POOL HEATING SOLAR SYSTEM

Muhammad Suffian Bin Seth ME072968 Department of Mechanical Engineering Universiti Tenaga Nasional, 43009 Kajang, Selangor Malaysia

Abstract
Solar power cycle energy possess some beneficial, such as heating swimming pools. This work reports is an experimental study on the application of outflow of the solar power unit waste water for cooling the solar panel, can be used to heat the swimming pool by recycling the outgoing water flow from upper header to swimming pool. The total collector panel square footage should typically equal between 60-110% of pool surface square footage [1]. In this study, we need to investigate the absorber surface, the influence of source intensity, the influence of ambient characteristics on the solar power cycle and the efficiency of the solar collector used. According to this project, the solar system operates directly with the existing pool pump and filter. The solar pool systems are so economical that they can be use throughout highlands such as Cameron Highlands, Genting Highlands and in others highlands resorts where the temperature normally between 11-17oC.

Key Words
Solar collector, temperature energy, polypropylene, different

1. Introduction
The applications of solar energy can be broadly classified into two categories. For the first one is thermal systems [2], which convert solar energy into thermal energy and photovoltaic systems, which convert solar energy into electrical energy. For solar thermal systems, the most important component is the solar collector. There are, basically two types of system namely the water and air based system depending on the working fluid. Flat plate solar collector is the most widely used and effective means of collecting solar energy for applications that require heat at temperature below 80oC [3]. According to this work report, today more solar energy is used for heating swimming pools than for any other single use. The oldest systems have been in use for more than 25 years and are cost-effective, highly reliable and require minimal maintenance. Customer demand has spawned a thriving industry that now spans a large

portion of the country. The solar option offers many important benefits for both existing and future pool owners. Therefore, this project will focus on how the solar system can heat the water in pool. This process is related to the Solar Power Cycle Unit experiment where, we need to investigate the absorber surface, the influence of source intensity, the influence of ambient characteristics on the solar power cycle and the efficiency of the solar collector used. The solar collectors are only one part of a total solar pool heating system which a simple unglazed pool heating system includes the pool pump and two heat sensors connected to a solar controller. One of the sensor measures the temperature at the collector surface and the other measures the pool temperature. If the difference between the two is sufficient, the controller sends a signal to a motorized valve that closes and directs the pool water through the solar collectors. According to this project, the solar system operates directly with the existing pool pump and filter. In a few cases an additional "booster pump" or a slightly larger filtration pump may be needed. Today's most efficient systems employ an automatically controlled diverting valve. The pool's filtration system is set to run during the period of most intense sunshine. During this period, when the solar control senses that adequate heat is present in the solar collectors, it causes a motorized diverting valve to turn, forcing the flow of pool water through the solar collectors, where water is heated. The heated water then returns to the pool. When heat is no longer present, the water bypasses the solar collector. Thus, most systems have very few moving parts which minimize operation and maintenance requirements. Solar pool systems are also a relatively simple arrangement that use existing pool pump to circulate the pools water through large, flexible, black polymer collectors. This process is same as our experiment where the flow of water to the system will cooling the temperature for the solar panel but in this project, the flow of the water through the system will heated the water in pool. Since swimming pools don't require high temperatures, pool systems are most efficient if designed to heat large amounts of water to moderate temperatures. The total collector panel square footage should typically equal between 60-110% of pools surface square footage [1]. In addition to pool size some obvious factors that effect just how large collector area may need

to be within this range are whether a pool cover is used, climate, collector orientation or swim season desired.

2. Project Details
2.1 Collector Size Solar pool heating systems can be installed to provide up to 100% of your pool heating needs. The size of the system depends on available solar insulations, wind factors, average temperatures for the region, and collector orientation and angle. Sizing of system will depend on the approximate square footage of pool's surface area in order to determine the amount of collector square footage needed to provide enough heating. The original contractor's plans available the "as-built" square footage should be shown. Otherwise, Measure the widest and longest points of pool in order to have a rectangle that pool would "fit" into. Then multiple the length X the width to arrive at the square footage of the rectangle as shown in Figure 1.

made of lower cost materials such as thermoplastic rubber or polypropylene (Figure 2). Collectors that operate in colder climates on a year around basis generally have copper absorber plates with low iron tempered glass as a covering. This allows the collector to maintain most of its efficiency even during the cold winter months. As long as the sun is shining, it will collect some solar heat.

(a)

Figure 1: Illustration of pool size If pool is not rectangular as shown in figure 1, but free form or kidney shaped then multiply the square footage for the rectangle which already calculated by 80% to give a better approximation of the actual pool surface square footage. This number will next be used to calculate the collector size needed based on climate. For example; the rectangle is 15' x 30' which equals a total rectangle area of 450 square feet, then 80% of 450 gives an approximate pool surface area of 360 square feet. This estimate of the pools area can be used below to estimate the collector size needed for pool. 2.2 Solar Collectors Most solar collectors are flat sheets, called absorber plates, with tubes running from bottom to top. Headers at the top and bottom supply the fluid to be heated [3]. Some have a glazing over the top of the collector that aids in preventing the wind and cold air from carrying away the heat before it can get to its destination. Solar collectors are made of a variety of materials [4]. Collectors that operate only when temperatures are above freezing can be (b)

(c) Figure 2: The types of collector (a) The 240 sq ft of collector area for an average pool with all connectors, valves, and mounting hardware. (b) Black polypropylene

plastic collectors. (c) Schematic of a flat plate solar collector.

2.3 Solar Pool Heating Process

Figure 3, shows the detail of this project where the system is similar to the solar power cycle unit experiment. The system will show how the installation was set-up for the pool heating [5].

to the experiment is to minimize of water waste which is every time experiment had been done during lab hour, the outflow water to cool the solar collector will flow through the drain. This will cause the highly bill of water. To avoid this happen, we can use a big tank to rotate back the outflow water into the inflow tube. This same as the method that will use to heated the swimming pool.

3.2 Characteristic and Effect of Different Collectors The best way to heat the water is by using the black surface of collector where, it can absorb much energy rather than using the shiny surface. It has been proved by the experiment of solar power cycle where the black surface is highest efficiency compare to the shiny surface as shown in Figure 4a [6].
Solar Collector Efficiency vs. the Elevation 14.00 12.00 Efficiency (%) 10.00 8.00 6.00 4.00 2.00 0.00 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 Elevation (ft) Shiny Surface Collector Black Surface Collector 0.8 1 1.2

A - Pool water in B - Pump C - Filter D - Check valve E - Gate valve 1 F - Drain valve G - Solar collectors H - Vacuum breaker and auto air relief I - Gate valve J - Fossil fuel heater (if existing) K - Chlorinator (if existing) L - Warm water returns to pool M - Sensor N - Automatic control box O - Electric or constriction valve (collector bypass) P - Booster pump Figure 3: Typical solar pool heating system with automatic control

Figure 4a: The Solar Efficiency against the Elevation between Black and Shiny Surface. The energy absorber also depends on the height of the surface. For the surface of the solar collector at 15 o, the efficiency of the solar collector is 8.33% and decrease below to 8.17% when the angle at 30o. But when the angle at 45o, the efficiency of the curve started to increase and reach at 9.44%. That means this solar panel will also depend on the level of the surface of the collector due to the solar system energy as shown in figure 4b [6].

3. Discussions
3.1 Principles and Applications related to the Solar Power Cycle Experiment. The concept for this study is remain same as the main function of the solar power cycle but the different is the way of operation for this project is different where, the outflow of the water to cooling the collector will use to heated the pool. The main principle of this project related

Solar Collector Efficiency vs. the Angle of Inclination 9.60 9.40 9.20 Efficiency (%) 9.00 8.80 8.60 8.40 8.20 8.00 0 10 20 30 40 50 Angle (Degree) Black Surface Collector

Thermodynamics laboratory is gratefully acknowledged. Co-supervisor (laboratory technician) and group member of laboratory are also acknowledged for helping while doing the experiment. References [1] [2] Pool System Installation (2003) http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/solar/index.htm F.P. Incopera & D. P. DeWitt. Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer. (4th Ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1996) Your online solar pool heating equipment supplier (July 2004) http://www.solardev.com/pool_plan directNIC.com Solar pool heater (Nov2003) http://www.swimmingpool.info/pool-heater.html Mechanical Engineering Department, Universiti Tenaga Nasional. Heat Transfer and Applied Thermodynamics Laboratory Manual. (UNITEN, 2005)

Figure 4b: The Solar Efficiency against the Angle Inclination of Black Surface. [3] 3.3 Advantages and Disadvantages The advantages of this application are, can save more money to pay the bill, can use the hot water to clean the floor instead to make the floor free from any bacteria etc. The disadvantage needs a big space to place the tank. [4] [5]

4. Conclusions
The conclusions drawn from this study on solar pool heating using the method of solar power cycle are as follows:

1. The different between two collectors is based on the

surface of the solar collector. If the surface is black, the more energy will be absorbs and if the surface is shining, it will reflect back the energy from the light or source of energy. This will reduce the efficiency of the solar energy. This is proved by the highest output we get from the collector No. 1, where the value is around 28 to 44 watt compare to the collector No. 2 which is around 13 to 28 watt.

2. The size of the pool is not important because the main

important is the solar collector which can absorb more energy. Therefore the place for the solar collector also important to gain more energy. The higher it is, the more energy will be absorbs. This is proved by the experiment which has been done in laboratory where, the nearest surface of the solar collector to the light or source, the biggest input will be absorbs.

5. Acknowledgements
Mr. Abdul Talip Zulkarnain from Universiti Tenaga Nasional as a supervisor for Heat Transfer and Applied