Solar water heater – Solar thermal energy utilization.

Brunei is considered as one of the countries which are the highest consumers of electricity per capita in Asia. Most of the consumption is mainly for domestic purposes, which includes the use of a water heater. The water heater is mostly used for showering, washing, and cooking. A flat plate solar water heater was designed to provide the inhabitant with hot water that utilizes natural convection, which is known as the thermosiphon effect. A prototype of a solar water heater was constructed and tested for its functionality and performance. The experiment was done for ten days which was held from the end of March to early April 2021. The results from the experimental study have shown that the prototype was able to achieve a temperature within the range of 50°C to 67.2°C. In addition, it also achieved an instantaneous optimum rate of thermal output of 6.19 kW and a maximum average daily solar collector efficiency of 67.2%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]