rethinking design - Spatial Design@Massey

ethinking design
Simple Solar Water Heater
Fig.16
Fig.17
Effective solar water heaters are easily constructed out of scrap materials, available in both
developing world and first world countries. This solar water heating system is designed using
parts easily sourced in modern cities and can be built with minimal tools and construction
knowledge.
It requires:
- a frame, most easily made of wood
- a backing to trap the heat, such as a copper sheet
- a metal pipe system to be attached to the backing
- two plastic pipes, attached to either end of the metal pipe system
- two buckets, one of cold water and the other for the hot water produced
The copper for the backing can potentially be sourced from an old hot water cylinder and
banged into a flat sheet, while the piping system can come from the back of an old
refrigerator. If the cold water bucket is placed higher than the hot bucket, the system will keep
itself running, trapping heat and transferring it to the pipes and the water inside. The system
should obviously be placed where it will receive the most sunlight and the panels should be at
the same angle as the latitude of the location in which they are installed, to receive maximum
sunlight all year round. Being situated outside, in a sunny area, these solar panels can also
double as sun shades, reducing the need for extra materials to be wasted in the construction
of separate shading systems. The tables on which the buckets are placed can become social
areas for gathering and if desired cups of tea and other hot drinks can be made straight from
the hot water produced. Solar water heating has the potential to reduce individual reliance on
mass produced energy by providing a cheap, sustainable way of heating water for use around
the home.