Exergetic performance evaluation of louvered finned solar air heater: an experimental investigation

Abstract

Abstract Solar energy is a promising source of renewable energy, and solar air heaters are an important application for utilizing this energy source. This study investigates the exergetic performance of a louvered fin solar air heater (LFSAH) through experimental analysis conducted during day time from 9 am to 3 pm under identical operating and metrological parameters. Exergy analysis based on the 2nd law of thermodynamics is used to assess the quality of exergy losses and useful energy output and is deemed suitable for LFSAH design. The study experimentally examines the exergetic performance of LFSAH with various fin spacings and compares the results with those of a plane solar air heater (PSAH). The exergy efficiency is optimized by considering the fin spacing (ranging from 2 to 5 cm) and mass flow rate (MFR) (ranging from 0.007 to 0.0158 kg/s) through an exergy analysis of internal and exterior exergy losses. Based on the result analysis, the LFSAH’s maximum exergy efficiency was achieved at 3.31% for a fin spacing of 2 cm and a MFR of 0.007 kg/s. The study found that incorporating louvered fins into the SAH substantially improves its exergetic performance compared to the PSAH.

Keywords

• Exergy analysis
• Fin spacing
• Exergy efficiency
• Louvered fins
• Solar air heater