Experimental evaluation of solar water heater with and without beeswax phase change material utilizing a hybrid-coated absorber plate
Author(s): N.V. Narasimha Rao, N. Alagappan
Publication #: 2510008
Date of Publication: 29.10.2025
Country: India
Pages: 1-7
Published In: Volume 11 Issue 5 October-2025
Abstract
The present study investigates the performance enhancement of a solar water heater integrated with Beeswax-Based Phase Change Material (PCM) at a tilt angle of 45°. Experiments were conducted at three different flow rates 60 kg/hr, 90 kg/hr, and 120 kg/hr to evaluate the hourly and overall thermal efficiency. The system with PCM (WPCM) exhibited superior efficiency compared to the system without PCM (WOPCM) under all tested conditions. The maximum efficiencies obtained for WPCM were approximately 31%, 36%, and 38% at flow rates of 60 kg/hr, 90 kg/hr, and 120 kg/hr, respectively, whereas the corresponding efficiencies for WOPCM were around 24%, 27%, and 29%. The enhancement in efficiency is attributed to the PCM’s ability to absorb excess heat during peak sunshine hours and release it gradually during the evening, ensuring stable thermal performance. The results confirm that incorporating beeswax-based PCM improves the overall energy utilization and extends the effective operating period of the solar water heater.
Keywords: Solar water heater, WBPCM, WOBPCM, Bees wax, Copper tubes, Absorber plate, Thermocouples.
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