A new concept low-cost solar water heater

摘要

Hot water is a comfort many people take for granted. For rural and informal settlements, however, the need to heat water goes far beyond comfort - it can also become a serious health issue. Where water is drawn from contaminated rivers or boreholes, it must be heated to make it safe for use. Transporting water is another problem as it is usually carried over vast distances in primitive containers. Most developing communities around the world do not have access to electricity. Although some efforts are being made to provide solar power in these communities, the photovoltaics currently used seldom supply enough energy to heat water. Wood is often the only means for heating. However, in many areas, wood is no longer available. Heating and purifying water thus becomes a very expensive luxury. Several concepts for a low-cost solar water heater have been developed at the University of Pretoria, in collaboration with its industrial partner, TEMM International. The final concept is a solar "heatbarrow" that attempts to address the above-mentioned problems. A brief overview of the research and development regarding the solar water heater is given in this paper.