Design and Construction of a Solar Water Heater for Environmental Sustainability

This research work involves the design and construction of a solar water heating system with 2.3 m2 solar collector area proposed to extract enough solar energy to raise the temperature of 0.075 m3 of water by 34°C based on the available solar window to Port Harcourt. This solar heating device is made of the solar collector and storage tank connected with inlet and outlet pipes. This solar system is insulated at the bottom and sides against thermal energy loses, with the front covered with glass which allows solar energy absorption and reduces thermal energy loses by convection. The solar system was tested within the days of optimum solar window for about 3 hours. The ambient temperature, inlet temperature and outlet temperature were observed to vary from 37 to 44°C, 41 to 42°C and 71 to 76°C respectively. This test result gave a maximum temperature rise of between 30°C and 36°C as proposed. Our designed solar system has the capability of providing boiled water for domestic and other uses and at the same time, is very environmental friendly.