Homemade Solar Hot Water Heater

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Selecting a gas to fill a homemade solar water heater?
   I am making a solar hot water heater as the project for my Engineering Science class. My question pertains to the gas in the panel. Which gas would give the highest temperature inside the panel? And also, If i pressurize the panel chamber would it effect the temperature inside the panel?

   • ANSWER:
     Thermal mass (also called heat capacity) is the capacity of a body to store heat. There are two varieties of the heat capacity Cp and Cv where Cp is ate constant pressure and Cv is at constant volume, the higher the heat capacity the more heat the substance may retain, Hydrogen has a very high heat capacity 10.16 kJ/kg*K, though it may be a bit dangerous, the next could be Nitrogen tetroxide at 4.6 kJ/kg*K, the heat capacity is a function of temperature, and will vary as the temperature changes.

     http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/spesific-heat-capacity-gases-d_159.html

2. QUESTION:
   What would you buy with 0 dollars that would help better the environment?
   Would you make a homemade solar hot water heater or buy a bunch of compact flourescent bulbs and donate them to help get the word out? Tell me what you would do to help save the planet for our future generations.

   • ANSWER:
     I would invest that pocket change to buy stock in oil companies. Then, when the next gas hike hits, i'll turn around and sell the stock for a profit. The profit (worth more than a measly 0) can then be used for more than just a hand out to our future generations. Like say purchasing 100 acres of pristine wilderness to keep it from developers.

3. QUESTION:
   Homemade Solar Panels?
   Has anyone had any experience building their own solar panels for home use? I have seen on the news lately that people are utilizing solar panels to power their hot water heaters to save on their power bill.

   • ANSWER:
     I found an interesting article that describes utilizing solar power in the home. You can read it here http://ezinearticles.com/?Make-Your-Own-Solar-Panels---Eliminate-Your-Power-Bill&id=3262731. It's a pretty basic article that gives you the gist of it.