Aisha Kalra
Independent Researcher
India
Abstract
This manuscript presents a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) of solar water heaters deployed in Indian climatic conditions, employing established engineering methodologies and technologies available up to 2018. The study follows ISO 14040/44 standards and utilizes SimaPro 7.3 for LCA modeling. It evaluates environmental impacts across cradle-to-grave stages—including raw material extraction, manufacturing, transportation, operation, and end-of-life disposal—for two common collector types: flat-plate and evacuated-tube solar collectors. The analysis quantifies key impact categories such as global warming potential (GWP), cumulative energy demand (CED), and water footprint. A simulation of annual thermal performance under representative climatic zones—tropical humid, semi-arid, and temperate—was conducted using TRNSYS 17. Statistical analysis compares life cycle impacts across collector types and climate zones. Results indicate that while evacuated-tube systems exhibit higher upfront embodied energy, their superior thermal efficiency yields lower operational impacts over a 20-year lifespan. The study concludes with recommendations for optimizing material selection and system design to minimize environmental burdens, providing actionable insights for engineers and policymakers seeking sustainable solar thermal solutions in India.
Keywords
Solar water heaters, life cycle assessment, environmental impact, India, flat-plate vs. evacuated-tube
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