IMPROVISED SOLAR WATER HEATER

Introduction
The sun radiates an enormous amount of heat and light. A minute fraction of it is received by
the earth, yet this fraction of about 3 x 1014 Joule per year can provide all the energy required for
mankind if only we could find a way to harness it.
With the increasing population and demand for more energy it is necessary to replace the
conventional sources of energy like fossil fuels and electricity in general by adapting renewable and
clean source of energy. This model aim in implementing a way to harness the solar heat energy for
heating water thereby replacing geysers and electric heater/gas stove to warm our water at home.

THEORY
Glass sheet has a unique property of trapping solar infrared (heat) radiation. It allows the
shorter wavelength of visible light to enter but does not allow the longer wavelength (infrared/heat)
to escape it. Thus, heat is trapped under a glass sheet and if the system behind the glass sheet is closed
one, no heat escaped from the system and the temperature of the system rises up.
The colour black also has a property of absorbing both heat and light that is incident on it. In
fact black is the best absorber of heat among the many colors. These two properties is utilized in the
model describe later in this paper to construct a water heater.

MATERIALS REQUIRED
1. A wooden rectangular/square frame for housing.
2. A polycarbonate glass sheet
3. Black PVC pipe of radius 1.4-2cm
4. Bucket of water
5. Black Paints etc.

CONSTRUCTION
Four pieces of wood of size 3” x 1” x 17” each are joined to form a rectangle or square along
the 3” dimension as shown in the figure. On one side, two holes are drilled for inserting and exiting
the hose pipe. The base of the wooden square is covered with a plywood which is then covered with
a woollen cloth to prevent escape of heat from the system. A glass sheet with a frame is fitted using
hinges on one edge of the top. This glass sheet will trapped infrared rays inside the box. All the walls
inside and outside the box are painted black for absorbing heat. A black PVC pipe is fitted at one hole
and coiled up inside the box and the other end is taken out from the box through another hole drilled.
The more the number of turns of pipe, the greater is the surface area which received sunlight. One
end of the pipe is fitted to a top of a bucket and another at the bottom of a bucket filled with water.

WORKING
Water from the bucket enter to the solar heater box through from the pipe through the hole
drilled by gravity. Inside the box , the pipe experienced greenhouse effect and the water in it gets
warmer and warmer. The black color of the pipe also increases the heating as it absorb more heat than
other color. By convection, the warmer water then flows back to the bucket as it is lighter than cold
water. The colder water then enter the box and thus water is being circulated from the bucket to the
box and back. After few hours, the whole water in the bucket becomes warm enough (60 - 70°C) for
bathing and other uses.
This model can be further modified for large applications by increasing the dimensions of the
square box, pipes, glasses, buckets etc. A typical household of member five may require three/four
times as big as this.

APPLICATIONS
 1. It can replace geyser or gas stove for warming water for bathing by increasing the dimensions.
2. It is more useful for big institutions like hotels, hospitals, hostels etc.

ADVANTAGES
1. No moving part is present and thus reduce the chance of wear and tear and hence is durable.
2. Maintenance cost is minimum as sunlight is free of cost.
3. No pollution at all and is also a renewable source of energy.