Solar Water

Heater
By Lara Glendening, Lara Fleischhauer,
Casey Elmhirst, Eva Brandis, and Jessica
Stewart

Our Goal:
Create a water heater more
successful than our previous
attempts.
LG

How We Reached It:

1. We conducted several
experiments to find the
best materials
2. We built models based
on the results
LF

Tea Experiment

Purpose:
- Which teas heat up the fastest?
- Does a copper cup help or harm the
waters heating process?

Results

Types: honey vanilla

chamomile, black,
cherry, and plain
water
80 mL each
checked temps every
5 min.
Dark teas warmed
faster

ECopper cup trapped

Hon
ey
vanil
la
cha
mo
mile

Bla
ck

Ch
err
y

Jus
t
wat
er

Wa
ter
in
cop
per
cup

Sta
rtin
g
tem
p.

23
C

23
C

23
C

23
C

23
C

5
min

23
C

23
C

23
C

23
C

23
C

10
min

24
C

25
C

25
C

24
C

24
C

15
min

26
C

25
C

25
C

24
C

24
C

Copper Experiment
Inspiration: ice cubes
Purpose: Does the addition of copper
attract more heat?

Results

2 beakers- 100 mL
water

Time

Copper
pipe

Normal

Both covered with

Saran wrap

Starting
temp

24 C

24 C

5 min

25 C

24 C

10 min

26 C

24 C

Water with copper

pipes heated 1
C every 5
minutes
plain water stayed
LG the same

Cover Experiment
Inspiration: greenhouse effect
Purpose: Which cover material traps
the most heat?
LF

Cover Experiment
Time

Sara
n
wrap

Magni
fying
glass

Ma
son
jar

Non
e

Covers: Saran
wrap, magnifying
glass, mason jar,
none

Starti
ng
temp
.

25
C

25 C

25
C

25
C

10
min

25
C

25 C

25
C

25
C

Fastest- Saran
wrap, mason jar

15
min

26
C

25 C

27
C

25
C

4 beakers- 80 mL

Magnifying glass
did nothing

Data to Model
Experiments - showed most valuable aspects

Dark Tea
More absorption

Copper = hot
cubes

Fruity taste!

Saran wrap

Flat Pan
E

More surface area

2nd most
effective

Previous Observations
DO NOTs
Have flowing water with unsturdy
connections (leakage)
Use tin foil (crumples)
DOs
Large reflector
J

Use mylar tape

Reflector Angle Calculation

Knows
Solar angle: 55 deg.
of incidence = of
reflection
Light: perpendicular to water
pan
Sum of s in triangle: 180
deg.
Sum of s in line: 180 deg.
Needs
J
of reflector

Model #1
Test #1 vs Test #2
Straight
flaps

Flaps facing
inward

65 air temp.
Saran wrap cover
72.5 tilt
Pan lined in black plastic
1000 mL of water
Wild Berry Zinger Tea

LG

6 15cm copper pipes

Results
Test #1
Starting Temp.

23 C

5 min

26 C

10 min

28 C

15 min

28 C

m: 1000g
T: 16 C
Heat Gain: 20,930 J

LF

Test #2 (BEST)
Thermom
eter in
direct
sunlight

Thermom
eter not
in direct
sunlight

Starting
Temp.

28 C

28 C

5 min

40 C

31 C

10 min

44 C

44 C

Qualitative:
15 min
47 Csteamed
46 C when exposed to the
colder air!
m: 1000g
T: 19 C
Heat Gain: 79,534 J

Exact same as
model #1, but
with the bottom
painted black,
not covered in
black plastic

Model #2
Time

Thermometer in
spot with most
reflected
sunlight

Starting temp

26 C

5 min

32 C

10 min

36 C

15 min

40 C

Heat gain: 58,604 J

Energy Heat Gain

Average of previous projects heat
gains: 8,191.5 J
Heat gain of best test (Model #1) :
79,534 J
Temp (): 116
Average hot tub temp: < 104
Approximately 10x better than
previous attempts
Difference between average and
new: 71,342.5 J