Experimental study of heat transfer coefficient with rectangular baffle fin of solar air heater

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental analysis of a single pass solar air collector with, and without using baffle fin. The heat transfer coefficient between the absorber plate and air can be considerably increased by using artificial roughness on the bottom plate and under the absorber plate of a solar air heater duct. An experimental study has been conducted to investigate the effect of roughness and operating parameters on heat transfer. The investigation has covered the range of Reynolds number Re from 1259 to 2517 depending on types of the configuration of the solar collectors. Based on the experimental data, values of Nusselt number Nu have been determined for different values of configurations and operating parameters. To determine the enhancement in heat transfer and increment in thermal efficiency, the values of Nusselt have been compared with those of smooth duct under similar flow conditions.

Keywords

Nusselt number / flow rate / heat transfer / heat transfer coefficient / thermal efficiency / forced convection

References

[1] YehH M, LinT T. Efficiency improvement of flat-plate solar air heaters. Energy, 1996, 21(6): 435–443

[2] SparrowE M, TienK K. Forced convection heat transfer at an inclined and yawed square flat plate—application to solar collectors. Journal of Heat Transfer, 1977, 99(4): 507–512

[3] SimateI N. Optimization of mixed mode and indirect mode natural convection solar dryers. Renewable Energy, 2003, 28(3): 435–453

[4] SharmaA, ChenC R, Vu LanV. Solar-energy drying systems: a review. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2009, 13(6–7): 1185–1210

[5] GargH P, KumarR. Studies on semi-cylindrical solar tunnel dryers: thermal performance of collector. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2000, 20(2): 115–131

[6] MonteroI, BlancoJ, MirandaT, RojasS, CelmaA R. Design, construction and performance testing of a solar dryer for agro-industrial by-products. Energy Conversion and Management, 2010, 51(7): 1510–1521

[7] SmitabhinduR, JanjaiS, ChankongV. Optimization of a solar-assisted drying system for drying bananas. Renewable Energy, 2008, 33(7): 1523–1531

[8] AkpinarE K, KoçyigitF. Experimental investigation of thermal performance of solar air heater having different obstacles on absorber plates. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, 2010, 37(4): 416–421

[9] KarsliS. Performance analysis of new-design solar air collectors for drying applications. Renewable Energy, 2007, 32(10): 1645–1660

[10] RomdhaneB S. The air solar collectors: Comparative study, introduction of baffles to favor the heat transfer. Solar Energy, 2007, 81(1): 139–149

[11] OmojaroA P, AldabbaghL B Y. Experimental performance of single and double pass solar air heater with fins and steel wire mesh as absorber. Applied Energy, 2010, 87(12): 3759–3765

[12] NaphonP. On the performance and entropy generation of the double-pass solar air heater with longitudinal fins. Renewable Energy, 2005, 30(9): 1345–1357

[13] NwosuN P. Employing exergy-optimized pin fins in the design of an absorber in a solar air heater. Energy, 2010, 35(2): 571–575

[14] El-SebaiiA A, Aboul-EneinS, RamadanM R I, ShalabyS M, MoharramB M. Thermal performance investigation of double pass-finned plate solar air heater. Applied Energy, 2011, 88(5): 1727–1739

[15] HachemiA. Experimental study of thermal performance of offset rectangular plate fin absorber-plates. Renewable Energy, 1999, 17(3): 371–384

[16] KarimM A, HawladerM N A. Development of solar air collectors for drying applications. Energy Conversion and Management, 2004, 45(3): 329–344

[17] LinW, GaoW, LiuT. A parametric study on the thermal performance of cross-corrugated solar air collectors. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2006, 26(10): 1043–1053

[18] GaoW, LinW, LiuT, XiaC. Analytical and experimental studies on the thermal performance of cross-corrugated and flat-plate solar air heaters. Applied Energy, 2007, 84(4): 425–441

[19] PengD, ZhangX, DongH, LvK. Performance study of a novel solar air collector. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2010, 30(16): 2594–2601

[20] MoummiN, Youcef-AliS, MoummiA, DesmonsJ Y. Energy analysis of a solar air collector with rows of fins. Renewable Energy, 2004, 29(13): 2053–2064

[21] AndohH Y, GbahaP, KouaB K, KoffiP M E, TouréS. Thermal performance study of a solar collector using a natural vegetable fiber, coconut coir, as heat insulation. Energy for Sustainable Development, 2010, 14(4): 297–301

[22] ChabaneF, MoummiN, BenramacheS, TolbaA S. Experimental study of heat transfer and an effect the tilt angle with variation of the mass flow rates on the solar air heater. International Journal of Science and Engineering Investigations, 2012, 1(9): 61–65

[23] ChabaneF, MoummiN, BenramacheS.Experimental performance of solar air heater with internal fins inferior an absorber plate: in the region of Biskra. International Journal of Energy & Technology, 2012, 4: Paper 33–2012 (1,6)

[24] ChabaneF, MoummiN, BrimaA, BenramacheS. Thermal efficiency analysis of a single-flow solar air heater with different mass flow rates in a smooth plate. Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, 2013, 4(1): 013006

[25] ChabaneF, MoummiN, BenramacheS, BelahssenO, BensahalD. Nusselt number correlation of SAH. Journal of Power Technologies, 2013, 93(2): 100–110

[26] ChabaneF, MoummiN, BenramacheS, BensahalD, BelahssenO, LemmadiF Z. Thermal performance optimization of a flat plate solar air heater. International Journal of Energy & Technology, 2013, 5(8): 1–6

[27] ChabaneF, MoummiN, BenramacheS. Experimental study of heat transfer and thermal performance with longitudinal fins of solar air heater. Journal of Advertising Research, 2014, 5(2): 183–192

[28] CloseD J, PryorT L. The behaviour of adsorbent energy storage beds. Solar Energy, 1976, 18(4): 287–292

[29] LiuC H, SparrowE M. Convective-radiative interaction a parallel plate channel-application to air-operated solar collectors. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 1980, 23(8): 1137–1146

[30] SeluckM K. Solar Air Heaters and Their Applications. New York: Academic Press, Inc., 1977, 155–182

[31] TanH M, ChartersW W S. Experimental investigation of forced-convective heat transfer for fully developed turbulent flow in a rectangular duct with asymmetric heating. Solar Energy, 1970, 13(1): 121–125

[32] WhillierA. Plastic covers for solar collectors. Solar Energy, 1963, 7(3): 148–151

[33] DuffieJ A, BeckmanW A. Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes, 3rd ed. John Wiley & Sons, 2006

[34] TonuiJ K, TripanagnostopoulosY. Improved PV/T solar collectors with heat extraction by forced or natural air circulation. Renewable Energy, 2007, 32(4): 623–637

[35] GaoW, LinW, LiuT, XiaC. Analytical and experimental studies on the thermal performance of cross-corrugated and flat-plate solar air heaters. Applied Energy, 2007, 84(4): 425–441

[36] MohamadA A. High efficiency solar air heater. Solar Energy, 1997, 60(2): 71–76

[37] VermaS K, PrasadB N. Investigation for the optimal thermohydraulic performance of artificially roughened solar air heaters. Renewable Energy, 2000, 20(1): 19–36

[38] YehH M. Theory of baffled solar air heaters. Energy, 1992, 17(7): 697–702

[39] AkpinarE K, KoçyiğitF. Experimental investigation of thermal performance of solar air heater having different obstacles on absorber plates. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, 2010, 37(4): 416–421

[40] AkpinarE K, KocyiğitF. Energy and exergy analysis of a new flat-plate solar air heater having different obstacles on absorber plates. Applied Energy, 2010, 87(11): 3438–3450

[41] McAdamsW H. Heat Transmission. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1954

[42] KleinS A. Calculation of flat-plate collector loss coefficients. Solar Energy, 1975, 17(1): 79–80

[43] KarsliS. Performance analysis of new-design solar air collectors for drying applications. Renewable Energy, 2007, 32(10): 1645–1660

[44] KurtbasI, DurmusA. Efficiency and exergy analysis of a new solar air heater. Renewable Energy, 2004, 29(9): 1489–1501

[45] EsenH. Experimental energy and exergy analysis of a double-flow solar air heater having different obstacles on absorber plates. Building and Environment, 2008, 43(6): 1046–1054

[46] HolmanJ P. Heat Transfer, 7th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1990

[47] SainiR P, SainiJ S. Heat transfer and friction factor correlations for artificially roughened ducts with expanded metal mesh as roughened element. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 1997, 40(4): 973–986

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg