Climate change is real or not, but burning fossil fuel and releasing a tremendous amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere has its adverse consequences. That’s why I always advocate using solar energy to its maximum wherever it is feasible. Here, I’ve created three different types of solar water heaters for the New Physicist. Using a spiral copper pipe solar water heater, parabolic trough, and a parabolic dish.
Table of Contents
Make Spiral Copper Pipe Solar Water Heater
Let’s get started with the first one. The spiral copper pipe solar water heater. Someone asked where did I get that spiral copper pipe. It’s is the most important component of an air conditioner. So you can easily get one from your nearest AC repair shop, or you can buy a brand new one from my Amazon store. Visit amazon.in/shop/newphysicist
Why Copper?
Ok, then you may ask why copper? Copper has high thermal conductivity, so it can easily capture solar heat radiation and convey it to the water inside. Especially if painted black. Then I used a square piece of aluminum sheet and fixed it on a plywood piece. So that the whole setup can easily accommodate the spiral copper pipe.
You may also Like: How to Make Parabolic Trough Solar Water Heater
Aluminum sheet is used to boost the heat absorption capacity of the copper pipe. I don’t know how much it will help. But it definitely will. No doubt.
Then I covererd the entire setup with a 3 mm glass so that the heat trapped inside can’t leave easily. I hope it’ll create a green house kind of effect.
Spiral Copper Pipe Solar Water Heater Working
Another comment I noticed is about the working principle behind this type of solar water heater. Almost All types of solar water heaters make use of the thermosiphon principle. It’s simple. Easy to understand.
Water Density
Hot water has less density, so it’ll always try to move up and at the same time cold water to the bottom if you provided the necessary entrances.
One end of the copper pipe is fixed to the bottom side of the water tank and another end is fixed to the middle part of the tank. So when the water inside the copper pipe gets heated, the cold water will replace it by pushing the hot water to the tank through the other end.
This process continues throughout the day and the result is a reserve of hot water inside the tank. We can use it whenever we want.
DIY Solar Water Heater Mistakes
But I made a mistake when designing the water tank. I used a plastic container instead of a thermal resistant tank to store hot water. So my suggestion is to design a thermal resistant tank to make your solar water heater.
Ok, I hope this video will help you design a better version of my project. Happy making. Please share videos and images of your projects with me on Instagram or post links below. I’d love that. Be legendary. You’ve successfully created a spiral copper pipe solar water heater
How to Make Parabolic Trough Solar Water Heater
Hi, New Physicist here. Can we use a parabolic trough to concentrate solar heat radiation onto a water carrying pipe and generate hot water? Yeah, why not. I’ve created a parabolic dish solar water heater before. But the only problem with parabolic trough or dish is that we have to use an active solar tracking system to get a continuous supply of hot water. It’s because as the sun runs across the sky the focal point or line changes accordingly. Anyhow, I’m going to make a solar water heater using a parabolic trough, yeah without a solar tracker.
Steps to Make Solar Water Heater using Parabolic Trough
firstly, we need to design a parabola to make this project. If you are not good at maths just go to google and search parabola images and choose one. Take printout in required size. That’s it. Easy-peasy. Done?
The next step is to cut a plywood piece in that parabolic shape. Make sure to make a cut in the center as I showed. It is to fix the copper pipe at the focal line of the parabola. If you are done with that proceed with cutting a zinc sheet.
Stick Solar Films
Next is the most tricky part of the project. Stick solar film on to the smoothest side of the zinc sheet. Make sure you don’t leave any air bubbles. It will affect the efficiency. You can easily get the solar thin film from my amazon store. so, nothing to worry about. ( Parabolic trough solar water heater science project)
After successfully sticking the solar thin film on the zinc sheet Fix it perfectly in between two pieces of plywood (parabolic) that you’ve already made. Be careful with the corners of the zinc sheet. I lost approximately 5ml blood when playing with that bad guy. Wear cotton gloves if needed.
Make a Frame
Every project needs a framework. It is what holds all the components of the project together like our skeleton holds our inner organs in order. So it has to be strong and neat. Don’t compromise with the quality of the materials when making the framework. Secondly, fix the copper pipe at the focal line of the parabolic trough.
Testing Solar Water Heater
Connect a water tank to the copper pipe, a tap to the other end. Place the water heater in sunlight. Adjust the parabola so that the solar radiation will focus on the copper pipe. You are done. Our Solar water heater project with a parabolic trough is ready. You’ve to wait at least 3 to five minutes to get a glass full of hot water. That’s cool. Nupe. that’s hot. 😉
If you make use of the thermosiphon principle here it would be much more efficient. Read my other solar water heater project to know more about the thermosiphon principle.
This project is very appropriate for school science fares. So if you find this project useful, consider sharing it with your friends. Comment Your opinion about this project. You must know that this project is not complete without an active solar tracking mechanism. I’m working on it. Soon, I will come up with an amazing solar tracking project. Till then, love.
Parabolic Dish Solar Water Heater
The parabolic dish-type solar water heater project is very similar to the previous one. The only difference is, here we are using a heat collector instead of long copper pipes. So there a lot of room for improvement by implementing automated systems o replace the water inside solar heat exchanger. This project was challenging and amazing. As you can see I bought a brand new D2H dish to make this project. I had to cover the inner surface with solar film. You can buy solar film from my amazon store.
What do you think about this project friends?
Please send me the process to draw a parabolic profile for the solar trough. How did you draw the Templet.
It’s available online. Try Google image search.