EPDM based double slope triangular enclosure solar collector: a novel approach

Area of Science:

• Renewable Energy
• Thermal Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Solar energy is crucial for domestic and industrial heating.
• Evacuated tube heaters are common but costly due to copper and nickel.
• Economical solar heating requires low-cost, maintainable alternatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a cost-effective solar water heater for domestic use.
• To replace expensive materials in traditional solar heaters.
• To design a novel solar heater with reduced initial and operating costs.

Main Methods:

• Analytical study and design of a double slope triangular chamber solar heater.
• Utilization of EPDM-based synthetic rubber pipes as a cost-effective alternative.
• Prototyping and experimental validation of the designed solar heater.

Main Results:

• The novel solar heater design significantly reduced initial and operating costs.
• Experimental results closely matched the analytical study predictions.
• A maximum error of 10% was observed at noon, with less than 5% error during early and late hours.

Conclusions:

• The proposed solar heater concept is a viable, economical solution for domestic water heating.
• EPDM-based synthetic rubber pipes offer a cost-effective alternative to copper and nickel.
• The design demonstrates good performance and potential for widespread adoption.