Computational Fluid Dynamics Study of Roughened Solar Air Heater

Abstract

A 2-dimensional numerical investigation has been conducted to examine the effect of three distinct turbulators (namely M shaped, Wedge shaped and Reverse wedge shaped) on the performance of solar air heater (SAH) for relevant Reynolds number ranges from 4000 to 18000. CFD code ANSYS FLUENT is used for simulation of turbulent airflow. For all three geometries constant ratio of e/Dh = 0.021 (where e = 0.7 and Dh = 33.33) and ratio P/e = 14.285 (where p = 10) is used. Turbulence Kinetic energy and velocity contours for all turbulators have also been studied in this analysis. M-Shaped turbulators outperformed the other two turbulators with maximum value of THPP.