CH-2630 -- Energy Performance of a Residential Electric Water Heater PDF

Steady state and transient data describing the performance of a 52 gal. electric water heater are presented. Based on them, a mathematical model of heater efficiency and standby loss is derived. The noted dependence of these performance characteristics on design parameters such as storage temperature volume, insulation, inlet temperature and draw schedule is also analyzed. For the test heater studied, typical efficiencies (excluding distribution line losses) were noted to be in the order of 80%. The mathematical model permits prediction of the effects of different design parameter on heater performance.