In areas with hard water, scaling can reduce the reliability of solar hot water (SHW) systems. Common reliability problems associated with scaling are both mechanical (collector freeze damage, clogged passages, premature failure of pumps and valves) and thermal (efficiency degradation). A mechanistic and a mathematical scaling rate model are presented. Results from controlled experiments investigating the affect of key water chemistry and heat transfer parameters on the scaling rate are summarized. The implications of these results for designing SHW systems for scaling environments are discussed. Most importantly, indirect systems where the potable water side of the heat exchanger is integrated into the storage tank wall, such as in a wrap-around heat exchanger, are shown to be the most mechanically and thermally reliable systems for scaling environments. A new version of the software SolScale is discussed, which is intended to aid in the design of SHW systems to reduce scaling related reliability problems.
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February 2003
Technical Papers
Identifying and Reducing Scaling Problems in Solar Hot Water Systems
Derek K. Baker,
Derek K. Baker
Humboldt State University, Environmental Resources Engineering Department, 1 Harpst Street, House 18, Arcata, CA 95521
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Gary C. Vliet
Gary C. Vliet
University of Texas at Austin, Mechanical Engineering Department, ETC 5.160, Austin, TX 78712-1063
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Derek K. Baker
Humboldt State University, Environmental Resources Engineering Department, 1 Harpst Street, House 18, Arcata, CA 95521
Gary C. Vliet
University of Texas at Austin, Mechanical Engineering Department, ETC 5.160, Austin, TX 78712-1063
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, April 2002; final revision, June 2002. Associate Editor: V. Mei.
J. Sol. Energy Eng. Feb 2003, 125(1): 61-66 (6 pages)
Published Online: January 27, 2003
Article history
Received:
April 1, 2002
Revised:
June 1, 2002
Online:
January 27, 2003
Citation
Baker, D. K., and Vliet, G. C. (January 27, 2003). "Identifying and Reducing Scaling Problems in Solar Hot Water Systems ." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. February 2003; 125(1): 61–66. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1528924
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