Design and evaluation of a water solar heater fabricated by PVC pipe in spiral

This paper describes an alternative method to use solar energy to heat water, thus reducing the associated cost that involves this process, with the advantage of being a clean resource, safe and economic. This heater is to have the same efficiency as any domestic standard boiler, at a power cost. This paper describes the design, construction and evaluation of a vertical solar heater of ascending spiral, using a black PVC flexible pipe, within an isolated and hermetic glass containment unit. The proposed designed presents two main advantages, a simple construction and usage of rather economic materials. Initially, the described heater has been designed for domestic use, but the developed concepts can be used the basis to build heavy duty water heaters to comply with the demand of large facilities, such as a swimming pool, a hotel, a hospital, etc. This heater can be considered a feasible option for the substitution of traditional water heating systems, mainly due to its efficiency and low operational and maintenance cost.