The solar photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to make progress in increasing the efficiency while reducing the manufacturing costs of PV cells. Economies of scale are being realized as manufacturers expand their production capabilities. Products are commercially available that integrate photovoltaic cells within building fac¸ade, fenestration, and roofing components. Legislation and incentive programs by government and commercial entities are supporting both reduced first costs and greater rates of return. The combination of factors support improved cost-effectiveness. As this trend continues, more options for using PV become possible. One such application is a stand-alone, PV-direct, solar water heating application. Solar water heating can be effectively accomplished by directly using the DC power production from solar photovoltaic modules. A simple controller having multiple power relays connects the PV modules with different combinations of in-tank resistive elements. The controller actively changes the resistive combination so that the photovoltaic modules generate power at or near their maximum output. The technology, which has been patented, is applicable to configurations that use a single water heater and to two water heaters that are piped in series. Prototypes using both tank configurations were monitored at four field sites. This paper emphasizes the single-tank application and the field results from installations in Maryland and Florida.
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e-mail: Brian.Dougherty@nist.gov
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Experiences With Using Solar Photovoltaics to Heat Domestic Water
Brian P. Dougherty,
e-mail: Brian.Dougherty@nist.gov
Brian P. Dougherty
Heat Transfer and Alternative Energy Systems, Building and Fire Research Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899
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A. Hunter Fanney
A. Hunter Fanney
Heat Transfer and Alternative Energy Systems, Building and Fire Research Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899
Search for other works by this author on:
Brian P. Dougherty
Heat Transfer and Alternative Energy Systems, Building and Fire Research Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899
e-mail: Brian.Dougherty@nist.gov
A. Hunter Fanney
Heat Transfer and Alternative Energy Systems, Building and Fire Research Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899
Contributed by the Solar Energy Division of THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS for publication in the ASME JOURNAL OF SOLAR ENERGY ENGINEERING. Manuscript received by the ASME Solar Energy Division, November 2000; final revision, December 2002. Associate Editor: V. Mei.
J. Sol. Energy Eng. May 2003, 125(2): 195-202 (8 pages)
Published Online: May 8, 2003
Article history
Received:
November 1, 2000
Revised:
December 1, 2002
Online:
May 8, 2003
Citation
Dougherty, B. P., and Fanney, A. H. (May 8, 2003). "Experiences With Using Solar Photovoltaics to Heat Domestic Water ." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. May 2003; 125(2): 195–202. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1562635
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