Abstract
Domestic solar hot water system can be divided into a passive type and an active type. In a passive type the storage tank is horizontally mounted immediately above the solar collectors. No pumping is required as the hot water naturally rises into the storage tank from the collectors through thermo-siphon flow. While, in an active type the storage tank is ground- or floor-mounted and is below the level of the collectors; a circulating pump moves water or heat transfer fluid between the storage tank and the collectors. We installed two types solar hot water systems consisting of the same storage tank and collectors at the same place, and were measured and compared typical operating characteristics under the same external conditions. In particular, the daily system performance was presented through the stirring test after the sunset. The results show that the amount of solar radiation obtained for an active type were less than a passive type on a cloudy day, because the operation of the circulation pump stops frequently took place on that day. However, on a sunny day, depending on the stable operation of the circulation pump, the amount of solar radiation obtained for an active type were increased than a passive type.
