Experimental investigation of solar water heater equipped with a solar collector using waste oil as absorber and working fluid

In this study, a novel solar water heater system is proposed. Its flat plat collector uses waste engine oil as absorber and heat transfer fluid at the same time, and it is equipped with a controlled sun tracker photovoltaic system to maximize the collected solar irradiation. A photovoltaic system is designed and incorporated to supply the various DC electrical devices (electronic control system, oil pump, etc). The various experimental tests carried out under the real climatic conditions of Tipaza, which is located in Algerian coast, showed that this system is effective; it can meet the hot water needs for the households in wintry time. Indeed, the results were very satisfactory since the system reaches an acceptable heating temperature, 50 degrees, in less than three hours; with heating efficiency mean rate convergence of 65% while its maximum efficiency reaches 80%. In addition, the system can work with domestic electricity as an appoint auxiliary source in the case of the absence of sunlight (climatic conditions, cloudy sky or night) with an automatic control device.