Computer simulation of the performance of a thermosyphon solar water-heater

Abstract

The instantaneous collector-efficiency has been determined as a function of the time of day and correlated with the thermosyphonic-flow rate of water and the temperature difference between the water at the collector's inlet and outlet. The model was also used to predict the monthly and yearly solar-contribution of the system for two different load profiles. The results of the simulation indicate that the yearly solar contribution of the system for a low-consumption profile is about 89% as compared with 63% for a high consumption pattern.