Design a low-cost, medium-scale, flat plate solar air heater: An experimental and simulation study

In the current study, an experimental analysis of exergy performance for different absorber plates is done. Three types of absorber plates are supplied with different fin arrangements with a variable air mass flow rate. The exergy analysis to evaluate the exergy performance of the solar air heaters uses experimental data for conventional and finned solar air collectors with different arrangements of fins. The main aim of the current study is to compare the exergy performance of the conventional solar air collector with those equipped with fins. The introducing of the fins in different arrangements enhances the absorber surface area, which leads to increased heat transfer. Also, fins induce air turbulence in the flow field, which improves the exergy performance of solar air collector. It is found that the exergy reduces and exergy efficiency enhances with increasing the airflow rate. The traditional flat absorber plate has undesirable exergy loss and exergy efficiency for all ranges of airflow rates. Thus, the flat plate collector presents the most substantial irreversibility, for which the exergy efficiency is the least. However, the results show that the exergy efficiency of inclined staggered turbulators is higher than that of in‐line and staggered turbulators. The optimal value of exergy efficiency is recorded at nearly 77% for the solar air collectors equipped with inclined staggered turbulators compared with other types of configurations.

Study of the performance of double pass solar air heater of a new designed absorber: An experimental work

Energy, exergy, economic and environmental assessment of double pass V-corrugated-perforated finned solar air heater at different air mass ratios

The performance of flat plate solar air heater subjected to various flow patterns (over flow, under flow and double pass) were experimentally investigated. An aluminium flat plate of 1.2. × 0.7 m2 size was employed as absorber plate. Two glass plates of similar size were used as protection for heat loss from absorber plate to atmosphere. Performance of the solar air heater at various mass flow rates (0.014, 0.0279 and 0.042 kg/s) was also reported. Thermal efficiency is recorded higher during double pass experimental conditions. Heat gained by air is found higher at experimental conditions having double pass when compared with over flow and under flow.

Two new experimental studies are presented in this research for improving the convection heat transfer and efficiency of flat plate solar air heater (SAH). An exergetic analysis is applied for evaluating the efficiency of a flat plate (SAH) with and without porous media. It was specially designed, low height bed filled with aluminium wire mesh layers and four aluminium longitudinal obstacles that increase the air path flow through the bed and the area of the absorber plate. Six wire mesh layers as an alternative of absorber plate, the layers had an internal diameter of 0.31 cm and a cross-sectional area of 0.22 cm × 0.22 cm. The wire mesh layers and the obstacles, improve the heat transfer from the absorber mesh layers in the moving air inside the heater. The plotted exergetic efficiency curves are a function of solar intensity, ambient temperature, bed temperature and temperature rise parameter (To-Ti / I). These efficiency curves are in bed with and without porous media through different airflow rate. The results illustrate that the heater with porous media SAH is more efficient, from exergy point of view, then the heater without porous media. The maximum exegetic enhanced efficiency with and without porous media SAH in this study has been found to be 3.42 % and 5.16 %, respectively. These results correspond to the low airflow rate of 0.015 kg/s and 2.5 cm channel depth. A significant improvement in the exergetic efficiency discovered when comparing the proposed system with other conventional SAHs.

Theoretical investigation of a humidification-dehumidification desalination system configured by a double-pass flat plate solar air heater

Experimental investigation of thermal performance of a double-flow solar air heater having aluminium cans

In this research, the thermal performances of flat, finned, and v-corrugated plate solar air heaters were investigated experimentally. A solar air heater with single glass cover, single pass was designed and tested under prevailing weather conditions of Tanta city (30°43′ N, 31° E), Egypt. The solar air heater was designed to be easy to replace the absorber plate from one to another one. Comparisons between the temperature difference of air across the heater and thermal efficiencies of the flat, finned, and v-corrugated plate solar air heaters were presented. The effect of change in the mass flow rate of air on the outlet air temperature and the thermal efficiency of the heater were also studied when the mass flow rates were 0.062, 0.028, and 0.009 kg/s. The experimental results showed that the maximum value of outlet temperature of the v-corrugated plate solar air heater was 5 and 3.5 °C more than that of flat and finned plates when the mass flow rate was 0.062 kg/s, respectively. And, it increased to be 8 and 5.5 C when the mass flow rate was 0.009 kg/s. It is also indicated that the thermal efficiency of the v-corrugated solar air heater is 8–14.5% and 6–10.5% higher than that of the flat and finned plate heaters, respectively, when the mass flow rate was 0.062 kg/s under the considered configurations and operating conditions. The experimental results also indicated that the convective heat transfer coefficient of the v-corrugated heater reached up to 1.64 and 1.36 times than that of the flat and finned heaters, respectively, when the flow rate was 0.062 kg/s.

Investigation of the effect of dimensional and non-dimensional parameters on the performance of pitch-varied staggered arranged dimple solar air heaters

Experimental studies and 3D simulations for the investigation of thermal performances of a solar air heater with different spiral-shaped baffles heights

Design of a recyclic solar air heater for low temperature regions utilizing integrated wavy corrugated thermal energy storage systems

The drying process is considered an effective technique for preserving foods and agricultural products from spoilage. Moreover, the drying process lessens the products' weight, volume, and packaging, which prompts a reduction in the products' transportation costs. The drying technique with solar energy represents an ancient method, still alluring due to solar energy abundance and cost‐effectiveness. In this article, the previous manuscripts concerned with studying and analyzing indirect solar dryer systems that utilize innovative solar air heaters (SAHs) are reviewed. The results and conclusions are discussed intensively to clarify the significance of utilizing this type of drying technique. The effect of many parameters on the thermal performance and efficiency of the dryer systems has been investigated. The investigated parameters included the incident solar radiation, air flow rates, outlet solar air heater temperature, absorber plate material, moisture content of the agricultural products, and the shape and configuration of the SAH. Moreover, the manuscript outlines the drying rate mathematical models that were used to validate the experimental findings. Based on the review, it is found that solar dryer systems with modified SAHs designs rather than flat plate SAH have considerable effects on enhancing thermal performance and efficiency.

Investigation of thermal performance in a solar air heater having variable arc ribbed fin configuration

Effect of selective coating on thermal performance of flat plate solar air heaters

This study focuses on evaluating the thermal performance of a flat plate solar air heater (SAH) as a key component for harnessing solar thermal energy. The SAH operates by capturing solar energy and utilizing it to heat the air, making it an economically viable, environmentally friendly, and straightforward renewable energy system. MATLAB software is utilized to analyze various performance parameters, such as thermal efficiency, absorber plate area, convective heat transfer coefficient, mass flow rate, insulation thickness, side loss and bottom loss coefficients, and collector efficiency. A specific dimensional model is used for analysis. The influence of these performance parameters on the efficiency of the SAH is explored. Finally, it concludes with some final remarks and proposes work for future advancements for continued study on solar air heaters.