International Journal of Applied Engineering Research, ISSN 0973-4562 Vol. 10 No.
50 (2015)
© Research India Publications; httpwww.ripublication.comijaer.htm
EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF SOLAR AIR HEATER DUCT
HAVING REGULAR SPACED PROTRUSIONS AS ROUGHNESS
ELEMENT ON ABSORBER PLATE
P.Rajesh Kanna1 M.Makeshkumar2
PG Scholar, PG Scholar,
Department of Mechanical Department of Mechanical
Engineering Engineering
Government College of Government College of
Engineering Engineering
Salem, Tamilnadu, India Salem, Tamilnadu, India
rajkannapmech@gmail.com msmakeshkumar@gmail.com
Abstract— This experimental work investigates the
thermal performance of solar air collector with protrusions and
without protrusion on the absorber plate. The absorber plate
for both the cases is painted black. The effects of air flow rates
on the outlet temperature of air and thermal efficiency of the
solar air collector are studied. The experimental results
indicate that thermal efficiency increases as the mass flow rate
of air increases in the range of (0.00528-0.01321 kg/s). The
maximum efficiency obtained at the mass flow rate of air
0.01321 kg/s is 55.22% and 39.33% for absorber plate with
protrusions and without protrusions respectively. Moreover,
the maximum temperature difference (ΔT) between inlet
temperature (Ti) and outlet temperature (T o) is 25.2 0C and
19.8 0C for the solar air heater with protrusions on the
absorber plate and without protrusions respectively, for the
mass flow rate of air 0.00528 kg/s which are measured at 1.00
pm of the local time of the day with a maximum solar
intensity.
Keywords—solar air heater,protrusion,thermal efficiency.
I. INTRODUCTION
Solar energy is a very large inexhaustible source of energy.
The power from the sun intercepted by the earth is
approximately 1.8×1011 MW which is many thousands of
times larger than the present consumption on the earth of all
commercial energy sources. The solar energy has compared to
fossil fuels and nuclear power is environmentally clean source
of energy and it is free and available in adequate quantities in
almost all parts of the world. The main application of solar air
heater is space heating, and drying. In this study, the thermal
efficiency was increased by creating protrusions as roughness
element on the absorber plate. The plate with protrusion is
very effective and more attractive design that will improve the
thermal performance. This paper represents an experimental
analysis of a single pass solar air heater with and without
protrusions.
Comparison of the four solar air collector obstacles was done
by the performance of the collector. The efficiency of the solar
802
S.Sivalakshmi3 V.R.Lenin4
Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor,
Department of Mechanical Department of Mechanical
Engineering Engineering
Government College of Mahendra Institute of
Engineering Engineering and Technology
Salem, Tamilnadu, India Namakkal, Tamilnadu, India
sivalakshmit@gmail.com leninrangasamy@gmail.com
air collector depends on the solar radiation, surface geometry
of the collectors and extension of the air flow. The efficiency
of the collector improves with increasing mass flow rate due
to enhanced-heat transfer to the air flow [1, 2].On the other
hand, installation of wings and baffles improves heat transfer
between absorber and air that favors increase the efficiency
and assuring a maximum increase of temperature. More
pressure drop increases the power consumption [3]. The
results of single and double pass solar air heater have been
compared. The result shows that efficiency increased with
increasing the mass flow rate. The temperature difference
between the outlet flow and the ambient, ΔT reduces as the air
mass flow rate increase [4].Few studies have been carried out
on numerical of the performance and entropy generation of the
double-pass flat-plate solar air heater with longitudinal fins
[5].Fins serve as heat transfer augmentation features in solar
air heaters however they increase pressure drop in flow
channels. Results indicate that high efficiency of the optimized
fin improves the heat absorption and dissipation potential of a
solar air heater[6].The results showed that the double pass v-
corrugated plate solar air heater is 9.3–11.9% more efficient
compared to the double pass-finned plate solar air heater [7].
Experimental investigation of thermal performance of Offset
rectangular plate fin absorber plates. This technique has been
developed to enhance the heat transfer more than with fully
developed turbulent flow. The offset rectangular plate,
mounted in staggered pattern have been oriented parallel to the
fluid flow and have been soldered to the underside of absorber
plate. High thermal performances are obtained with low
friction and in consequence low electrical power consumption
by the fan in comparison to the flat plate collector
[8].Experimental study has been carried out for three types of
solar air collectors, namely flat plate, finned and v-corrugated
solar air heater. The v-corrugated collector is found to be the
most efficient collector and the flat plate collector the least
efficient [9].The aim of the use of the cross-corrugated
absorbing plate and bottom plate were to enhance the
turbulence and the heat-transfer rate inside the air flow
channel, which are crucial to the improvement of efficiencies
 International Journal of Applied Engineering Research, ISSN 0973-4562 Vol. 10 No.50 (2015)
© Research India Publications; httpwww.ripublication.comijaer.htm
of solar air-heaters[10].This paper showed a novel solar air II. THE EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
collector of pin-fin integrated absorber designed to increase
A schematic and photographic views of the solar air
the thermal efficiency[11].Some studies have been carried out
heater duct with protrusion as roughness element on the
for the effect of two different mass flow rate 0.012 and 0.016
absorber plate is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In the study, of the
kg/s on the solar collector with longitudinal fins [12].This
experimental setup consists of rectangular duct, absorber plate,
article presents an analysis for a novel type of solar air heater.
blower, control valve, digital thermometer, solarimeter, digital
The main idea is to minimize heat losses from the front cover
anemometer, PVC pipe as shown in Fig. 1. The inner cross
of the collector and to maximize heat extraction from the
section area of the rectangular duct having 2300 × 330
absorber. This can be done by forcing air to flow over the
x 30mm as per ASHRAE standard 97-77 [16]. The
front glass cover (preheat the air) before passing through the
rectangular duct is divided in to three sections are inlet
absorber. Hence, this design needs an extra cover to form a
section, test section, exit section. The length of the inlet
counter-flow heat exchanger [13].Investigations for thermo
section, test section, exit section are 680 mm, 1200 mm, and
hydraulic performance of artificially roughened solar air
420 mm respectively. In this study two types of absorber plate
heaters have been carried out covering a wide range of
are used. The absorber plate is made up of aluminum coated
operating parameters. Thermal performance of such collectors
with black paint. The thickness of the absorber plate is 2 mm.
have been found superior to plane ones for the same operating
The cover window type, the Plexiglas of 4 mm thickness, is
parameters. However, pressure drop increases in such
used as glazing. The distance between absorber plate and
collectors [14]. Considerable improvement in the collector
transparent cover is 2.5 mm. Digital thermometers are
efficiency of solar air heaters can be obtained if the fins in the
positioned evenly, on the top surface of the absorber plates, at
collector have attached baffles to create air turbulence and an
identical positions along the direction of flow, for all cases
extended heat-transfer area [15]. Experimental investigations
tested. Inlet and outlet air temperatures are measured by two
of the effect of geometrical parameters of multiple arc shaped
digital thermometers. The output of the thermometer is in
roughness element on heat transfer and friction characteristics
degree Celsius measurement range, –50 °C to 300 °C (–58
of rectangular duct solar air heater having roughness on the
underside of the absorber plate have been carried out. to 572 °F); resolution, 0.1 °C; accuracy, ±1°C or (±2°F); A
Maximum enhancement in Nusselt number and friction factor digital multi stem thermometer is used to measure the ambient
is 5.07 and 3.71 times respectively as compared to smooth one temperature. The total solar radiation incident on the surface
[16]. In this title various studies have been carried out to of the collector was measured with a solar power meter. This
determine the effect of different artificial geometries on heat meter is placed above to the glazing cover during taking
transfer and friction characteristics in solar air heater ducts. readings, at the same plane, facing due south. The measured
Artificial roughness is one of the effective way of improving variables are recorded at intervals of 1 hour and include
the performance of a solar air heater ducts [17]. Experimental insolation, inlet and outlet temperatures of the air circulating
investigations of the effect of artificial roughness on heat through the collectors, ambient temperature, absorber plate
transfer and friction characteristics in solar air heater duct temperatures at several selected locations, and air flow rates
which is having dimple shaped elements arranged in angular (Lutron AM-4201 digital anemometer). All tests began at 10
fashion (arc) as roughness elements on absorber plate have AM and ended at 4 PM.
been carried out. A considerable increase in heat transfer and
friction loss has been observed [18].Experimentally
investigated the effect of heat transfer and friction
characteristics of turbulent flow of air passing through
rectangular duct which is roughened by circular protrusions
arranged in angular arc fashion. The maximum enhancement
in Nusselt number and friction factor is 2.89 and 2.93 times as
compared with smooth duct [19].Experimentally investigated
the effect of geometrical parameters of the V-shaped
perforated blocks on heat transfer and flow characteristics of
rectangular. The maximum enhancement in Nusselt and
friction factor has been found to be 6.76 and 28.84 times to
that of smooth duct, respectively [20]. An experimental study
has been carried out to investigate the effective efficiency of a
solar air heater duct provided with transverse and inclined ribs
as artificial roughness elements on the absorber plate. The
maximum value of effective efficiency has been found for
roughness parameters corresponding to relative roughness
pitch (p/e) of 8 under the range of parameters investigated
[21]. Fig. 1 Schematic view of the solar air heater.

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 International Journal of Applied Engineering Research, ISSN 0973-4562 Vol. 10 No.50 (2015)
© Research India Publications; httpwww.ripublication.comijaer.htm

Fig. 2 Photographic view of solar air heater.

Fig. 3 Solar intensity versus time of the day with protrusion.
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This work presents the results of the experimental

investigation of a solar air heater with and without protrusions
on the absorber plate during January 1, 2015 to April 20, 2015
in the city of Salem in Tamilnadu, India. Figs. 3 and 4 show
the hourly variation of solar intensity vs. local time of the day
when the air flow rate is (0.00528 kg/s - 0.01321 kg/s) for the
solar air heater with and without protrusions on the absorber
plate. The maximum value of solar intensity is 1326 W/m2 at
1.00 pm of the local solar time of the day for the solar air
heater with and without protrusions. Figs. 5 and 6 show the
inlet and outlet temperatures of air for the different mass flow
rate of air. The maximum value of inlet temperature, T i at
14.00 pm of local time is 37.5 0C and 37.6 0C for the absorber
plate with protrusion and without protrusion respectively,
which depend on the environmental conditions such as wind
speed and humidity [22]. It is seen from Figs. 5 and 6, the Fig. 4 Solar intensity versus time of the day without
outlet temperature decreases as the mass flow rate is protrusion.
increased.
Figs. 7 and 8 show the hourly variation of temperature
difference (ΔT) versus local time when the air flow rate range
is 0.00528 kg/s – 0.01321 kg/s. As seen from Figs. 7 and 8,
the temperature difference values increase in the morning as
the solar intensity increases, to a maximum value between
12.00 pm and 1.00 pm of local time and then decreases in the
afternoon as the time passes. The highest temperature
difference values are 25.2 0C and 19.8 0C for the absorber
plate with protrusion and without protrusion for the same air
flow rate of 0.00528 kg/s.
Figs. 9 and 10 show the hourly variation of thermal efficiency
versus local time for the different air flow rates. The efficiency
increases with the increasing air flow rate for both absorber
plates. The maximum efficiency obtained for the absorber
plate with and without protrusion are 55.22% and 39.93%
respectively for the air flow rate of 0.01321 kg/s. As seen from
Figs. (9 and 10), the efficiency for almost all the cases tested
is continuously increased from morning until evening. These
results are similar to those obtained from Mahmood et al[ 22]. Fig. 5 Time of the day versus temperature with protrusion.

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 International Journal of Applied Engineering Research, ISSN 0973-4562 Vol. 10 No.50 (2015)
© Research India Publications; httpwww.ripublication.comijaer.htm

Fig. 6 Time of the day versus temperature without Fig. 9 Time of the day versus efficiency with protrusion.
protrusion.

Fig. 7 Time of the day versus temperature difference with

protrusion. Fig. 10 Time of the day versus efficiency without protrusion.

IV.CONCLUSION
The solar air heater with and without protrusion on the
absorber plate is constructed and tested for different mass flow
rate of air. The following conclusions are drawn:

The thermal efficiency is higher for the solar air heater

with protrusions on the absorber plate than that of
without protrusions for the highest mass flow rate of
air.
In addition, the temperature difference between the
inlet and outlet temperature decreases with increasing
mass flow rate of air in the range between 0.00528kg/s
and 0.01321 kg/s.
Fig. 8 Time of the day versus temperature difference without
protrusion. Finally, the results show that there is an improvement
with the use of protrusions in the absorber plate.

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 International Journal of Applied Engineering Research, ISSN 0973-4562 Vol. 10 No.50 (2015)
© Research India Publications; httpwww.ripublication.comijaer.htm
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