Optimum fin configurations for solar air heater enhancement: Theoretical approach

Abstract

Solar Air Heaters (SAHs) face performance limitations due to inefficient heat transfer mechanisms. To address this, the current numerical study utilizes Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to systematically optimize fin configurations. By first focusing on optimizing the fin tilt angle and subsequently refining the fin height, this methodology addresses key parameters influencing heat transfer efficiency and overall system performance. The systematic study of cooling effectiveness by varying the flow rate on the SAH, ranging from 0.0025 to 0.02 kg/s, is aimed at determining the optimal tilt angle and fin height to boost the thermal efficiency of the SAH within the radiation range of 400–1000 W/m². Remarkably, the investigation reveals that for a zero-tilt angle and a 0.01 kg/s mass flow rate, there is a notable enhancement in average thermal efficiency, reaching 42.18%. Additionally, the findings highlight that for a fin height of 15 mm and the same flow rate of 0.01 kg/s, the average thermal efficiency significantly improves, reaching 49.67%. These results signify the critical role of both tilt angle and fin height in optimizing the SAH thermal performance. The identified optimal configurations, such as the zero-tilt angle with an air flow rate of 0.01 kg/s and a fin height of 15 mm, underscore the potential for substantial improvements in SAH efficiency. These results offer insightful information for creating and enhancing SAHs, offering pathways to enhance their energy conversion capabilities and overall performance.