Training on Strengthening the Capacity of

Tumba College of Technology, Rwanda

Lecture 4: Solar Thermal Technology

FLAWS & FAULTS IN

INSTALLATION
Tri Ratna Bajracharya, Ph.D.
Center for Energy Studies (CES)
Institute of Engineering/TU
Pulchowk, Lalitpur
1. Position of the electric
immersion heater
• Most common and
disasterous mistake
• Reduces the solar
efficiency to below 20%
• Simple geyser would be
more efficient.
• REMEMBER: Only the
water below the electric
rod can be heated by
solar.
 2. Hydraulic short circuits
• Water always flows the
shortest way
• Hydraulic shortcuts render
farther collectors useless
• all collectors must face the Wrong piping


same hydraulic resistance
• REMEMBER: cold end in at
the farthest point, hot end
out at the closest point to Correct piping

the tank

 3. Size of the reservoir
• Too small a reservoir •Only the volume below
reduces the system the immersion heater
efficiency considerable should be counted
•Weekly irregular
• REMEMBER: The
consumption patterns
reservoir should have 50 can require up to 70
to 60 liters per m² of liters per m² of
collector collector
collector area reservoir size
4.5 m² (3 panels) 250 l reservoir
7.5 m² (5 panels) 400 l reservoir
10.5 m² (7 panels) 600 l reservoir
4. Insulation matters!
• Glasswool is a standard, PU-
foam also recommendable
• Reservoir: minimum 10 cm
on the sides and the top
• Insulation must be tight
fitting to avoid chimney
effect
• Pipes: all pipes with at least
the same insulation
thickness as pipe diameter
• Weatherproofing important
 5. Connecting the collectors
to the reservoir
• Thermosiphon systems reservoir
need proper piping too low !
wrong
angle !
• All pipes must be under
a constant angle
• The lower end of the
tank must be at least 25 steady slope !
cm above the upper
edge of the collector
• Supply and return pipes

25 cm min.

must be of large
diameter (at least 1.5“)
Mistake Installation 1
Overhead tank
Mistake Installation 2
Overhead tank
Correct Installation

Overhead tank
 Test the solar heater !
How to check whether the heater works
properly:
a) switch off the electric immersion heater and
b) measure the amount of hot water it delivers.
(Turn off the cold water supply and drain the water into a
bucket and count how many liters of hot water you can
release from the tank. On a completely sunny day you
should get at least 50 to 70 liters per m² of collector surface
- the entire tank should be completely heated!)
c) The water should be at least 45°C, (a temperature
that is barely standable when dipping your finger in.)