Thermal Collection and Heating Device for Spas

摘要

A new type of solar appliance is presented which provides solar energy to heat portable electric spas. The design constraints are such that conventional photovoltaic and solar thermal solutions are not feasible, so a plastic solar collector and radiator is presented with air as the working fluid. An hourly simulation model is presented and validated with field data which shows the device reducing electric energy consumption for heating 43 to 98 percent depending on the climate zone, with simple economic paybacks between 1.5 and 3.5 years.