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CFD analysis of solar air collector equipped with flexible ribs

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Abstract

In this paper a new concept via the use of flexible ribs to control flow and heat transfer inside the air duct of a solar air collector is proposed. The new model uses flexible ribs instead of conventional fixed ribs, to improve the control efficiency and, therefore, to seek better energy extraction performance. The effect of flow mass rates on flow and heat transfer behavior has been investigated. It is apparent that the turbulence generated by flexible ribs provides a greater increase in heat transfer over the air duct. Results show also that the thermal enhancement factor tends to increase with the rise of Reynolds number where the highest value of this factor is registered for the flexible ribs configuration.

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Abbreviations

a max :

Oscillating amplitude (m)

D h :

Hydraulic diameter H (m)

D :

Drag force (N)

e :

Ribs thickness (m)

f flexion :

Oscillating frequency (Hz)

f :

Friction factor

H :

Channel height (m)

h :

Flexible ribs length (m)

h c :

Convective heat transfer coefficient W m−2 K−1

h(x):

Instantaneous ribs position along the x-axis

h(y):

Instantaneous ribs position along the y-axis

k :

Thermal conductivity W m−1 K−1

L :

Solar collector length (m)

m:

Mass flow rate

Nu :

Nusselt number

P :

Spacing between ribs (m)

Re :

Reynolds number (\(\rho \overline{U} D_{h} /\mu\))

T :

Temperature (K)

t :

Instant time (s)

U :

Incoming flow velocity (m s−1)

\(\overline{U}\) :

Mean velocity in channel (m s−1)

η :

Thermal enhancement factor = ((Nu/Nu 0)/(f/f 0))1/3

μ :

Dynamic viscosity

ρ :

Density

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département de Génie Mécanique, Université de Biskra, 07000, Biskra, Algeria

    Mohamed Taher Bouzaher, Mohamed Tahar Baissi & Chebana abdelbasset

  2. Unit of Applied Research in Renewable Energy, BP 88, Garat Ettaam, Ghardaïa, Algeria

    Mohamed Tahar Baissi

Authors
  1. Mohamed Taher Bouzaher
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  2. Mohamed Tahar Baissi
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  3. Chebana abdelbasset
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohamed Taher Bouzaher.

Additional information

Technical Editor: Jose A. dos Reis Parise.

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Bouzaher, M.T., Baissi, M.T. & abdelbasset, C. CFD analysis of solar air collector equipped with flexible ribs. J Braz. Soc. Mech. Sci. Eng. 38, 2289–2297 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-016-0500-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-016-0500-3

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