Cotton Insulation vs Glad Wrap Bag for solar water heater?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on selecting insulation materials for a solar water heater project, specifically comparing cotton insulation and Glad Wrap bags. The Glad Wrap bag is favored for its ability to allow more light to reach the tin reservoir, enhancing solar heating efficiency. However, concerns about wind conditions suggest that cotton may provide better insulation stability. An experiment is proposed to determine which material performs better under varying conditions.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of solar water heater design principles
  • Knowledge of thermal insulation properties
  • Familiarity with experimental design and testing methods
  • Basic physics concepts related to heat transfer
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the thermal conductivity of cotton versus plastic materials like Glad Wrap
  • Learn about the impact of wind on insulation performance
  • Explore experimental methods for testing insulation effectiveness
  • Investigate alternative insulation materials for solar applications
USEFUL FOR

Students working on solar energy projects, educators in physics or environmental science, and anyone interested in optimizing insulation for solar heating systems.

lasisdabomb
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Hello Physics Forum. I have to complete a solar water heater project for school and choosing between what would be better for the insulation of a tin reservoir. I'm leaning towards the glad wrap bag because it will let more light hit our reservoir. However it will be a quite windy day and cotton might better suited for this type of conditions.
 
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lasisdabomb said:
Hello Physics Forum. I have to complete a solar water heater project for school and choosing between what would be better for the insulation of a tin reservoir. I'm leaning towards the glad wrap bag because it will let more light hit our reservoir. However it will be a quite windy day and cotton might better suited for this type of conditions.
Can you think of an experiment that you could try, to decide which is best?
 

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