Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Date of Degree Completion

Spring 2018

Department

Mechanical Engineering Technology

Committee Chair

Dr. Craig Johnson

Second Committee Member

Professor Charles Pringle

Third Committee Member

Professor Roger Beardsley

Abstract

Many people in the world globally have limited or no access to clean drinking water. Unclean drinking water is a major cause of deadly diseases such as typhoid, cholera, and other water-borne diseases. The motivation of this report aims to document a senior project to satisfy for the award of MET by CWU. The aim was to design and manufacture a solar thermal collector capable of heating water using solar energy. The solar collector was developed by designing and fabricating a parabolic reflective surface. The reflective surface was manufactured from a reflective stainless-steel sheet. The advantages of using a parabolic reflective surface include improvement in operational efficiency and easy to estimate the required water flow. The desired solar input was also estimated. Similarly, the necessary water pipe diameter and length were designed. A stand was manufactured by assembling various parts. The design of the collector stand and frame depended on the size and portability of the solar thermal collector. Other factors included the area of use and ease of use. The stand material strength, static and dynamic structural analysis were put into consideration. The result in the design and manufacture of a stand with ease use, operate and transport. The devise was manufactured by assembling the solar thermal collector, stainless steel water pipes, steel frame, and wood stands as per the design and working diagram. This resulted in the efficiency and heating capacity of the collector to be 95oC. Also, the devise was able to absorb and utilize at least 70% of the incoming solar radiation on a day where irradiance is equal to 800 W/m2.

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