Alternative approaches to thermosyphon solar-energy water heater performance analysis and characterisation

Simplified models, performance correlations and rigorous simulation models are identified as alternative techniques for the prediction and characterisation of the performance of natural-circulation solar energy water heaters. The features of particular examples of each approach are described. In their different appropriate contexts, each technique is shown to provide good agreement with measured system behaviour. A more general role in practical system design is foreseen for rigorous detailed simulation. Models have been used primarily for generic research optimisations.