Field study of a cubical integrated solar collector storage tank under Baghdad province

Abstract

A new, easy-to-manufacture, and low-cost integrated cubical solar collector tank for domestic usage is concerned in this work. Three models are prepared, side by side, and tested to point out their seasonal performance. Tank Model I has three vertical sides, black painted and glazed to act as an absorber; the other sides are insulated. Tank Model II has two black painted and glazed sides, with four insulated surfaces. The models are south-oriented at different positions and tested versus the conventional tank (Model III) to validate and assess their performance in summer and winter. In summer, the temperatures in Models I and II are lower than those for Model III since they have insulated sides. Their glazed sides absorb a small amount of solar radiation since they are almost parallel to the incident solar radiation in summer. In winter, the water temperature in these models rises higher than that for Model III since their glazed sides work as solar collectors and have much lower heat loss to ambient. Therefore, the new design can provide a moderate temperature for summer and winter for residential use. Their water temperature does not exceed the ambient temperature at night in summer. It was higher than the ambient temperature in winter. The thermal efficiency for Models I and II in summer was 10.93% and 15.62%, respectively. While in winter, they were 15.09% and 19.46%, respectively.