SYNRGY Hot Box
Project Participants
Spring 2010:
Opportunity Definition
My project is to design and test a passive solar heating box. The objective of the design is to collect heat and transfer it into a house via convection.
Solar heating boxes are appropriate technology because it utilizes the resource available in an effective manner. This type of design is appropriate in almost any location, being that it's means of energy are solar and natural convection. Passive solar designs can provide a comfortable environment anywhere from garages and workshops to third world villages. It has a smaller carbon footprint than conventional heating systems. --- It was to originally be installed in the garage/jam space of Synrgy, reggae massive from Humboldt County. However, due to lack of solar exposure, the decision was made to test the design at another garage right down the road that serves as the jam space for local bands Acufunkture and Blue Street Junction.
Literature Review
===Energy:It's Use and the Environment===
ED: REMOVE THE SPACE BEFORE THE PREVIOUS LINE TO MAKE THE FORMATTING WORK. WATCH YOUR APOSTROPHES.
This is a college level textbook that breaks down the physics of energy and heat transformation. It breaks down all of the necessary mathematical procedures on finding heating loads, specific heat, amount of solar insolation, ect.[1]
===The Passive Solar Construction Handbook===
This Book breaks down the necessary components of a passive solar house or heating system.[2]
===Solar Energy for Heating and Cooling===
This book lists the amount of solar insolation of virtually every city in America, breaking it down by the time of year, time of day and latitude. [3]
===Peer reviewed Journal=== A journal discussing the heating storage capacity of various building materials.[4]
Criteria
| Criteria | Weight | Constraints/considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Generates Heat | 10 | Must be Passive/Increase room temp ~10 degrees |
| Aesthetics | 5 | Interior of box must be black |
| Cost | 8 | Less than ~$200 material |
| Heat Storage | 8 | System must be Closed at night/materials in room can increase heat storage |
ED: NO OTHER CRITERIA, SUCH AS SAFETY OR DURABILITY?
| Criteria | Weight | Alt Solution 1 | Alt Solution 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generate Heat | 10 | 50 | 20 |
| Aesthetics | 5 | 25 | 40 |
| Cost | 8 | 40 | 30 |
| Heat Storage | 8 | 45 | 25 |
- Alt solution#2 is a energy star floor heater
Budget
| Quantity | Material | Source | Cost ($) | Total ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plexiglass 36"x48" acrylic sheet | Professionalplastic.com | $35.80 | $35.80 |
| 2 | Pasco Dryer vent kit | nextag.com | $8.10 | $16.20 |
| 1 | OSB Sheetwood 3/4" | Arcata Lumber | $16.00 | $16.00 |
| 1 | 2x6x20 dougfir | Arcata Lumber | $9.08 | $9.08 |
| 1 | Can black bbq paint | azpartsmaster.com | $5.39 | $5.39 |
| A lot | R-12 insulation | Donated | $0 | $0 |
| 1 | Corrugated sheet metal | Recycled scrap | $0 | $0 |
| TOTAL PRICE | $82.47 |
ED: CHECK OUT THE EXAMPLE AT Help:Table_examples#Cost_Table
Tenative Timeline
March 15th-Collect Materials from Hardware store
March 20th-Collect Plexiglass and donated materials. Start taking measuring and taking temperature of the room. Start Calculations
April 1st-Have all calculations finished
April 2nd-Size the heat box
April 10th-Build box, Attach vents to house
April 11-15th-Test the box. Take Temperature of room. ED: USE A SIMPLE TABLE FOR THIS TIMELINE. ED: THIS IS NOT ENOUGH TIME FOR TESTING AND TWEAKING.
References
- ↑ Hinrichs,R.A. Kleinbach,M.H.(2005). "Energy:It's Use and The Environment." 4th Edition. Brooks Cole. New York.
- ↑ Levy, Emanuel(1983). "The Passive Solar Construction Handbook." Steven Winter Associates,Inc. Rodale Press.
- ↑ Jordan, Richard (1977). "Applications of Solar Energy For Heating and Cooling of Buildings." American Society of Heating, Refigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers, inc. New York.
- ↑ Kedl, R.J.(2001). "Thermodynamics of Wallboard with Latent Heat Storage for Passive Solar Applications." U.S. Department of Energy. Sante Fe, New Mexico.