Design and thermal performance of an ICS solar water heater based on three parabolic sections

An integrated collector storage (ICS) consisting of a single cylindrical horizontal tank placed in a reflector composed of three parabolic branches is designed and geometric characteristics are determined. The suggested design aims to cover the need of hot water of a family composed of four persons. Based on this target, its geometric characteristics: reflector geometry, aperture, reflector length, are derived.The comparison between this system and two other systems of solar water heater, composed of a storage tank with asymmetrical CPC and symmetrical CPC, shows important thermal performances despite the simplicity and the little cost of our collector. The first experimental results are given and its comparison with the theoretical results demonstrates a good agreement.

► An integrated collector storage (ICS) system is designed.
► The geometric characteristics of the ICS system are determined.
► The design aims to cover the need of hot water of a family composed of four persons.
► The comparison between this ICS and two other systems shows important performances.
► The experimental results demonstrate a good agreement with the theoretical one.