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Thermal Performance Studies on Multi-pass Flat-plate Solar Air Heater with Longitudinal Fins: An Analytical Approach

  • Research Article - Mechanical Engineering
  • Published:
Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this study, thermal performance of double- and triple-pass solar air heater with longitudinal fins is mathematically evaluated. The effects of parameters, viz. mass flow rate, solar intensity and inlet temperature upon outlet temperature, thermal efficiency and increments in efficiency, power consumption are presented. The analytical solution for the mathematical model involving energy balance equations of different components of solar air heater is obtained using a MATLAB 8.1. Triple-pass solar air heater with fins exhibits better thermal performance, whereas double-pass solar air heater with fins is economically viable within the opted conditions. The results of the analytical models are in good agreement with experimental findings of earlier researchers.

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Abbreviations

A c :

Surface area of the collector (m 2)

A f :

Total surface area of the fins (m 2)

B :

Fluid flow channel width (m)

c p :

Specific heat of air at constant pressure (J/kg K)

E :

Efficiency increment ratio

G :

Air mass flow rate per unit area of collector (kg/m2  s)

H :

Fluid flow channel height (m)

h :

Heat transfer coefficient (W/m2  K)

h b :

Conductive heat transfer coefficientacross the insulation (W/m2  K)

I :

Incident solar radiation (W/m2)

k s :

Thermal conductivity of absorber plate (W/m K)

L :

Fluid flow channel length (m)

L f :

Length of the fin (m)

m :

Mass flow rate of air (kg/s)

n :

Number of the fins

P :

Power consumption increment ratio

Q :

Useful energy gain of air (W)

t :

Thickness of the fin (m)

T :

Average temperature (K)

U :

Power consumption (W)

W f :

Height of the fin (m)

α :

Absorptivity

τ :

Transmissivity

ɛ :

Emissivity

η f :

Fin efficiency (%)

η th :

Thermal efficiency (%)

σ :

Stefan–Boltzmann constant (W/m2 K4)

a:

Ambient

ab:

Absorber plate

b:

Back plate

c:

Convection

c1:

Cover-1

c2:

Cover-2

D:

Double pass

f:

Fluid

f1:

Fluid flow-1

f2:

Fluid flow-2

f3:

Fluid flow-3

i:

Inlet

o:

Outlet

r:

Radiation

S:

Single pass

s:

Sky

T:

Triple pass

w:

Wind

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, 608002, Tamilnadu, India

    P. Velmurugan & R. Kalaivanan

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  1. P. Velmurugan
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  2. R. Kalaivanan
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Correspondence to P. Velmurugan.

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Velmurugan, P., Kalaivanan, R. Thermal Performance Studies on Multi-pass Flat-plate Solar Air Heater with Longitudinal Fins: An Analytical Approach. Arab J Sci Eng 40, 1141–1150 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-015-1573-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-015-1573-5

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