Development of low-cost reflective plate thermal energy absorber systems for application in South Africa

Abstract

An innovative solar heat collector system was developed from low-cost materials by applying innovative design technology and using adaptive technologies. The system design entails placing long black polymer pipes connected in series circulation, mounted and positioned in grooves of inverted box rib galvanised steel plating. The grooves reflect and focus the incident rays on the centre piping, concentrating incident sun rays on the black piping and increasing the absorption of thermal energy in the piping filled with circulating water. The circulation of the water is facilitated by a direct-current solar-driven pump powered by a small photovoltaic panel. The thermal energy as collected is stored in a standard household geyser tank. A 3 × 4 m heat absorber of this type collects approximately 10 kWh of energy per day. The estimated cost of the system, considering the capital outlay over an expected ten-year life cycle for the product was estimated at R0.25 per kWh. This pricing competes extremely favourably with the general cost of grid electricity in South Africa for medium-sized households, which is of the order of R2 per kWh up to 1000 kWh per month, including taxes. With an estimated electricity cost escalation of above 5% every year, the ten-year saving for a household using this prototype can be approximately R200 000. The technology and designs developed through the study can create many new business opportunities in South Africa in both urban and rural environments, through manufacturing, installing, repairing, and maintaining the systems.

Polymer Flat Plate Solar Collectoer: A Review

“…al. 2021 [35] developed a novel experimental PFPSC by using low cost martials with new design in south Africa . Long black polymer connected in series pipes positioned in grooves covered by steel plate.…”

“…This price vied the cost of grid electrical energy of 2R per kWh.A brief description for factors studied by previous studies are showed in Table (4). [34] Theoretical review Nano fluid addition [35] Experimental Configuration (new design) Heat absorbed Cost…”

Design of Cost-effective Energy Supply Systems for domestic Households in Developing Countries -- Pledge for utilising Thermal Energy to Electricity Conversion Systems

“…Our group at the College of Science Engineering and Technology (CSET) campus in Johannesburg, Unisa, South Africa, has recently researched the cost-e ciencies of various renewable energy resource systems as available in South Africa. These included: utilisation of solar thermal energy (Twite et al 2019); versatile Photovoltaic (PV) systems (Zwile-Gampio et al, 2018), thermal energy absorber systems (Mutizhongo et al 2021); thermal energy to electricity conversion systems (Snyman and Maeko, 2021); low wind speed generation systems (Snyman and Sithole, 2022). and smart electronic energy management systems (Snyman and Kene, 2021).…”