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Heat transfer and exergy analysis of solar air heater tube with helical corrugation and perforated circular disc inserts

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Abstract

The effects of perforated circular disc swirl generator on heat transfer (HT) and flow fields in a solar air heater helical corrugated tube have been investigated experimentally. Thermal energy transport coefficient at different values of the corrugation angle (θ), the corrugation pitch ratio (y), the perforation ratio (k), and the perforation disc pitch ratio (s) is studied for Reynolds numbers (Re) ranging from 10,000 to 52,000. Isothermal pressure drop tests and heat transfer experiments under a uniform heat flux conditions have been carried out. The results indicate that in the presence of a perforated circular disc inside the helically corrugated tube, heat transfer is augmented by around 50–60%. Entropy generation in the form of irreversibility is reported. Exergy analysis, in terms of exergy efficiency, is presented. The corrugated tube with swirl generator inserts augments the thermal energy transport coefficient mostly, which is accompanied by a minimum pressure penalty. The combined geometry augments more thermal energy transport coefficient than those of acting alone. A predictive Nusselt number and friction factor correlation are also developed. A large data set has been created for thermal energy transport coefficient and thermal–hydraulic performance, which is beneficial for the design of solar thermal air heaters and heat exchangers.

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Abbreviations

A :

Tube inner wall surface area (m2)

b :

Breadth of baffle (m)

c p :

Mean isobaric heat capacity (J kg−1 K−1)

d :

Perforation diameter (m)

D :

Inner diameter of test tube (m)

f :

Darcy friction factor

h :

Convective heat transfer coefficient (W m−2 K−1)

H :

Perforation ratio

HT :

Heat transfer

HE :

Heat exchanger

I :

Current (A)

k :

Fluid thermal conductivity (W m−1 K−1)

L :

Tube length (m)

m :

Mass flow rate (kg s−1)

Nu:

Nusselt number

Δp :

Pressure drop (N m−2)

P :

Pitch ratio

PD :

Pressure drop

Pr:

Prandtl number

R w :

Wall thermal resistance (K W−1)

q w :

Wall heat flux

Re:

Reynolds number based on D and V

s :

Space between the angle (m)

T :

Temperature (K)

TT :

Twisted tape

V :

Bulk velocity for plain tube (m s−1); voltage V

W :

Width of baffle (m)

y :

Pitch (m)

ρ :

Fluid density (kg m−3)

α :

Angle (°)

b:

Bulk

e:

Electric

i:

Inlet

o:

Outlet

ow:

Outer wall

w:

Inner wall

0:

Plain tube (turbulator-free)

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Acknowledgements

The author would like to appreciatively acknowledge Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, University of Pretoria, Sam Casting, and Indian Institute of Technology Patna for their support in this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Renewable Energy and Environment Development, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani, Pilani Campus, Rajasthan, 333 031, India

    Suvanjan Bhattacharyya

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Patna, Bihta, Patna, 801103, India

    Manabendra Pathak

  3. Clean Energy Research Group, Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, South Africa

    Mohsen Sharifpur

  4. Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, 550000, Vietnam

    Mohsen Sharifpur

  5. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Engineering & Technology, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India

    Sunil Chamoli

  6. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics and Industrial Design, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X860, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa

    Daniel R. E. Ewim

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  1. Suvanjan Bhattacharyya
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Bhattacharyya, S., Pathak, M., Sharifpur, M. et al. Heat transfer and exergy analysis of solar air heater tube with helical corrugation and perforated circular disc inserts. J Therm Anal Calorim 145, 1019–1034 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-020-10215-x

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