Thermal performance analysis of corrugated plate solar air heater integrated with vortex generator

Abstract

This research investigates the impact of vortex generators integrated with a corrugated absorber plate of solar air heater on the enhancement of heat transfer and thermal-hydraulic performance utilizing a 3D numerical model for Reynolds numbers varying from 7,000 to 25,000. Three different types of vortex generators (rectangular, trapezoidal, and delta) are investigated separately. Vortex generators in two pairs with various angles of attack of 15º, 30º, 45º, and 60º are mounted on the entrance section's upper wall of the domain of computation. The current numerical models are validated by comparisons with experimentally published data. The velocity vectors, turbulent kinetic energy, friction factor, Nusselt number, and thermal-hydraulic performance parameters are examined for the considered current cases considered. The numerical results demonstrate a significant impact of vortex generators on friction loss and transmission of heat. The values of thermal-hydraulic performance for utilizing a corrugated absorber plate integrated with vortex generators are found to be considerably higher than those for using a corrugated absorber plate alone. The highest value of the thermal-hydraulic performance parameter is 0.91 in the case of rectangular vortex generators at Re of 7000 and an angle of attack of 30º.

Keywords

• Solar air heater
• Corrugated plate
• Vortex generator
• Thermal-hydraulic performance