The Center for Energy Research (CER) has developed a water heating test facility on the roof of the Thomas Beam Engineering Building at UNLV. This facility allows for up to three systems to be tested simultaneously for days at a time using any prescribed water draw profile. Each of the three systems is connected to a conventional water heater, where any needed topping-off of temperature can be accomplished for the end use application. A control unit consisting of a stand-alone water heater can be subjected to the same water draw profile for a non-solar comparison.

Figure 1. Three solar water heating collectors mounted on the roof-top laboratory of the Center for Energy Research. Evaluation is taking place as part of the CSTRR project for solar water heater marketing. Shown in the background is the world-famous Las Vegas Strip.

Figure 1 shows three water heaters mounted in the roof-top array. Shown in the background is the Arid Regions Laboratory where roofing/insulation tests have taken place. A model home that incorporates solar domestic water heating is shown in Figure 2. The CER was active in the technical support to the home builder in selecting appropriate kinds of equipment for this application.

Figure 2. A solar domestic water-heating panel is shown on a model in a southeastern Las Vegas housing development.