Development and performance analysis of an embedded active solar flat plate collector water heater for clinical applications

Abstract

The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) clinic situated in Yelwa campus, Bauchi required water supply at varying temperatures for clinical applications. An active solar water heating system that would supply hot water at temperatures of 54⁰C, 43⁰C, 60⁰C and volumes of water 150 litres, 113 litres and 88 litres for laundry, post-natal and sterilization applications respectively was developed and tested. The system characteristics and components sizes were obtained from design calculations and the parametric study coded in MATLAB. The month of August was used as the design month bearing in mind that the month had the least solar radiation in Bauchi. The collector areas of 2.30m², 1.15m² and 2.1m² for laundry, post-natal and sterilization applications respectively were embedded in each other and tilted at an angle of 10.23⁰, the latitude of Bauchi. The system was then tested for a period of three months (i.e. August to October). The highest temperatures attained in August were 46.5⁰C, 36.2⁰C and 53.6⁰C for Laundry, Post-natal and Sterilization applications respectively. In all the other months, the desired water temperatures were achieved within an average time interval of 13 to 15 hours of the day.  To meet up in the month of August, an auxiliary energy may be provided. This system can be adopted in hard to reach areas where the solar intensity is appreciable and national grid for electricity does not pass through.