QUESTION
Embodied energy: Using the current international literature, investigate the available estimates of the embodied energy for the following three types of solar energy systems: photovoltaic, water and air heating. Discuss any discrepancies between the values cited taking into account methodology, climate and material use.
Those are my assigment question but i only want u to do water system.
SOLUTION
1. What is Embodied Energy?
Embodied energy, also known as embedded energy is a measure of the total energy consumed by a product throughout its complete life cycle. The concept of embodied energy can be used in determining the efficiency of energy-saving devices of buildings and deciding whether or not a product contributes to moderate global warming. Embodied energy comprises all types of energy used in the process of procuring and manufacturing raw materials, transporting and installing the product, and removing and recycling the product. [ (Lynda, 2010)]
2. Types of Embodied Energy
Embodied energy can be divided in two different categories [ (Cole & Kernan, 1996)]:
2.1. Initial Embodied Energy
The initial embodied energy ususlly stands for non-renewable energy which is consumed in possession of raw materials, manufacturing, processing, and transporting it to the site. This type of embodied energy can be further divided in two components: direct and indirect energy. Direct energy is used to carrying the building products to the site and then to construct a building. On other hand, indirect energy is used to obtain, process, and construct the building materials, including all transportations associated with these activities.
2.2. Recurring Embodied Energy
Recurring embodied energy represents non-renewable energy which is consumed to maintain, restore, repair, renovate or replace materials, systems or components during the building’s life.
3. Energy-Efficient Buildings
Due to the increase of energy-efficient buildings, the amount of embodied energy consumption increases for the lifetime. The strong connection between energy consumed in buildings and environmental damage occurs due to the energy-exhaustive solutions required to construct a building and fulfill its demands for heating, airing, cooling, and lighting sources. Buildings should be designed to fulfill the residents’ requirements for visual and thermal comfort with minimum consumption of energy and resources. In new constructions, efficiency of energy resources can be affected by implementing an integrated method to building design. Let’s see the primary steps for this method. [ (Verma, 2010)]
- Include solar passive systems in the design of a building to reduce load on conventional systems like heating, ventilation, cooling, and lighting.
- Incorporate renewable energy systems like solar photovoltaic systems, solar air heating and solar water heating systems.
- Reduce transportation energy by using low energy materials and construction’s methods.
- Design energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems.
4. Save Energy with Solar Water Heating
When we save energy we save water, and conversely, when we save water we save energy. By using minimum water and picking good materials, we can diminish running costs, cut demand on community infrastructure, and trim down environmental destruction. For water supply in buildings, there are many things to consider like the type of water heating system used; layout of pipe work to stating appliances and fixtures, etc [ (Gies, 2010)]. All water and wastewater costs are bear by building owners and occupiers. By building and renovating homes that use water efficiently, we can reduce these costs.
Choose a safe water supply system that fulfills the needs of building’s users while making efficient use of water, energy and materials. Make sure that your building must have a water supply that is drinkable and muse be protected from pollution. In addition, building must offer appropriate facilities for personal hygiene, washing utensils, and hot water that is safe and will not cause sweltering. Design systems that support resourceful and sustainable use of water, energy and materials.
There are sustainability considerations in most features of water supply like choosing the sources of water, location and layout of pipe work and storage, heating methods, materials used, and appliances specified.
Most buildings use mains water supply. However, rainwater is a great option to partly or fully replace mains water. Using rainwater can:
- Cut the costs for users on a metered water supply.
- Offer an emergency supply.
- Cut down demand on mains water supplies and storm water disposal systems.
- Deliver a free supply for watering the garden during drought
- Decrease the rate of storm water overflow.
4.1 Hot Water Supply
Hot water supply must be satisfactory to fulfil building users’ needs while keeping them safe. In addition, it should support efficient use of both energy and water. While choosing a water heating system, make sure to consider the source of energy for water heating, system layout, and system capacity like actual and potential number of users, type and number of fixtures within a household.
4.2 Solar Water Heating System
Solar water heating systems warm domestic hot water by using free heat from the sun [ (Kedar, 2007)]. An immersion heater or conventional boiler can be used to heat water and supply hot water in the absence of solar energy. It is a renewable heating system which can decrease carbon dioxide emissions.
Solar water heaters use solar panels or collectors which are installed on your building’s roof. These controllers accumulate heat from the sun and then use this heat to warm up the water which is stored in hot water cylinder. Solar water heaters save your energy bills. According to a report, a well-setup and properly used system can save £55 per year in case of gas heating replacement and £80 per year in case of electric immersion heating replacement. However, savings usually depend upon user’s needs and utilization.
4.2.1 Material Used In Solar Water Heaters
Solar hot water system can be a variety of things, usually a system that uses roof collectors like flat panel or evacuated tube, to heat water tanks and sometimes an instant hot water unit that boosts supply by gas or electricity if needed. A solar water heater is made up of numerous key components like:
- Solar collectors
- System controls or controller
- Thermal storage
- Heat Exchanger
- A conventional water heater
4.2.2 Types of Solar Collectors
Solar collectors collect the sun’s energy, convert this energy into heat, and transfer this heat to water. Following types of solar collectors can be used in solar water heaters:
Flat Plate Controller: It is an insulated metal box with a dark colored absorber plate and a plastic/ glass cover. Unglazed flat plate collectors have a dark absorber metal or polymer plate with no enclosure or cover. These types of collectors are used for solar pool heating.
Evacuated tube solar collectors: These types of collectors are made of transparent glass tubes. These glass tubes are set in parallel order. Each tube encloses a metal absorber tube and glass outer. Air is abandoned from the gap between the two glass tubes in order to get a vacuum which reduces convective and conductive heat loss.
Integral collector-storage systems: These systems are also known as batch systems or ICS. They are made of black tanks/ tubes in an insulated box. After passing through the solar collector, cold water then moves to the conventional back-up water heater.
4.2.3 Types of Solar Water Heaters
Solar water heating systems can be classified by following types [ (Walker, 2011)]:
Passive: Rather than electric power, these systems rely on natural convection to circulate the heated water.
Active: These systems entail electric power to trigger pumps and controls.
Direct: These types of systems heats filtered water directly in the collector.
Indirect: These solar water heating systems warm heat-transfer fluids, like propylene glycol, present in the collector and transmit heat to filtered water with the help of heat exchanger.
4.2.4 Where to Use Solar Water Heaters
However, all types of solar water heaters work in almost every climate. But different kinds of water heaters perform well in different areas. For example, Passive Systems are good for warm climate, Flat Plate Type Systems are good for moderate climate, and Tube Type Systems are good for cold climate. All these systems are used for heating hot water for homes, swimming pools, dairies, hotels, nursing homes. It cannot be used for central heating systems as some may say.
4.2.5 How do solar Water Heaters Work
These systems are placed on the roof facing south direction. They are connected to a hot water tank in the building with the help of insulated pipes. These pipes and panels bring a combination of water and glycol. This water accumulates heat from inside the panels. A pump drives the fluid around the pipes through your panels pick up heat. And then, it gets that hot fluid down into the tank and heats the water. The system circulates until the tank is hot using as much heat as your panels can generate. The system can garb 200 degrees, and thus accumulate heat very powerfully. This turns into 50-60 degrees in your tank which is regulated by a little control panel, which then informs the panels is hot enough. [ (Teja, 2011)]
5. References
Cole, R. J., & Kernan, P. C. (1996). Life-Cycle Energy Use in Office Buildings. In Building and Environment, Vol. 31 (pp. 307-317).
Gies, E. (2010, May 17). Turning to Water Conservation to Save Energy. Retrieved May 10, 2012, from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/18/business/energy-environment/18iht-renwat.html?pagewanted=all
Kedar. (2007, February 25). Saving Energy – One Solar Water Heater At A Time. Retrieved May 10, 2012, from http://savingenergy.wordpress.com/2007/02/25/saving-energy-one-solar-water-heater-at-a-time/
Lynda. (2010, March 19). What is Embodied Energy? Retrieved May 09, 2012, from http://tmsarchitects.com/sustainable-building/what-is-embodied-energy/
Teja, R. (2011, February 17). How solar water heaters work? Retrieved May 09, 2012, from http://mgitecetech.wordpress.com/2011/02/17/how-solar-water-heaters-work/
Verma, S. (2010, January 9). Energy-Efficient Buildings – A Way To Break The Deadlock . Retrieved May 9, 2012, from http://youthconnect.climateofconcern.org/cc_blog/article.php?a=235§ion=youthvoice
Walker, A. (2011, March 08). Solar Water Heating. Retrieved May 09, 2012, from http://www.wbdg.org/resources/swheating.php
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