A SURVEY OF DOMESTIC WATER HEATING TECHNOLOGIES

Abstract

In South Africa, heating water for domestic use is one of the most energy consuming processes in residential buildings. This process represents up to 60% of the total energy in the residential sector. Using more efficient and improved technologies to heat domestic water can make a positive contribution to the fight against the country’s current energy crisis which has a direct implication on the yearly increase in electricity prices. The purpose of this paper is to conduct a survey, summarize and critically analyze the different technologies used to heat water for domestic purposes. The results of this survey aim to identify gaps in the existing research, especially in the case of South Africa. Several research papers and other academic studies are reviewed and classified based on their focus, contribution and the type of technology to achieve a comfortable thermal level of water for domestic use. The key findings indicate importance of implementing hybrid systems for increased reliability and hot water availability while minimizing operating costs.