UWE Bristol Engineering showcase 2015

Yiap Mun Lu
Mechanical Engineering
Project Supervisor
Mr Patrick O’Flynn
Zero Carbon Hospitality Pods: Solar Water Heating
The evacuated tube collector offers a means of providing high
temperature operation with high efficiency. Thermosyphon systems work
because of natural convection. Water flows through the system when
warm water rises because they are lighter as cooler water sinks due it
being heavier. The collector must be installed below the storage tank so
that warm water will rise into the tank. No pumps or motors are involved
in these systems.
The ultimate development of solar energy totally depends on how the technicality and
scientific problems are approached and solved not to mention the economic and
political aspect of it. 82% of the energy used in households is for space or water
heating. Less than a third of all housing stock in Great Britain had central heating in
1970. Thirty years later, the proportion had risen to 89%. Within the zero carbon
hierarchy, minimum levels of energy efficiency for the building envelope will be
required. At present Code level 6 requires a heat loss parameter of 0.8 W/m2 K to be
achieved, which is comparable to the building fabric and airtightness requirement of
the PassivHaus standard [10]. To achieve the current standard, excellent U-values for
all of the fabric elements, levels of airtightness
Project summary
The UK government is committed to sustainable
growth and the green agenda. This is demonstrated
through various legally binding targets and standards,
from which the Climate Change Act 2008 (CCA) is
considered one of the most important. The Act
mandates an 80% reduction in CO2 from the 1990
levels, which are used as a baseline, by 2050[1]
Project Objectives
The ultimate aim of this investigation is to
develop a zero carbon energy concept for
water heating in hospitality pods. The
investigation involves an in-depth study and
analysis of the most common ways of solar
water heating applications. The regulations
for zero carbon buildings and the parameters
also must be studied in order to present an
acceptable concept. While considering
hospitability pods, the proposed concept
must be suitable for a temporary
accommodation.
Project Conclusion
Thermosyphon phenomena combined with evacuated
solar thermal collectors design has proven to be more
efficient and appropriate for the problem.