Numerical Analysis of Heat Transfer Performance of Inclined Elliptical Roughness of Roughened Plate Solar Air Heater

Abstract

Artificial roughness plays a vital role on heat transfer and fluid flow characteristic on solar air heating system. It promotes economical and effortless approach towards thermal management of solar air heater system a utilization of free radiation energy makes this system cost effective. In present investigation, a solar air heater with inclined ribs of different inclination angle i.e. 12, 14, 18 and 21 degree angle and smooth absorber plate is numerically analyzed. The article emphasizes a CFD based approach to observe thermal behavior of solar air heater, a K – Epsilon turbulence model is used with SIMPLE algorithm. The study is done for different e/D values and Re ranging from 3800 to 18,000 in the turbulent zone. The result demonstrates that the inclined elliptical rib with 14 degree angle exhibits the better thermal enhancement factor. The TEF is observed higher for 1.82 at Reynolds number 15,000.