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Heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics of solar air heater duct with non-uniform ribs

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Abstract

This article presents a solar air heater channel artificially made rough with a transverse roughness in square-wave shape, investigated for the enhancement in heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics. Non-uniform profile of the ribs has been used by providing periodic gaps for reduction in eddies behind the rib. The research incorporates relative roughness width from 10–310, relative roughness pitch = 10, relative roughness height = 0.043, and Reynolds number from 3000–15000, respectively. The procedure followed for the CFD investigation has been confirmed with the experimental results. The maximum increment in Nusselt number was 2.22, and the consequent value for the friction factor increment of 3.44 was obtained. The highest THPP value of 1.49 was obtained while maximum thermal efficiency of 68.6% was achieved. The non-uniform ribs were found better as compared to uniform ribs. The results have been demonstrated using graphical contours and streamlines.

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Abbreviations

D :

Hydraulic diameter of duct, mm

e :

Rib height, mm

L :

Length of duct, mm

P :

Pitch, mm

W :

Width of duct, mm

w :

Square wave pitch, mm

Re :

Reynolds number

e/D :

Relative roughness height

P/e :

Relative roughness pitch

W/w :

Relative roughness width

f :

Friction factor

THPP :

Thermohydraulic performance parameter

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, CT University, Punjab, 142024, India

    Inderjeet Singh & Sachit Vardhan

  2. Department of Renewable Energy Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, Punjab, 141004, India

    Sukhmeet Singh

Authors
  1. Inderjeet Singh
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  2. Sukhmeet Singh
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  3. Sachit Vardhan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Inderjeet Singh.

Additional information

Inderjeet Singh is serving as an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at CT University, Ludhiana, Punjab. He is pursuing Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering with research in the field of solar energy systems. His research interests are towards renewable energy, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, solar thermal systems and CFD. He has published more than 12 articles in international journals and conferences of repute.

Sukhmeet Singh is a Senior Research Engineer and Head of Department, Mechanical Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from National Institute of Technology (NIT), Jalandhar. He has been actively involved in developmental activities in solar energy and developed popular technologies like packed bed solar air heater, scale free solar water heater, multi-shelf domestic solar dryer and forced circulation solar dryer.

Sachit Vardhan is working as an Associate Professor and Head of Department, Mechanical Engineering in CT University, Ludhiana. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering & Technology (SLIET), Longowal, Punjab. He has published more than 50 articles in reputed international journals and conferences.

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Singh, I., Singh, S. & Vardhan, S. Heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics of solar air heater duct with non-uniform ribs. J Mech Sci Technol 35, 343–350 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-020-1234-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-020-1234-9

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