Griffith University 7201ENG: Solar Water Heater Project Management

This document presents a student project focusing on the experimental analysis of a flat plate solar water heater using nanofluids under forced convection. The project aims to enhance the efficiency of conventional water heaters by utilizing nanofluids as a working fluid and incorporating a heat exchanger. The project, conducted as part of bachelor studies under faculty guidance, involved a team of four members and followed a functional organizational structure. Challenges included climate variations and the need for heat transfer enhancement, which were addressed by integrating a heat exchanger. The project lifecycle encompassed initiation, conception, definition, and execution phases, culminating in an efficient solar water heater design that leverages nanofluids for improved thermal performance. Desklib provides a platform for students to access similar solved assignments and project resources.

GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY
7201ENG PROJECT MANAGEMENT
ASSIGNMENT 1
GANESH SUNDARAM PALANIAPPAN (s5135575)
Project Background:
In my bachelor studies we did final year project as experimental analysis of
flat plate solar water heater based on nano fluid under forced convection. We did
this project under the guidance of our head of the department. Solar Water Heater
is a typical device that converts the solar energy into thermal energy to heat up a
heat transfer fluid such as water, non-freezing liquid or air for household
utilization. The main reason for us to select this project is to increase overall
efficiency of the conventional mode of water heater by using nano fluids as a
working fluid, instead of normal water. One of the main reason of selecting nano
fluid as working medium is because, compared to normal water nano fluid have
more density and thermal conductivity which helps to attain high temperature in
short time of period.
Project Definition:
As per our module 1, project should be unique; Our project differs from
conventional type water heater by replacing normal water to nano fluid as working
fluid and install heat exchanger to obtain high temperature in shorter time.
Conventional water heater is based on thermosyphon method (circulates the
working fluid without the necessity of a mechanical pump) and our project is based
on forced convention method. Our department gave us four months from the start
of the semester to complete this project, which is little bit difficult to accomplish
the project. But we completed the project before two weeks of our deadline. Our
project consists of four members with guidance of head of department who act as a
project manager.

Organizational Structure:
Our project comes under functional organizational structure. In which
information flows from top management to junior staffs, through project manager.
Cooperation and communication are the key factors in organizational structure. All
the students are comes under project team. Project manager who leads the project
team by providing required information and supports project team. While team
members reports the progress and status of the project to project manager.
Challenges and issues faced:
Climate changes are some challenges to the use of flat plate collector based
solar water heater. Solidifying conditions may limit the efficiency of this kind of
collectors, mostly used in warm and mild climates and in the case of unglazed
collectors in pool water heating and other less demanding applications. Heat
transfer enhancement in solar devices is one of the key issues of energy saving and
compact designs. There are so many methods introduced to increase the efficiency
of the solar water heater. This drawback has been overcome by installing heat

exchanger by passing a working medium to transfer the heat to storage tank to
increase their performance level.
Project Lifecycle:
The initiation of project: In order to enhance the output of traditional type
solar heater, interfere heat exchanger and replacing working medium as nano fluid.
Flat plate solar water heater is extensively used for heating of water in low-
temperature residential applications.
Conception phase of project: In this study, Cerium Oxide/water (CeO2/H2O)
nano fluid is prepared and its thermal discharge was inspected experimentally on a
100 Liters per Day (LPD) forced type flat plate solar water heater.
Definition Phase: The analysis was taken on different mass flow rate for the
adequate heat transfer. Significant improvement in performance was observed in
forced circulation compared to conventional mode, for the low volumetric fraction
considered.
Execution Phase: Design of solar water involves with the design of the basic
components such as solar collector (flat plate collector), Heat Exchanger (Coil
type), Storage Tank and insulation. It is observed that the increase in efficiency by
decreasing the flow rates of working medium. The effect of Cerium Oxide /Water
Nano fluid, as the working fluid, on the efficiency of a flat plate solar collector was
investigated experimentally. Addition of Nano particles in the heat transfer fluid
contributes to a important change in the thermal energy.

References:
1. Mostafa, S. (2018). 7201ENG: Project Management. Queensland, Australia:
Griffith University.
2. Details about the project are chosen from the document prepared in bachelor
studies.