Research and parameter optimization of SAH enhanced heat transfer characteristics based on sinusoidal corrugated heat absorb plate

Abstract

The thermal performance of solar air heater (SAH) is the standard for evaluating SAH. To enhance the thermal performance of SAH, we proposed the novel configuration incorporating the sinusoidal corrugated absorb plate. The thermal characteristics of sinusoidal-corrugated SAH were systematically investigated using the combined approach of numerical simulation and theoretical analysis. First, comparative study with conventional triangular-corrugated SAH was conducted, demonstrating the superior comprehensive performance of the sinusoidal plate in enhancing heat transfer while mitigating flow resistance. Second, the effects of key geometric parameters of the sinusoidal corrugation (wavelength and wave height) on the collector efficiency and pressure drop were thoroughly analyzed, leading to the identification of optimized parameter range. Furthermore, the double-layer sinusoidal-corrugated SAH model was developed to explore its synergistic heat transfer enhancement mechanism. The results indicated that the sinusoidal corrugation effectively disrupted the thermal boundary layer and induced secondary flows, which has higher heat collection efficiency and lower pressure drop and heat dissipation coefficient. The optimal wavelength was 20 mm, and the optimal wave height was 15 mm, the maximum heat collection efficiency was 61.58%, and the minimum heat dissipation coefficient was 4.66 W/m·K. The double-layer structure further enhanced the heat output. Based on simulated data, the high-precision fitting relationship ( R² > 0.98) was established between the heat collection efficiency and inlet air Reynolds number ( Re). This study provides theoretical basis and data support for the design and optimization of high-efficiency SAH.

Keywords

SAH / sinusoidal corrugated plate / heat transfer enhancement / parameter optimization / heat collection performance

References

[1] Wang L, Man Y (2018) Numerical simulation of baffled baffle plate solar air collector. Renewable Energy Resour 36: 997-1003. Available from: https://lib.cqvip.com/Qikan/Article/Detail?id=675669734.

[2] Abdulla AN, Alomar OR (2026) Performance of solar air heater collector with jet impingement and V-corrugated absorber plate: A comprehensive investigation towards high-efficiency applications in sustainable buildings trends. Sol Compass 17: 100152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100152

[3] Er-retby H, Es-sakali N, Mghazli MO, et al. (2026) Occupant behavior impact on energy efficiency and comfort in naturally ventilated buildings across climates using adaptive comfort: Models to metrics. Appl Therm Eng 284: 129032. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2025.129032

[4] El-Bialy E, Shabaan DH, El-Babary A, et al. (2025) Recent advances in solar air heaters embedded with artificial rib roughness: A comprehensive review. Int Commun Heat Mass Transfer 168: 109444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2025.109444

[5] Chen JN, Yang XM, Cui J, et al. (2025) Performance optimization and entropy-TOPSIS evaluation of a thermochemical solar thermal power generation system based on packed bed reactor exothermic characteristics. Energy Convers Manage 336: 19891. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2025.119891

[6] Raheem A, Siddique W, Waheed K, et al. (2024) Heat transfer enhancement of impinging jet-corrugated solar air heaters. J Sol Energy Eng 146: 041007. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4064503

[7] Kong DH, Bi R, Li GD, et al. (2024) Influence of corrugated jet plates on internal heat transfer and flow dynamics of double-wall cooling: Experimental-numerical approach. Appl Therm Eng 257: 124391. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2024.124391

[8] Abd HM, Abdulrazzaq NM, Soheel AH (2024) Solar air heater energy and exergy enhancement using a V-corrugated wire mesh absorber: An experimental Comparison. Energy 309: 133136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2024.133136

[9] Abdulmejeed AEA, Tuncer AD, Khanlari A, et al. (2024) Investigation of combined parallel and Triple-pass v-corrugated solar air heater: A numerical and experimental Study. Process Saf Environ Prot 185: 1385-1398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2024.03.107

[10] Arshad Ahmed KR, Ganesh Kumar P, Naveen Kumar JP, et al. (2025) Numerical investigation in a solar air heater with V-corrugated and sinusoidal type absorber Plate. Numer Heat Transfer, Part A 87: 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/10407782.2025.2539146.

[11] Alqsair UF (2025) Numerical simulation and optimization of a Chevron-Type corrugated solar air heater. Energies 18: 1821. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18071821

[12] Abdulla AA, Mohammed AA, HusseinEK (2025) Improvement of the performance of the double pass solar air heater by using various shapes of absorber plate: An experimental analysis. J Adv Res Fluid Mech Therm Sci 128: 59-68. https://doi.org/10.37934/arfmts.128.1.5968

[13] Azad MS (2024) Effective efficiency analysis of artificially roughed solar air heater by diagonally chamfered cuboid array. Heat Transf Res 55: 27-46. https://doi.org/10.1615/HeatTransRes.2024052712

[14] Singh R, Narayanan R (2025) Comprehensive review of thermal and thermohydraulic performance in solar air heaters with advanced artificial roughness geometries. Energies 18: 6157. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18236157

[15] Kandula J, Gugulothu SK, Muthyala R, et al. (2025) Hybrid numerical evaluation of Thermo-hydraulic and exergetic behaviour in solar air heaters with advanced arc rib Architectures. J Therm Anal Calorim 150: 20887-20907. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-025-15035-5

[16] Singh R, Bhagoria JL, Narayanan R (2025) Experimental analysis of thermo-hydraulic performance of quadratic duct with artificial roughness on a single broad heated surface of the absorber plate of solar air Heater. Case Stud Therm Eng 72: 106415. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2025.106415

[17] Almeshaal M, Palaniappan M, Matheswaran MM (2024) Assessment and enhancement of thermal performance for ring roughened finned jet impingement solar air heater for Low-temperature Applications. Energy 307: 132632. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2024.132632

[18] Khimsuriya Y, Patel DK, Patel V, et al. (2025) Performance assessment of rotating spiral-shaped baffles built-in solar air heater: 4E and sustainability analysis. Case Stud Therm Eng 72: 106345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2025.106345

[19] Mohammad SI, Owida H A, Vasudevan.A, et al. (2025) Experimental investigation of thermal performance of a solar air heater with perforated obstacles on an absorber plate. Energy Explor Exploit 43: 2665-2685. https://doi.org/10.1177/01445987251356531

[20] Noureini SG, Azadani LN (2025) Thermal performance enhancement of a solar air heater with different roughness Layouts. Case Stud Therm Eng 74: 106776. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2025.106776

[21] Rajkumar P, Melvin Jones J, Nirmal Raj L, et al. (2024) Enhancing solar air heater performance with quatrefoil artificial roughness: An adaptive neuro-fuzzy system approach. E3S Web of Conferences 477: 00088. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202447700088

[22] Prasad JS, Datta A, Mondal S (2024) Numerical analysis of a solar air heater with offset transverse ribs placed near the absorber Plate. Renewable Energy 227: 120608. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2024.120608

[23] Kanjirakat A, Kamath AM, Khan SA, et al. (2025) Enhancement of thermal performance in rectangular solar air heater duct using tetrahedron-shaped turbulators. Sci Rep 15: 43972. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-27762-8

[24] Vijayakumar R, Kumar RV, Madhu P (2024) Investigation on energy, economic, and environmental aspects of double-pass solar air heater. Environ Sci Pollut Res 31: 39406-39420. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-33786-w

[25] Sharma SL, Debbarma A (2024) Experimental study of reverse flow solar air heater having perforation and delta wing on absorber plate. Energy Technol 12: 202301246. https://doi.org/10.1002/ente.202301245

[26] Aboub HQ, Khalifa AHN, Hamad AJ (2024) Heat transfer augmentation of multiple pass solar air heater with a metal mesh assisted corrugated absorber plate. AIP Conference Proceedings 3203: 040009. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0213309

[27] Wang Y, Wang J, Ma J, et al. (2025) Multi-parameters optimization design of downward jet solar air collector with corrugated absorber plate Structure. Int Commun Heat Mass Transfer 165: 109026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2025.109026

[28] Li G, Guo T, Ye L, et al. (2025) Numerical investigation of inclined sinusoidal-corrugated target plates for enhancing flow and heat transfer in jet-to-crossflow impingement system. Energy 340: 137830. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2025.137830

[29] Avargani VM, Maarof HA, Zendehboudi S (2023) Multiphysics CFD modeling to assess performance of a perforated multi-plate indirect solar dryer with a V-corrugated absorber surface. Appl Therm Eng 227: 120387. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2023.120387

[30] Avargani VM, Maarof HA, Zendehboudi S (2025) Enhancing thermal and exergetic performance of solar air heating systems with PCM-integrated finned obstacles. Energy 326: 136149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2025.136149

[31] Jia BG, Song ZY, Li X, et al. (2025) Enhancing thermal performance: The evolution and future of solar air heaters with baffles. Case Stud Therm Eng 75: 107163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2025.107163

[32] Wang L (2022) Research on the collect heat performance of new type collector. Energy Source Part A 44: 9412-9427. https://doi.org/10.1080/15567036.2021.1954729.

[33] El-Fakharany MK, Abo-Samra AA, Abdelmaqsoud AM, et al. (2024) Enhanced performance assessment of an integrated evacuated tube and flat plate collector solar air heater with thermal storage material. Appl Therm Eng 243: 122653. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2024.122653

[34] Song Z, Xue Y, Jia B, et al. (2023) Introduction of the rectangular hole plate in favor the performance of photovoltaic thermal solar air heaters with baffles. Appl Therm Eng 220: 119774. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2022.119774

[35] Jia BG, Liu F, Wang D, et al. (2019) Optimization of flow path for the spoiler solar air collector. Chem Ind Eng Prog 38: 819-825. https://doi.org/10.16085/j.issn.1000-6613.2018-0790

[36] Klein SA (1975) Calculation of flat-plate loss coefficients. Sol Energy 17: 79-80. https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-092X(75)90020-1

[37] Huang XX, Wang L, Li X (2025) Research on thermal performance and pressure loss of a new perforated-folded baffle solar air collector. Numer Heat Transfer Part A 86: 976-995. https://doi.org/10.1080/10407782.2023.2276886