Anda di halaman 1dari 60
NASA TECHNICAL NASA TM X-3294 MEMORANDUM NASA TM X-3294 _AN INEXPENSIVE ECONOMICAL SOLAR HEATING SYSTEM FOR HOMES Johnny W. Allred, Joseph M. Shinn, Jr., Cecil E. Kirby, and Sheridan R. Barringer Langley Research Center Hampton, Va. 23665 NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION + WASHINGTON, D. C. + JULY 1976 1. Report No, 2 Government Acomsion No, ‘3 ecipsets Catalog No NASA TM X-3204 ‘AN INEXPENSIVE ECONOMICAL SOLAR HEATING SYSTEM July 1976 FOR HOMES: ‘5 Pertorming Oration Gose 7, Autor © Performing Orrin Report Wo Johnny W. Allred, Joseph M. Shinn, Jr., Ceetl E. Kirby, 110481 and Sheridan R, Barringer 10, Work Oni Ro Performing Orsnztion Narn apd Adore epee ern NASA Langley Research Center [7 Ganract or Grant Re Hampton, Va. 23665 TH Type of ope ond Pood Goren TE. Soorering Arey Nao ond Aros ‘Technical Memorandum National Aeronautics and Space Administration 1a Semaaa Amey Oo Washington, D.C, 20546 TE Sooplemeniny Rove Ve Avera ‘This report describes a low-cost solar home heating system to supplement the home- owner's present warm-air heating system. ‘The report is written in three parts: (1) A brief background on solar heating, (2) Langley's experience with a demonstration system, ‘and (3) information for the homeowner who wishes to construct such a system. Instructions are given to the homeowner for a solar heating installation in which he supplies all labor necessary to install off-the-shelf components estimated to cost $2000. ‘These components, which include solar collector, heat exchanger, water pump, storage tank, piping, and con- trols to make the system completely automatic, are readily available at local lumber yards, hardware stores, and plumbing supply stores, and they are relatively simple to install. Manufacturers and prices of each component used and a rough cost analysis based on these prices are given for the homeowner's convenience. This report also gives performance data obtained from a demonstration system which has been built and tested at the Langley Research Center. 17, Key Words Soapeid by Authored TR Oiiecton Satenent ‘Solar collectors Unclassified — Unlimited Flat plates Cost effectiveness ‘System analysis, Subject Category 44 78. Security Clas (ot this report) 20: Security Cia (oF os poe Unclassified [___Unelassitied Stok No 8-00-08-2/Caalog No, NASLIS ROK CONTENTS (SUMMA owe tee Setenty scones INTRODUCTION rarely et ses i BACKGROUND ......... oe EROCIEIER) oaccunnacongoo Types of solar collectors. ........+ General description. ........- pace Guidelines... 2... *poercentueen ene LANGLEY'S EXPERIENCE ......... Tats e® cam sapbewe System description ...... . Variations in solar energy . . . System performance analysis ....... HOMEOWNER'S APPLICATION ...... recaayens aces! Suerte se mee Homeowner's system... 6.4. e045 = (Coat anal yais cc cog se ome) ex eq ear 1h aeemes : ER cot Lad eee ore cesta a eee a i Water treatment... 2... ese ee ‘ CONCLUDING REMARKS... ... Peer APPENDIX A ~ SOLAR COLLECTOR ASSEMBLY AND INSTALLATION (ONFROORE i eets tear ress tses ee APPENDIX B ~ STORAGE TANK AND FOUNDATION INSTALLATION . . APPENDIX C - AIR-DUCT MODIFICATION AND HEAT-EXCHANGER INSTALLATION fei cee seal et cyra an Sten APPENDIX D ~ INSTALLATION OF HOT-WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM . . . APPENDIX E ~ ELECTRICAL POWER SUPPLY AND DIFFERENTIAL ‘TEMPERATURE FLOW CONTROLLER REFERENCES......... iii cy 19 19 20 26 27 27 28 42 44 48 52. AN INEXPENSIVE ECONOMICAL SOLAR HEATING SYSTEM FOR HOMES. Johnny W. Allred, Joseph M. Shinn, Jr., Cecil E. Kirby, and Sheridan R. Barringer Langley Research Center SUMMARY This report describes a low-cost solar home heating system to supplement the homeowner's present warm-air heating system. The report is written in three parts: (1) A brief background on solar heating, (2) Langley's experience with a demonstration system, and (3) information for the homeowner who wishes to construct such a system. Instructions are given to the homeowner for a solar heating installation in which he sup- plies all labor necessary to install off-the-shelf components estimated to cost $2000. These components, which include solar collector, heat exchanger, water pump, storage tank, piping, and controls to make the system completely automatic, are readily available at local lumber yards, hardware stores, and plumbing supply stores, and they are rela- tively simple to install. Manufacturers and prices of each component used and a rough cost analysis based on these prices are given for the homeowner's convenience. This report also gives performance data obtained from a demonstration system which has been built and tested at the Langley Research Center, Results of the tested demonstration sys- tem indicate that the homeowner can reduce his heating bill by approximately 40 percent for a 1500-foot® home insulated to 1974 FHA minimum standards. If fuel-oil costs are assumed to increase at 10 percent per year, this $2000 investment will be recovered in approximately 10 years. INTRODUCTION The cost of fuel oil for residential heating has more than doubled in the past several years. Further cost increases in the future are likely as the limited supplies are con- sumed and fuels become less available. This situation has forced a search for other sources for supplying our energy at reasonable costs. One of the most promising sources is solar energy. Solar energy itself is free but not the equipment that collects, stores, and distributes it to the home. It is not possible at the present time to go to local heating contractors and select a solar heating system from stock. If the homeowner has to hire a contractor to order and install the required components, the system would probably not be cost effective at this time. However, if the homeowner is moderately skilled in the use of hand tools and can provide the time for ordering and installing the required components himself, a solar heating system might be considered. The cost, of course, is not the only consider- ation. A homeowner can contribute to the conservation of our limited supply of fossil fuels and at the same time reduce pollution. ‘These instructions are intended only for the mechanically inclined homeowner. Some knowledge of carpentry, plumbing, and electrical wiring is necessary. A homeowner con- templating construction of a solar heating system based on these instructions should care- fully study this complete document to determine in advance if he has the necessary knowl- edge and spare time which will be required to complete such a demanding project. ‘The purpose of this report is to present results of performance tests on a demon- stration low-cost solar heating system built and tested at the Langley Research Center and to provide information to the homeowner on how to install this system. ‘The only available building at the Center suitable for simulating a home had a flat roof. The col- lectors, therefore, were mounted adjacent to the building on a wooden framework inclined at an angle typical for a home. (See fig. 1.) The solar heating system was connected to Figure 1.- Photograph of solar collector array. the forced-air heating system of the building and tested under actual operating conditions. Instrumentation was provided to measure the incoming heat from the Sun and to determine separately the amount of heat collected and used by the building or stored in the heat storage tank. Glass is normally used as a cover material on solar collectors; however, since plastic film is lower in cost than glass and is known to be usable on solar heated greenhouses, performance tests were carried out with two types of plastic film, polyvinyl fluoride and polyethylene. Test data verify that a substantial savings in the homeowner's annual fuel bill can be obtained with the system described. Currently, this system pro- vides winter heating only. Some experimental systems exist which use solar energy to produce summertime cooling. Such systems are not currently cost effective; however, efforts are underway by many organizations in this country and abroad to develop reliable, low-cost cooling equipment using water from a low-cost conventional flat-plate type col- lector. When such equipment becomes available at reasonable prices, it can be added to this system, George C. Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, are currently involved in programs to develop such equipment. (See refs. 1 and 2.) The economic analysis is applicable to a homeowner's system using the same type prefabricated solar panel as the demonstration system tested at Langley. All the required components can be purchased for approximately $2000. If fuel-oil costs are assumed to increase at 10 percent per year, this $2000 investment will be recovered in approximately 10 years. ‘The prefabricated solar panels are the most expensive part of the system. There- fore, additional instructions are provided for lower cost solar panels which can be fab- ricated by the homeowner. Fabrication of these panels requires more time and effort on the part of the homeowner but saves approximately $300, This results in a total cost of only $1700 and an investment recovery time of 8 years. ‘The assumed 15-year lifetime of the system is an engineering estimate for cost payback comparisons based on components and materials used. The plumbing items are all used in conventional heating systems and life expectancy of the items should be the same. Local conditions will influence the total lifetime costs. For example, in some areas the system water might have to be changed every year adding the cost of 750 gal- Jons of water and the cost of rust inhibiting chemicals. Interest on the $2000 in materiale cost has not been considered in this economic analysis. Appendixes A to E have been added to the report to assist the homeowner. This is for the “do-it-yourself” handyman who may be interested in installing a solar heating system, The following cautions should be noted: 1, Specification of the components and equipment used is directed toward other researchers and development engineers working in the solar field. It does not imply

Anda mungkin juga menyukai