Energy and exergy experimental analysis for innovative finned plate solar air heater

Abstract

In this current experimental study, a flat absorber plate of a solar air heater (SAH) with innovative straight interrupted fins arranged in a V-shaped pattern is analyzed using energy and exergy approaches, as the literature clearly shows that the low rate of heat transfer of flat plate SAH remains a source of concern for energy experts. The aluminum finned absorption plate was designed, manufactured, and tested during the summer in Saudi Arabia, examining the effect of changing the SAH tilt angle of θ = 0°, θ = 10°, θ = 20°, and θ = 30°. The study found that tilting the SAH at θ = 10°, θ = 20°, and θ = 30° increases the hot air exit temperature by 7.5 %, 15.7 %, and 12.5 %, respectively, compared to the horizontal position at θ = 0°. Tilting the SAH to θ = 20° increased absorbed solar radiation and air draft, resulting in 38.2 % SAH energy efficiency, 26.4 % exergy efficiency, and a 1.36 sustainability index that increased by 5.5 %, 12.8 % and 3.8 % compared to the horizontal position θ = 0°.

Keywords

• Solar air heater
• Straight fins
• Energy efficiency
• Exergy efficiency
• Sustainability index