| dc.description.abstract | This thesis presents the design and construction of a solar collector water heater system
utilizing low-cost materials and passive solar heating principles. The system was
developed using homemade heat pipes fabricated from 3/8" copper tubes filled with
ethanol and sealed with an oil separator as a condenser unit. These heat pipes were
housed inside cleaned fluorescent light tubes to create a simple and effective thermal
insulation shell. The heat pipes transfer solar heat to a horizontal HDPE header pipe,
which is connected to an insulated plastic tank using 3/8-inch flexible hose pipes. A
12V DC water pump, powered by a 30W solar panel, circulates water through a closed
loop whenever sufficient sunlight is available, eliminating the need for external
power or controllers. Additionally, a 6-channel temperature monitoring system was
developed using Arduino UNO and 104 NTC thermistors, enabling real-time
monitoring of system performance at key thermal points, such as the header, tank, and
ambient air. All major components, including the heat pipes, tank, header, and control
system, were assembled into a single functional unit supported by a custom-built frame
oriented for optimal solar exposure. While the current design meets small-scale hot
water needs, this paper also proposes future enhancements, including evacuated tubes,
automated control, IoT integration, and hybrid heating capabilities. The result is a cost
effective, scalable, and sustainable solution that has the potential to serve as a practical
water heating system in rural, off-grid, or educational settings. | en_US |
