Mesra. The coordinates of the place are 23.4120N, 85.4390E.The basic parts
of the working models are - Flat plate water heater, Insulated Water Storage Tank,
Instruments used, Eppley Pyranometer, Digital Thermometer, Agitator using Copper Wire,
Packing Media, Pebbles, Stainless Steel chips. The frame of the solar collector was cuboidal
in shape and made of plywood 10mm thick. The internal dimensions of the collector were
1.2m x 0.6m x 18cm. Five pieces of plywood were sawed off from a larger piece and then
attached to each other with nails. The top surface of the collector was left open for the glass
cover plate. Aluminium channels were nailed onto the top of the frame to secure the glass
cover. The corners and joints of the frame were sealed off by using putty-an epoxy adhesive.
The inside walls were painted black with black enamel paint. Aluminium sheet was used to
cover the entire floor area of the collector. This sheet has grooves to increase contact surface
between sheet and tubes. Channel was attached to the absorber plate using steel wires. The
Aluminium sheet along with pipes was painted black to increase absorptivity of heat. This
was fixed to the wooden box using nails. The tubes/channels were made using GI water
pipes. The riser tubes were of 0.5 in. internal bore diameter and header tubes with 1 in.
internal bore diameter. 5 holes were drilled in the header tubes at spacing of 12 cm. Agitator
made of Copper wire was inserted in the riser tube and were welded accordingly in the header
tube. Agitator was made by curling Copper Wires with approximate diameter of 1cm. Wires
were curled on a rod of diameter 1cm in the form of helix with a pitch of approximately
0.8cm. The stand was inclined at 22.5. A glazed glass sheet measuring 1.20m x 0.60m x
4mm was used as the single glass cover for the apparatus. It was secured to the top of the
glass cover using epoxy adhesive (putty) for easy removal.
A Thermocol sheet measuring 1.2m x 0.6m x 1cm was secured to the bottom surface
of the wooden frame by glue and a layer of Glass wool of thickness 2.5cm was secured using
steel net and nails. It was done to minimize heat loss from the absorber to the surroundings.
Water storage tank was made using GI sheet. It has two concentric tanks with air acting as an
insulator between them. The internal tank, measuring 72cm internal diameter and 72 cm
depth, is used for water storage. Outer tank measured 87cm internal diameter and 87cm
depth. Two holes are drilled at the bottom, one act as the inlet and other as the outlet. The
tank has a cover at the top to seal it. The whole water storage tank was covered with an
insulating material. A layer of pebbles used in construction sites is used to increase the heat
retention in the collector box. It has density of 6.9 gm/cubic cm. Iron Scraps from machining
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International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976

6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online) Volume 4, Issue 3, May - June (2013) IAEME

processes can be used for packing the solar bed, which in turn can increase the thermal
efficiency by trapping solar radiation and reducing the conductive and convective losses from
top.

Figure 1: Satellite image of the Solar lab,

BIT Mesra

Figure 3: Working model with agitator

and pebbles

Figure 2: Working model of the

flat plate solar water heater

Figure 4: Absorber plate with pipes

Figure 5: Pipes with Agitator

Figure 6: Water storage tank

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International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976

6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online) Volume 4, Issue 3, May - June (2013) IAEME

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The following results are obtained and presented in tabular form given by using
Case 1: Agitator in the riser tube
Case 2: Packing of collector surface with pebbles
Case 3: Packing of collector surface with stainless steel chips
Table 1: Flat Plate Water Heater with Agitator only (24th April)

Time
09:00 am
09:20 am
09:40 am
10:00 am
10:20 am
10:40 am
11:00 am
11:20 am
11:40 am
12:05 pm
12:30 pm
01:20 pm
01:40 pm
02:00 pm
02:20 pm
02:40 pm
03:00 pm
03:20 pm
03:40 pm
04:00 pm
04:20 pm
04:40 pm
07:40 pm
10:00 pm

Global
Radiation
(W/sq. m)
730
786
863
905
956
995
846
1023
982
1135
1159
1206
1113
956
843
653
528
318
420
325
286
234

Diffused
Radiation
(W/sq. m)
144
157
177
186
200
209
177
214
206
244
249
265
244
215
193
150
124
76
100
81
72
59

Beam
Radiation
(W/sq. m)
586
629
686
719
756
786
669
809
776
891
910
941
869
741
650
503
404
242
320
244
214
175

Ambient
Temp.
(deg. C)
25
26
27
28
29
31
32
33
35
36
36
37
37
38
38
37
37
35
35
34
32
31

Temp. of
Water
(deg. C)
28
31
32
34
38
39
40
42
42
44
45
49
49
50
49
49
48
48
47
46
44
45
39
30

Average Global Radiation = 784.63 W/sq.m ; Average Diffused Radiation = 170.09 W/sq.m ;
Average Beam Radiation = 610.39 W/sq.m ; Efficiency = 17.38 %

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International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976

6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online) Volume 4, Issue 3, May - June (2013) IAEME

Graph1: Temp VS Time with agitator

Graph2: Intensity VS Time on 24th april,2013

Table 2: Flat Plate Water Heater with Agitator and Pebbles as Packing Media
(25th April)

Time
10:40 am
11:00 am
11:20 am
11:40 am
12:00 pm
12:20 pm
12:40 pm
01:00 pm
01:20 pm
01:40 pm
02:00 pm
02:20 pm
02:40 pm
03:00 pm
03:20 pm
03:40 pm
04:00 pm
06:30 pm
10:00 pm

Global
Radiation
(W/sq. m)
658
813
769
837
863
995
740
925
870
230
736
708
650
410
140
420
348

Diffused
Radiation
(W/sq. m)
138
170
161
180
186
218
163
203
196
52
166
163
152
98
35
105
89

Beam
Radiation
(W/sq. m)
520
643
608
657
677
777
577
722
674
178
570
545
498
312
105
315
259

Average Global Radiation = 653.65 W/sq.m

Average Diffused Radiation = 145.59 W/sq.m
Average Beam Radiation = 507.94 W/sq.m
Efficiency = 21.91 %
277

Ambient
Temp.
(deg. C)
26
28
30
31
32
32
33
34
37
37
37
37
36
36
36
35
35
32
24

Temp. of
Water
(deg. C)
31.0
32.5
35.0
35.5
37.0
38.4
39.0
40.0
41.0
42.0
42.5
42.5
43.0
43.5
43.5
43.4
43.3
40.0
33.0

International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976

6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online) Volume 4, Issue 3, May - June (2013) IAEME

Graph3: Temp VS time with agitator

and pebbles

Graph4: Intensity VS Time graph on

25th April, 2013

Table 3: Flat Plate Water Heater with Agitator & Metal Chips as Packing Media
(26th April)
Time
10:20 am
10:40 am
11:00 am
11:20 am
11:40 am
12:00 pm
12:20 pm
12:40 pm
01:00 pm
01:20 pm
01:40 pm
02:00 pm
02:20 pm
02:40 pm
03:00 pm

Global
Radiation
(W/sq. m)
857
924
903
950
320
975
940
850
520
500
550
670
600
530
150

Diffused
Radiation
(W/sq. m)
172
185
181
200
70
205
188
171
114
100
121
134
138
127
31

Beam
Radiation
(W/sq. m)
685
739
722
750
250
770
752
679
406
400
429
536
462
403
119

Average Global Radiation = 682.6 W/sq.m

Average Diffused Radiation = 142.5 W/sq.m
Average Beam Radiation = 540.1 W/sq.m
Efficiency = 22.19 %

278

Ambient
Temp.
(deg. C)
30.0
32.0
32.0
33.0
34.0
34.0
35.0
35.0
36.0
36.0
36.5
37.0
37.0
35.0
34.0

Temp. of
Water
(deg. C)
34.9
36.7
38.3
40.0
41.5
42.5
45.0
45.0
45.0
46.0
46.5
47.0
47.5
47.6
47.1

International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976

6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online) Volume 4, Issue 3, May - June (2013) IAEME

Graph5: Temp VS time with agitator

and metal chips

Graph6 : Intensity VS Time on

26th April, 2013

Temperature Variation in Water Tank with Height

Graph7: Temperature gradient at 11:00 am

Graph8: Temperature gradient at 3:00pm

The Temp-time graph of first model (using agitator only) dips more than that of
second model (using agitator and pebbles) during later part of the day. This justifies better
heat retention capacity and longer duration purpose fulfillment over a day of second model as
compared to first model. As it can be seen from the thermal gradient curve, temperature of
water rises with height. This can be attributed to the property of warm water to stay above
cold water layer because of difference in density. The hottest layer is slightly below the top
layer, this is due to conduction and convection losses from the top layer, which is in contact
with air. This graph can be utilized practically in drawing hot water from the point slightly
below the point of hottest layer.

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International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976

6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online) Volume 4, Issue 3, May - June (2013) IAEME

5. CONCLUSIONS
Present experimental work has been performed with the aim of enhancing the heat
transfer in a passive flat plate solar water collector using cost effective techniques that could
be easily applied in a typical (conventional) flat plate collector without changing or
redesigning its shape. Such technique would allow the reduction of the solar collector area
and its associated manufacturing costs. The presence of the copper agitator inside the
channels changed the flow pattern in such a way which increased heat transfer from fluid
present in the near-wall zone to the internal layers of the water. The efficiency has been
further improved by packing the collector box with a layer of pebbles. This presented an
added advantage that warm water was retained for a longer duration of time till 10:00 PM in
night. Hence this model can be used to fulfill requirements of hot water even after dusk. Also
this model has a very good scope of implementation in rural areas where there is lack of
electricity. The model also shows a good result by using metal chips as packing media. It
improved the heat transfer coefficient considerably. It has a promising industrial scope.
Overall conclusion from the experimental work undertaken is that using such a low cost
modifications in design, using a metallic agitator insertion, pebbles and metallic chips as
packing media, considerably improves the performance of the solar collector.
REFERENCES
1. KS Ong, A finite-difference method to evaluate the thermal performance of a solar
water heater, Solar Energy, Vol. 18, 181-191, 1974.
2. KS Ong, An improved computer program for the thermal performance of a solar water
heater, Solar Energy, Vol. 18, 183-191, 1976.
3. Schmidt C, Goetzberger A, Schmid J., Test results and evaluation of integrated collector
storage system with transparent insulation, Solar Energy, Vol. 41, 487-494, 1988.
4. V. Weitvrecht, D. Lehmann and A. Richter, Flow distribution in solar collectors with
laminar flow conditions, Solar Energy, Vol. 73, 433-441, 2002.
5. M. H. Hu and Y. P. Chang, Laminar flow in internally finned tubes under constant and
uniform heat flux, Journal of Heat Transfer, Vol. 95, 332, 1973.
6. Ajay Kumar Kapardar and Dr. R. P. Sharma,, Experimental Investigation of Solar Air
Heater using Porous Medium, International Journal of Mechanical Engineering &
Technology (IJMET), Volume 3, Issue 2, 2012, pp. 387 - 396, ISSN Print: 0976 6340,
ISSN Online: 0976 6359.
7. Ajay Kumar Kapardar and Dr. R. P. Sharma, Numerical and Cfd Based Analysis of
Porous Media Solar Air Heater, International Journal of Mechanical Engineering &
Technology (IJMET), Volume 3, Issue 2, 2012, pp. 374 - 386, ISSN Print: 0976 6340,
ISSN Online: 0976 6359.

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