Research Methods: Solar Thermal Collectors for Domestic Heating Report

This report examines the application of solar thermal collectors in domestic heating systems. It begins with an introduction to renewable energy and the use of solar thermal collectors, followed by a clear aim and objectives. The report includes a detailed review of relevant literature, analyzing papers on solar water heating systems, the application of solar energy for domestic heating, and the potential of medium-scale solar thermal systems. The research methods section outlines the research design, including qualitative and quantitative approaches, as well as the research strategy involving literature reviews and data collection methods, utilizing both primary and secondary data sources. The data analysis method, including content analysis, is also described. The report concludes by summarizing the findings and emphasizing the effectiveness of solar thermal collectors in domestic heating.

DOMESTIC HEATING SYSTEM BASED
ON RENEWABLE ENERGY WITH
SOLAR THERMAL COLLECTORS

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Table of Contents
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................2
Aim and objectives............................................................................................................................2
Review of papers...................................................................................................................................2
Research methods.................................................................................................................................4
Introduction.......................................................................................................................................4
Research design.................................................................................................................................4
Research strategy..............................................................................................................................5
Data collection method.....................................................................................................................5
Data analysis method........................................................................................................................5
References.............................................................................................................................................7

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Introduction
Renewable energy is one of the best energy systems where energy is gathered from
renewable resources like sunlight, rain, waves and so on. A solar thermal collector
mainly collects heat by absorbing the sunlight and it uses the renewable resources for
obtaining the waves and energy from sunlight [4].
Aim and objectives
 To analysis the concept of solar thermal collectors
 To evaluate the domestic heating system by using solar thermal collectors
 To understand and highlight the key features of the solar thermal collectors and
identify how this system is used in the development of the domestic heat system
Review of papers
Analysis and Optimization Design of a Solar Water Heating System Based on Life Cycle
Cost Using a Genetic Algorithm
This paper was written by the Myeong Jin Ko in the year 2015 and it is completely based
on the heating system using the solar technique. The objective of this study is to analyse
the concept of the water heating system and optimize the level of water with the help of
a solar based system [1]. In this journal article, the researcher presents an optimization
technique in order to design and implement the solar heating system. It is identified
that the solar collector is one of the best methods for producing heat from the sunlight
and it can be used in the development of the water heating system. The investigator
evaluated that the solar water heating system is one of the best application of the
thermal collector [5]. The investigator designed and implemented the water heating
system and concluded that the thermal collector system is more than 90% accurate for
the generation of energy from sunlight.
Applications of solar energy for domestic hot–water and buildings heating/cooling
The paper was provided by the two authors such as Ioan Sarbu and Marius Adam in the
year 2011. This paper aim is to evaluate the solar based thermal collector and develop
the domestic heating system by using thermal collectors [7]. According to the author,
the use of solar based energy is growing rapidly and many industries use this process

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for the generation of electricity from sunlight. From this paper, it has been identified
that heating and cooling of water with the help of renewable energy is a very common
application of the thermal collector. Moreover, the investigator also reviewed the
fundamental working principle of the thermal collector and provided in-depth analysis
of the domestic heating system [2]. It has been concluded that the solar based thermal
collector produce the thermal energy which can be used in the domestic heating system
and power generation. However, with the help of solar thermal collectors, the
performance of the heating system can be increased because it converts sunlight rays
into the thermal energy more effectively.
Analysis of Medium-Scale Solar Thermal Systems and Their Potential in Lithuania
This research paper focuses on the medium scale solar thermal system that was written
by the Rokas ValancBius, Andrius Jurelionis, Rolandas Jonynas, Vladislovas Katinas and
Eugenijus Perednis. This journal paper explains the working principle of solar thermal
collectors and their potential applications in the industries [11]. The major goal of this
article is to demonstrate the operational solar heating system by using solar based
thermal collectors. The researcher identified that domestic heating system is one of the
best application of the solar based thermal collector which is used by many countries in
the world. Moreover, the author designed and compared the theoretical data with the
practical data and evaluated that the gap between the measured and analysed data is
around 11%. The major problem discussed by the author is that the thermal collectors
required proper setup for the generation of energy from sunlight which is a more costly
process rather than other. However, the development of a domestic heating system with
the help of thermal energy is more efficient and accurate that has the potential to
produce a large amount of heat from sunlight. In this study, the researcher also
compared and determined the performance parameters for the standard year. The
overall efficiency of the heating system by using solar thermal collectors vary between
the 70 to 80% which is more enough for the generation of thermal energy in less time.
Solar Water Heating System
This journal paper was written by the Abhishek Verma and Vishal Kumar in the year
2015 and the purpose of this study is to gather knowledge in the field of solar thermal
collators and understand the water heating system based on thermal energy. According

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to the investigator in the domestic heating system, the heat can be produced with the
help of thermal energy which is mainly composed of the solar thermal collectors. Such
kind of process can be used for heating water in the homes, industries and business
where the solar thermal collectors collect energy from sunlight and convert into the
thermal energy [12]. From this paper, it is observed that by using thermal collectors
industries can save more than 40% of electricity and solar heating system can lead to
saving around 80% of bills in terms of costs. It has been concluded that the solar-based
thermal collector is one of the best approaches for the generation of energy and
implementing the water heating system in less time.
Research methods
Introduction
The research methodology provides a platform to the researcher for improving the
effectiveness of the paper and analyses the related facts and information about the
research topic. In this research study, the author will use numbers of methodologies and
techniques, for example, psychological approach, research design, research strategy,
data collection techniques, and many more [3]. With the help of all these methods
researcher will be able to reduce the gaps between the research topic and relevant
information. Moreover, the researcher can achieve the objectives and aims of the
investigation with better outcomes.
Research design
It is one of the common methods which are used in the research for designing the
structure of the investigation. With the help of this approach, the researcher will be able
to get the right direction to comprehend the study problems [6]. Moreover, the research
design also involves the plan of the research which can enable the researcher to make
answers to the questions of research work. In this paper, there are major two kinds of
designs will be used such as qualitative and quantitative where qualitative process
focuses on theoretical information and quantitative process focus on the numerical data
and facts about research topic [8]. However, both these research design will help the
investigator to understand the fundamental working of the solar thermal collectors in
the development of the heating system. By using such kind of techniques the
investigator can attain the aims and objectives in the produced time duration.

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Research strategy
The research strategy is the most effective method that provides a platform to the
researcher for assessing the information and facts collecting ways by which study
would be conducted in an efficient manner. In which the researcher will use the focus
groups, literature review, previous journal papers, and reviews of the research studies.
By using all these strategies the author will enable to obtain the fresh and new
information about the research topic. The literature review section will help the
researcher to collect and analysis the opinions of the other experts about solar thermal
collectors and heating system (Kumar, and Rosen, 2011). It will provide the theoretical
facts and information about the research topic and students can compare the results
with previous studies.
Data collection method
It is a very important method that will be used by the researcher to collect the
theoretical and numerical data about the research topic. The researcher will involve the
secondary data method for collecting the information about the solar heating system
and literature review will help them to evaluate the findings and results obtained by the
previous articles [10]. Furthermore, the secondary data about the solar heating system
and thermal collectors will be gathered from different resources, for example, journal
papers, peer reviewed articles, online books and websites and many more. Such kind of
method will be beneficial for obtaining the valid and reliable data about the research
topic and it will reduce the gaps between the research topic and related facts. Therefore,
by using secondary data collection method the investigator will able to improve the
effectiveness of the investigation and achieve the better outcomes in the end.
Data analysis method
The data analysis technique will provide the researcher to get effective and accurate
results from the investigation. There are several steps will be used by the author for
analysing the data and information, for example, content analysis, SPSS and Excel. For
this investigation, the researcher will use the content analysis approach in order to
evaluate the qualitative and quantitative data about the solar heating system [9].
Therefore, with the help of all these research methods, the investigator will gain better
conclusion and complete their investigation within the specified time duration.

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References
[1].Ko, M., (2015) Analysis and optimization design of a solar water heating system
based on life cycle cost using a genetic algorithm.
Energies, 8(10), pp.11380-
11403.
[2].Kumar, R. and Rosen, M.A., (2011) A critical review of photovoltaic–thermal solar
collectors for air heating.
Applied Energy, 88(11), pp.3603-3614.
[3].Mekhilef, S., Saidur, R. and Safari, A., (2011) A review on solar energy use in
industries.
Renewable and sustainable energy reviews, 15(4), pp.1777-1790.
[4].Otanicar, T.P., Phelan, P.E., Prasher, R.S., Rosengarten, G. and Taylor, R.A., (2010)
Nanofluid-based direct absorption solar collector.
Journal of renewable and
sustainable energy, 2(3), p.033102.
[5].Panwar, N.L., Kaushik, S.C. and Kothari, S., (2011) Role of renewable energy
sources in environmental protection: A review.
Renewable and Sustainable
Energy Reviews, 15(3), pp.1513-1524.
[6].Qiblawey, H.M. and Banat, F., (2008) Solar thermal desalination
technologies.
Desalination, 220(1-3), pp.633-644.
[7].Sarbu, I. and Adam, M., (2011) Applications of solar energy for domestic hot–
water and buildings heating/cooling.
International Journal of Energy, 2(5),
pp.34-42.
[8].Thirugnanasambandam, M., Iniyan, S. and Goic, R., (2010) A review of solar
thermal technologies.
Renewable and sustainable energy reviews, 14(1), pp.312-
322.
[9].Tripanagnostopoulos, Y., (2007) Aspects and improvements of hybrid
photovoltaic/thermal solar energy systems.
Solar energy, 81(9), pp.1117-1131.
[10]. Tyagi, V.V., Panwar, N.L., Rahim, N.A. and Kothari, R., (2012) Review on
solar air heating system with and without thermal energy storage
system.
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 16(4), pp.2289-2303.
[11]. ValancBius, R., Jurelionis, A., Jonynas, R., Katinas, V. and Perednis, E., (2015)
Analysis of medium-scale solar thermal systems and their potential in
Lithuania.
Energies, 8(6), pp.5725-5737.

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[12]. Verma, A. and Kumar, V., (2015) Solar Water Heating System.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN AERONAUTICAL AND
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, 3(1), pp. 53-63.