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Applications of extended surfaces for improvement in the performance of solar air heaters—a detailed systematic review

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Abstract

The objective of this research article is to present a comprehensive review of the work carried out to improve the thermal as well exergetic performance of the conventional smooth absorber plate solar air heater (SAH) duct by the use of the various configurations and arrangements of extended surfaces (fins) for the forced convection. In the SAH duct, these extended surfaces are attached along the air-flow path on the top absorber, on the bottom plate, or on the both plate surfaces. It enhances the performance of the conventional SAH by increasing the surface area and makes flow turbulent by their presence. Several experimental, theoretical, and simulation works, which have been performed by the researchers by utilizing the extended surfaces to improve the thermal efficiency based on first law of thermodynamics, exergy, and entropy generation analysis on the basis of the second law of thermodynamics for SAH ducts, have been included in the present article. Subsequently, an effort has been made to calculate the Nusselt number and friction factor by using the correlations reported by the researchers for comparing the performance of different configurations of fin SAHs. This comprehensive review article will be useful for the investigators and researchers who are working in the area of extended surface SAHs.

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Abbreviations

A c :

Absorber plate surface extent, m2

A f :

Fin surface area, m2

C p :

Specific heat of air, J/kg k

\(\xi\) :

Conversion factor

D h :

Hydraulic diameter of the duct, m

E :

Distance between two fins, m

H F :

Fin height, m

F L :

Fin length, m

h :

Convective heat transfer coefficient, W/m2K

H :

Depth of duct, m

I :

Intensity of solar radiation, W/m2K

K a :

Thermal conductivity of air, W/m K

K i :

Thermal conductivity of insulation, W/m K

K f :

Thermal conductivity of fin material, W/m K

L :

Length of duct, m

M :

Mass flow rate of air in the duct, kg/s

∆P :

Pressure drop, Pa

Q u :

Heat gain by air, W

Q :

Rate of heat transfer, W

Ht:

(t) Fin thickness, m

T o :

(Tfo) Fluid (air) outlet temperature, K

T i :

(TFi) Fluid (air) inlet temperature, K

T a :

Ambient temperature, K

T sky :

Sky temperature, K

T s :

Surface temperature, K

T p :

(TPm) Mean plate temperature, K

T b :

(TBm) Mean bottom plate temperature, K

T f :

(TFm) Mean air temperature, K

Ut:

Top loss coeffecient, W/m2K

U L :

Overall heat loss coefficient, W/m2K

U s :

Side loss coefficient, W/m2K

V :

Air velocity in solar air duct m/s

V w :

Wind speed, m/s

W :

Width of duct, m

w :

Wavy fin spacing, cm

Pm:

Mechanical/blower work (W)

F :

Friction factor

f r :

Friction factor for fin surface

f s :

Friction factor for smooth surface

Nu:

Nusselt number

N :

Number of fins

R :

Mass flow rate fraction

Re:

Reynolds number

SAH:

Solar air heater

SAC:

Solar air collector

Amp:

Amplitude of wavy fin SAH

NR:

Not reported

\({(\tau \alpha )}_{\mathrm{e}}\) :

Effective transmittance-absorptance product

\(\mu\) :

Absolute viscosity of air, N s/m2

λ :

Wavelength of wavy fin SAH, cm

α c :

Absorptivity of solar radiation of the glass cover

\({\rho }_{\mathrm{a}}\) :

Density of air, kg/m3

Ƞ f :

Fin efficiency

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Cambridge Institute of Technology, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India

    Mukesh Kumar Sahu & Vikash Kumar Gorai

  2. Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Cambridge Institute of Technology, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India

    Bikash Chandra Saha

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  1. Mukesh Kumar Sahu
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  2. Vikash Kumar Gorai
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  3. Bikash Chandra Saha
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design of the manuscript. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by all the authors: Mukesh Kumar Sahu, Vikash Kumar Gorai, and Bikash Chandra Saha.

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Correspondence to Mukesh Kumar Sahu.

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Sahu, M.K., Gorai, V.K. & Saha, B.C. Applications of extended surfaces for improvement in the performance of solar air heaters—a detailed systematic review. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 54429–54447 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-26360-3

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