Introduction
In today’s experiment, we will study the effect of gasses in the solar water heater. For this experiment, we will determine whether the time taken by the heating box to heat water at a particular temperature gets affected by changing the gas inside the box.
We hypothesized that the gas that has the lowest thermal conductivity would prove beneficial to the solar heater. The reason is that this gas will stop heat from escaping from the hot metal plate through the metal valves.
Aim
To determine the effect of various gasses on solar heating boxes.
Theory
1. Solar water heating is a process by which water gets heated by sunlight energy with the help of a solar thermal collector.
2. The device which performs this operation is termed a solar water heater.
Requirements
2. A Plastic
3. A Glass Top
4. An Air-Tight Box
5. Copper Pipes
6. Heat Plate
7. Water
8. Thermometer
9. Argon
10. Helium
11. Two gas valves
12. 250 Watt heating lamp
13. Notebook
Procedure
Step 1: Using an airtight box, plastic, copper vines, and a heat plate, design a water heater. The heat plate will be fixed below for receiving heat and transferring energy to water.
Step 2: Place water in the solar heater box.
Step 3: Measure the time taken by water that is circulating in the solar water heater to get heat up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 4: The regular air in the solar heater box will act as the control.
Step 5: For experimentation, fill the solar heater box with various gasses (Air, Argon, and Helium). And repeat the experiment.
Step 6: Perform three tests with each gas.
Step 7: At 70 degrees Fahrenheit, measure the volume of water in each test.
Step 8: Keep the room temperature outside the water at 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 9: On either side of the container, install two valves for placing the gasses (helium and argon) inside the chamber.
Step 10: At a distance of 1.5 feet from the solar water heater, place two heating lamps of 259 Watts to keep the energy constant while it enters the solar heating box.
Step 11: Record your observations.
Observation
1. We observed that the solar heating ox that was filled with air was more efficient in heating. It took almost 73 minutes.
2. The average time taken by the Argon gas was 76 minutes, excluding extraneous results. Including extraneous results, the average time taken was 73 minutes.
3. The average time taken by Helium to heat the water up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit was 84.6 minutes, which was greater than all. Therefore, it was the least efficient.
Result
1. Our hypothesis proved right with only the helium group, as it took the greater time to heat the water and was the least efficient among all.
2. Argon and air were the most efficient group, contrary to their thermal conductivity.
3. The difference between the efficiency of air and argon lies within a reasonable error margin.
4. Therefore, more precise experiments can only prove or disprove this hypothesis.
Precaution
1. Take help from someone for welding pipes.
2. Record the observation carefully.
Conclusion
We finally concluded the effect of gasses in the solar water heater. We determined whether placing different types of gasses inside the chamber of a solar heater box affects its heating capacity.
VIVA Questions With Answers
Q.1 What was the aim of your experiment?
ANS. We aimed to determine the effect of various gasses on the heating capacity of solar water heaters.
Q.2 Which gas showed the most efficiency?
ANS. Argon had the maximum efficiency in heating the water, followed by air.
Q.3 Which gas showed the least efficiency?
ANS. Helium had the least efficiency.
Saquib Siddiqui is a Mechanical Engineer and a content creator. He has special interest in science experiments and teaches the same to school and college students. He is also a technical lead at RUDE LABS PVT. LTD.
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