A novel solar water heating system was patented in 1994. This system uses photovoltaic cells to generate electrical energy that is subsequently dissipated in multiple electric resistive heating elements. A microprocessor controller continually selects the appropriate heating elements such that the resistive load causes the photovoltaic array to operate at or near maximum power. Unlike other residential photovoltaic systems, the photovoltaic solar water heating system does not require an inverter to convert the direct current supplied by the photovoltaic array to an alternating current or a battery system for storage. It uses the direct current supplied by the photovoltaic array and the inherent storage capabilities of a residential water heater. A photovoltaic solar hot water system eliminates the components most often associated with the failures of solar thermal hot water systems. Although currently more expensive than a solar thermal hot water system, the continued decline of photovoltaic cell prices is likely to make this system competitive with solar thermal hot water systems within the next decade. This paper describes the system, discusses the advantages and disadvantages relative to solar thermal water heating systems, reviews the various control strategies which have been considered, and presents experimental results for two full-scale prototype systems.
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A Photovoltaic Solar Water Heating System
A. H. Fanney,
A. H. Fanney
Building Environment Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899
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B. P. Dougherty
B. P. Dougherty
Building Environment Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899
Search for other works by this author on:
A. H. Fanney
Building Environment Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899
B. P. Dougherty
Building Environment Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899
J. Sol. Energy Eng. May 1997, 119(2): 126-133 (8 pages)
Published Online: May 1, 1997
Article history
Received:
December 1, 1995
Revised:
November 1, 1996
Online:
February 14, 2008
Connected Content
A companion article has been published:
A Nonlinear Model for Structural Vibrations in Rolling Element Bearings: Part II—Simulation and Results
Citation
Fanney, A. H., and Dougherty, B. P. (May 1, 1997). "A Photovoltaic Solar Water Heating System." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. May 1997; 119(2): 126–133. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2887891
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