Open AccessThermal performance of double-pass counter flow and double-parallel flow solar air heater with V-grooved absorber plate
Author(s) -
Ali M. Rasham,
Basim A. R. Al-Bakri
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
iop conference series. materials science and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1757-899X
pISSN - 1757-8981
DOI - 10.1088/1757-899x/1076/1/012081
Subject(s) - thermal , air mass (solar energy) , materials science , mass flow rate , volumetric flow rate , intensity (physics) , mechanics , thermal efficiency , thermodynamics , airflow , mass flow , optics , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry , boundary layer , combustion
The performance of double-pass counter flow (model A) and double-parallel flow (model B) solar air heater with V-grooved absorber plate are numerically investigated. The mathematical models are written based on energy balance equations for each element of both models. The matrix inversion method is used to numerically solve the mathematical models for solar intensity (I = 350 − 950 (W/m 2 )), ambient temperature (T a = 20 (°C)), mass air flow rate range of (ṁ = 0.02–0.09 (kg/s)), and opening angle of V-grooved absorber plate of (Ø = 60°). The results are presented in terms of: Air temperature rise, useful heat gain, thermal efficiency, and thermo hydraulic efficiency. Obviously when air mass flow rate increases, model (A) produces the highest air temperature rise, useful heat gain, and thermal efficiency. As air mass flow rate increases, the thermo-hydraulic of model (B) also increases while thermo-hydraulic efficiency of model (A) decreases from air mass flow rate (ṁ = 0.05, 0.06 and 0.07 (kg/s)) for solar intensities (350, 650, and 950 (W/m 2 )) respectively. In terms of thermal efficiency, the model (A) is more efficient than of model (B) by (26.8470 %, 27.8890 %, and 28.2496 %) for solar intensities (350, 650, and 950 (W/m 2 )) respectively. In terms of thermo-hydraulic efficiency, model (A) is more efficient than that of model (B) by (12.1046 %, 20.6830 %, and 25.1215 %) for solar intensities (350, 650, and 950 (W/m 2 )) respectively.