Accepted Manuscript

Thermohydraulic performance analysis of an arc shape wire roughened solar air

heater

Mukesh Kumar Sahu, Radha Krishna Prasad

PII: S0960-1481(17)30161-1

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2017.02.075

Reference: RENE 8582

To appear in: Renewable Energy

Received Date: 30 September 2016

Revised Date: 14 January 2017

Accepted Date: 24 February 2017

Please cite this article as: Mukesh Kumar Sahu, Radha Krishna Prasad, Thermohydraulic
performance analysis of an arc shape wire roughened solar air heater, Renewable Energy (2017),
doi: 10.1016/j.renene.2017.02.075

This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to
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 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

Highlights

A comprehensive theoretical analysis to evaluate thermal (th) and thermohydraulic

(eff) efficiency of arc shaped roughened solar air heater has been done.
th and eff were found to be 79.84 % and 75.24 % respectively at rib height-to-duct
hydraulic diameter ratio e/D = 0.0422 and flow-attack-angle /90 = 0.3333 and Rib
pitch-to-height ratio P/e = 10.
The maximum values of eff with temperature rise parameter T/I have been
optimized.
Thermal Efficiency Improvement Factor (TEIF) of various roughness geometries has
been compared.
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1 Thermohydraulic performance analysis of an arc shape wire roughened solar air

2 heater
3 Mukesh Kumar Sahu a,*, Radha Krishna Prasad b
4 a Mechanical Engineering Department, National Institute of Technology, Jamshedpur, 831014,
5 Jharkhand, India
6 b Mechanical Engineering Department, National Institute of Technology, Jamshedpur, 831014,
7 Jharkhand, India

8 b CorrespondingAuthor: Radha Krishna Prasad

9 Email: rkprasad.me@nitjsr.ac.in ; Phone no.: +919431340910

10 Abstract

11 In the present paper, a comprehensive investigation on thermal and thermohydraulic performance of

12 solar collector for heating air having circular wire rib roughness in the form of arc shape on the back
13 side of absorber plate, has been carried out. A mathematical model incorporating the operating and
14 system parameters has been developed and the results have been computed by using MATLAB for
15 specified range of these parameters. A conventional solar air heater working under similar conditions
16 has also been considered for the purpose of comparison. At rib height-to-duct hydraulic diameter ratio
17 = 0.0422 and flow-attack-angle = 0.3333 the values of maximum thermal and effective efficiencies were
18 found to be 79.84 % and 75.24 % respectively for the range of parameters used in the investigation.
19 Further, the thermal efficiency, obtained in the present work has been compared with those obtained for
20 other roughness geometries available in the literature for common roughness parameters and operating
21 parameters to validate the results. Optimization of different parameters of wire roughness for optimum
22 thermohydraulic (effective) efficiency of solar air heater duct has also been investigated.

23 Keywords: Artificial roughness, solar air heating duct, wire roughness, effective efficiency, thermal efficiency

24 1. Introduction

25 A solar air heater is very useful for low grade thermal energy applications. It has wide usage in the area
26 of space heating and drying of agricultural products, curing of timbers etc. due to its low cost, simple
27 construction and easier to use. The thermal efficiency of flat plate solar air heater is found to be poor due
28 to low heat transfer coefficient between air and the heat absorbing plate. The use of articial roughness
29 in air heater duct is a well-known method to create turbulence near the absorber plate. It enhances the
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30 heat transfer coefficient and consequently the rate of heat transfer between absorber plate and air
31 flowing through duct. Articial roughness, provided at underside of the absorber plate, breaks the
32 viscous sub-layer and thus creates turbulence adjacent to the surface of absorber plate which results in
33 enhanced heat transfer coefficient and thereby the thermal efficiency [1]. The various roughness
34 geometries, studied by the previous investigators, were reviewed and reported in the literature [2].
35 Experimental investigations on heat transfer and flow friction for articially roughened solar air heater
36 duct with transverse rib roughness have been reported by Prasad and Saini [3]. Thermo-hydraulic
37 performance of solar air heater with inclined ribs on absorber plate has been investigated by Gupta et al.
38 [4].Momin et al. [5] carried out experimental investigation with V-shape continuous ribs as roughness
39 elements on solar air heater duct. Sahu and Bhagoria [6] experimentally investigated the thermal
40 performance of 90- transverse broken ribs as roughness elements on absorber plate of rectangular air
41 duct. Aharwal et al. [7] investigated on thermal performance and pumping power characteristics of
42 continious inclined ribs with gap in a collector duct for heating air. Experimental investigation on solar
43 air heater using inclined and transverse ribs as roughness on the absorber plate was done by Varun et al.
44 [8].Hans et al. [9] carried out experimental investigation on multiple V-shape roughened absorber plate
45 solar air heater.

46 Experimental investigation was carried out by Singh et al.[10], on the solar air heater using multi V-
47 shape with a gap as rib geometry on the absorber plate to know the effect of varying flow-attack-angle
48 () from 30 - 75 on the thermohydraulic performance factor. Karwa et al. [11] carried out an
49 experimental investigation to investigate the effect of duct aspect ratio (duct depth to width ratio) with
50 three different duct depths 21.8, 21.5 and 16 mm on the thermohydraulic performance of solar air heater
51 with chamfered rib roughness. Singh et al. [12] performed an experimental investigation by varying
52 roughness pitch (P) using five different rib pitch-to-height ratio (P/e) 4 12 on the thermohydraulic
53 performance of V-down with gap roughened solar air heater. Effect of gap position on thermohydraulic
54 performance of solar air heater having broken V-rib roughness combined with staggered Rib have been
55 investigated by Patil et al.[13] and found its thermohydraulic performance higher as compared to
56 continious single V-shape and discrete V-down rib roughness. Kumar et al. [14] performed experiments
57 on discrete V-down shape rib roughened absorber plate and explored the effect of flow-attack-angle ()
58 on the thermohydraulic performance of solar air heater.
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59 Bhushan and Singh [15] carried out numerical analysis for thermal and thermohydraulic performance of
60 solar air heater with protruded roughened absorber plate. Thermal efficiency and effective efficiency
61 based analysis has been carried out numerically by Singh et al. [16] for the solar air heater having
62 discrete V-down wire rib roughness. Prasad B.N. [17] carried out an outdoor experimental investigation
63 for transverse wire rib roughness and found thermal performance enhancement ratio of 1.842 as
64 compared to collector with smooth absorber plate. An analytical investigation for 3-sided transverse
65 wire rib roughness in the duct of solar air heater, has been carried out by Prasad et al. [18]. They
66 developed correlations for average Nusselt number and average friction factor to evaluate heat transfer
67 and fluid flows. An experimental investigation was carried out by Behura et al. [19] for 3-sided
68 transverse rib roughness and found 40-48% enhancement in thermal performance over the 1-side
69 artificially roughened solar air heater.

70 An experimental investigation was carried out by Saini et al. [20] by using arc shape wire rib on
71 underside of absorber plate and developed correlations for Nusselt number and friction factor for fully
72 developed turbulent ow in rectangular duct of roughened solar air heater. Tests were also conducted
73 simultaneously on smooth absorber plate solar air heater of similar shape. Artificial roughness of
74 different geometries have been used in order to enhance the thermal performance of solar air heaters in
75 the past by the several investigators and based on the experimental investigations the correlations in
76 terms of Nusselt number (Nu) and friction factor (f) were developed. The relevant correlations have
77 been given in Table -1.

78 From the review of the above literature, it is observed that considerable theoretical and experimental
79 analyses on thermal performance enhancement of solar air heater, using artificial roughness of various
80 geometries on the absorber plate have been carried out, however, a comprehensive analytical
81 investigation to determine the thermal and thermohydraulic performance including optimization of
82 roughness parameters of solar air heater duct having arc shape wire rib roughness on main heating wall
83 of the duct, has not been worked out so far. In view of this, the present work has been taken up with an
84 aim to analyse numerically the thermal and thermohydraulic performances of arc shaped wire roughened
85 solar air heater through a mathematical model. The effects of operating and system parameters,
86 including roughness geometry, effect of duct depth on the thermal and effective efficiencies of the solar
87 air heater have been investigated. Various design plots/curves have been presented to see the effects of
88 system and operating parameters on thermal and thermohydraulic efficiencies. The roughness
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89 parameters, based on optimum effective efficiency, have been optimized to explore the best values to be
90 used in design of such systems. Further, the computed results have been compared with experimental
91 results available in literature. A conventional solar air heater operating under similar conditions has also
92 been considered for the purpose of comparison.
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93 Table 1: Heat transfer and friction flow correlations for solar air heater duct with different roughness elements on absorber plate.

Types of roughness Roughness & Correlations

elements operating
Heat transfer coefficient Friction factor (f)
Parameters

Transverse rib wires e/D = 0.020-0.033 f/ 2 (W 2 B) f s Wf r

St f
Prasad and Saini [3] P/e = 10-20 1 ( f/ 2) 4.5(e ) Pr 0.57 0.95( P / e)0.53
0.28
2(W 2 B)
Re = 5000-50000
2
f
{0.95( P / e) 0.53
2.5ln( D / 2e) 3.75}2

V-shape ribs e/D = 0.02-0.034 Nu 0.067(e D)0.424 ( 60) 0.077 Re0.888 f 6.266(e D)0.565 ( 60) 0.093 Re 0.425
Momin et al. [5] P/e = 10
exp[0.782 ln( 60) 2 ] exp[0.719{ln( 60)}2 ]
Re=2500-18000
=30-60

Inclined rib with gap e/D = 0.0377 Nu 0.012 Re1.148 (e D)0.51 f 0.5 Re 0.0836 (e D)0.72
Aharwal et al. [7] P/e = 10
[{1 (0.25 d w) 2 (0.01(1 g e) 2 )}]
Re=3000-18000
=60
L2/H=5.84
g/e=0.5-2.0
d/w=0.1667-0.667

Multiple V-ribs e/D = 0.019-0.043 Nu 3.35 105 Re0.92 (e D)0.77 (W w)0.43 ( 90) 0.49 f 4.47 104 Re 0.3188 (e D)0.73 (W w)0.22
Hans et al. [9] P/e = 6-12
Re=2000-20000 exp[0.1177(ln(W w)) 2 ]exp[0.061(ln( 90)) 2 ] ( 90) 0.39 exp[0.52(ln( 90)) 2 ]
=30-60 ( P e)8.54 exp[2.0407(ln( P e)) 2 ] ( P e)8.9 exp[2.133(ln( P e)) 2 ]
W/w=1-10
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Chamfered rib e/D = 0.0197-0.0256 For 7 Re 20 For 7 Re 20

Karwa et al. [11] P/e = 4.58-7.09
Re=3750-16350 G 103.77e 0.006 (W H )0.5 ( P e) 2.56 R 1.66e 0.0078 (W H ) 0.4 ( P e) 2.695
=15
L2/H=6.98-9.38 exp 0.7343{ln( P e)}2 (e ) 0.31 exp 0.762{ln( P e)}2 (e ) 0.075

For 20 Re 60 For 20 Re 60

G 32.26e 0.006 (W H ) 0.5 ( P e) 2.56 R 1.32e 0.0078 (W H ) 0.4 ( P e) 2.695

exp 0.7343{ln( P e)}2 (e ) 0.08 exp 0.762{ln( P e)}2
Protruded ribs e/D = 0.03 Nu 2.11088 Re1.452 ( S e)12.94 ( L e)99.2 (d D) 3.9 f 2.3 Re 0.201 ( S e) 0.383 ( L e) 0.484 (d D)0.133
Bhushan and singh [15] S/e = 18.75-37.50
L/e=25-37.50 exp[(10.4){ln( S e)}2 ] exp[(77.2)
d/D=0.147-0.367 {ln( L e)}2 ]exp[(7.83){ln(d D)}2 ]
Re=4000-20000
L2/H=10

Nu 2.36 103 Re0.90 P e 3.50 60 0.023 f 4.13 102 Re 0.126 P e 2.74 60 0.034
Discrete V-down ribs e/D = 0.015-0.043
Singh et al. [16] P/e = 4-12
=30-75 d w 0.043 g e 0.014 e D 0.47 d w 0.058 g e 0.031 e D 0.70
g/e=0.5-2.0
d/w=0.20-0.80 P
2
2 P
2
2
Re=3000-25000
exp 0.84 ln exp 0.72 ln
exp 0.685 ln exp 0.93 ln
e 60 e 60

d
2 g
2 d
2 g
2

exp 0.05 ln exp 0.15 ln
exp 0.058 ln exp 0.21 ln
w e w e

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3-sided Transverse wire e/D = 0.0092-0.0279 _

2
ribs P/e = 10-40
_
fr / 2 ( W 2 B ) {0.95( P e)0.53 2.5ln( D 2e) 3.75}2
Nu _
Prasad et al.[18] Re = 2959-12,631 _
1 ( f r 2) 4.5(e ) Pr 0.95( P e) f
0.28 0.57 0.53
2(W 2 B)
Re Pr Wf s
Protrusions roughness in e/D = 0.015-0.033 Nu 0.154 Re1.017 ( P e) 0.38 (e D)0.521 f 7.207 Re 0.56 ( P e) 0.18 (e D)0.176
arc shape P/e = 12-24
Yadav et al.[26] Re = 3600-18,100 ( 60) 0.213 exp[2.023(ln( 60)) 2 ] ( 60)0.038 exp[1.412(ln( 60)) 2 ]
=45-75
L2/H = 11

Correlations for Heat transfer coefficient and friction factor used in the present analysis for common values of roughness and operating
parameters for comparison

Roughness Geometry Roughness & operating Heat transfer coefficient Friction factor (f)
Parameters

Small diameter e/D = 0.040 f 0.06412(e D)0.019 (W H )0.237 Re 0.185

Nu 0.000824(e D) 0.178 (W H )0.284 Re1.062
protrusion wire ribs. P/e = 10
Gupta et al. [31] L2/H = 10 For Re 35
I = 800 W/m2
T/I=0.004-0.025 Nu 0.000307(e D) 0.469 (W H )0.245 Re0.812

For Re 35
Inclined continious wire e/D = 0.040
Nu 0.0024(e D)0.001 (W H ) 0.06 f 0.1911(e D)0.196 (W H ) 0.093
ribs. P/e = 10
Gupta et al. [4] = 60 Re1.084 exp[0.04(1 60) 2 ] Re 0.165 exp[0.0993(1 60) 2 ]
L2/H = 10
I = 800 W/m2 For Re 35
T/I=0.004-0.025
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Nu 0.0071(e D) 0.24 (W H ) 0.028

Re0.88 exp[0.475(1 60) 2 ]

For Re 35
Combination of Inclined e/D = 0.040
Nu 0.0006 Re1.213 ( P e)0.0104 f 1.0858Re 0.3685 ( P e)0.0114
and Transverse ribs. P/e = 10
Varun et al.[8] I = 800 W/m2
T/I=0.004-0.025
e/D = 0.040
W-shape wire ribs. Nu 0.0613Re0.9079 (e D)0.4487 ( 60) 0.1331 f 0.6182 Re 0.2254 (e D)0.4622 ( 60)0.0817
P/e = 10
Lanjewar et al. [30] = 60 exp[0.5307 (ln( 60)) 2 ] exp[0.28 (ln( 60)) 2 ]
I = 800 W/m2
T/I=0.004-0.025
Metal grit ribs. e/D = 0.040
Nu 2.4 103 Re1.3 (e D )0.42 f 15.55 Re 0.263 (e D )0.91
Karmare and Tikekar P/e = 10
[29] l/s = 1.72 (l s ) 0.146 ( P e) 0.27 (l s ) 0.27 ( P e) 0.51
I = 800 W/m2
T/I=0.004-0.025
Transverse wire ribs. e/D = 0.040
Nu 0.08596(e D)0.072 ( P e) 0.054 Re0.732 f 0.0245(e D )0.243 ( P e) 0.206 Re 1.25
P/e = 10
Verma and Prasad [27] l/s = 1.72 For Re 24
I = 800 W/m2
T/I=0.004-0.025 Nu 0.02954(e D)0.021 ( P e) 0.016 Re0.802
For Re 24

Arc shaped wire rib e/D = 0.040 Nu 0.001047(Re)1.3186 (e D )0.3772 f 0.14408(Re) 0.17103 (e D ) 0.1765
roughness. P/e = 10
/90 = 0.33 ( 90) 0.1198 ( 90) 0.1185
(Present study)
I = 800 W/m2
T/I=0.004-0.025
94
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95 Nomenclature

AC Surface area of absorber plate,2 m Mass ow rate of air, kg/s

Cpa Specic heat of air, J/kg K p Pressure drop across the duct, N/m2
Cf A conversion factor P Roughness Pitch, m
Hydraulic or equivalent diameter of duct, Atmospheric pressure, N/m2
D pa
m
e Rib roughness height, m Qu Useful heat gain, W
F Collector efficiency factor Ra Rayleigh number
G Mass velocity of air, kg/s m2 T Rise in air temperature, C
h Heat transfer coefcient, W/2K T I Temperature rise parameter, C m2/W

hw Convective heat transfer coefficient due to Tg Cover glass Temperature, K

wind, W/m2 K
hr c s Radiative heat transfer coefficient between Tfo Outlet air temperature, K
glass cover to sky, W/m2 K
hr ab c Radiative heat transfer coefficient between Ts Sky temperature , K
glass cover and absorber plate, W/m2 K
hr ab bp Radiative heat transfer coefficient between Tfi Air Inlet Temperature, K
absorber plate and bottom plate, W/m2 K
Convective heat transfer coefficient Ambient temperature, K
hc ab c between glass cover and absorber plate, Ta
W/m2 K
hc ab f Convective heat transfer coefficient Tpm Mean absorber plate temperature, K
between air and absorber plate, W/m2 K
hc f ab Convective heat transfer coefficient Tfm Mean air temperature in the duct, K
between air and bottom plate, W/m2 K
H Depth of solar air heater duct, m Tbm Mean bottom plate temperature, K
I Intensity of global solar radiation, W/m2 UL Overall heat loss coefcient, W/m2 K
ka Thermal conductivity of air, W/m K Ub Bottom loss coefcient, W/m2 K
Thermal conductivity of glass cover, Side loss coefcient, W/m2 K
kg Us
W/m K
ki Thermal conductivity of insulation,W/m K Ut Top loss coefcient, W/m2 K
L Length of solar air heater duct, m V Air velocity through the duct, m/s
L1 Spacing between glass covers, m Vw Wind velocity, m/s
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L2 Width of solar air heater duct, m Wp Pumping or Mechanical power, W

L3 Thickness of collector edge, m g Acceleration due to gravity, m/s2
Lg Thickness of glass cover, m
ng Number of glass cover
96

97 Dimensionless parameters

e/D Rib height-to-duct hydraulic diameter W/w Relative roughness width

ratio
f Friction factor S/e Relative shortway length between
protrusions
G Heat transfer function L/e Relative long way length between
protrusions
FR Collector heat-removal factor l/s Relative length of grit
Nu Nusselt number d/D Relative print diameter
Pr Prandtl number Re Reynolds number
P/e Rib pitch-to-height ratio St Stanton number
Re+ Roughness Reynolds number L2/H Aspect ratio of air duct
R Roughness function 1-r One side roughened
g/e Relative gap width 3-r Three sides roughened
d/w Relative gap position
Gr Grashof number
98
99 Greek symbols

Absolute viscosity of air, N s/m2 b Emissivity of bottom plate

( p )e Effective transmittance-absorptance g Emissivity of glass cover

product
Transmissivity of glass cover p Absorptivity of absorber plate

Air density, kg/m3 Tilt angle of collector surface, degree

Angle of attack, degree th Thermal efficiency

Chamfered angle, degree eff Effective efficiency

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c Absorptivity of the glass cover m Motor efficiency

90 Flow-attack-angle f Fan efficiency

Stefan-Boltzmans constant, W/m2 K4 tr Transmission efficiency

i Insulation thickness, m v Kinematic viscosity of air, m2/s

p Emissivity of absorber plate
100 2. Theoretical Analysis

101 The solar air heater under consideration consists of a flat absorber plate with arc shape wire roughness
102 on its underside, a single flat glass cover above the absorber plate and a flat bottom plate below the
103 absorber plate. The absorber plate and the bottom plate form a duct for air flow. A schematic diagram of
104 the solar air heater duct has been shown in Fig. 1 (a). The arrangement of roughness elements on
105 absorber plate has been shown in Fig. 1 (b).The air flowing through the duct is heated by the absorbed
106 solar radiation on the absorber plate. A schematic diagram of conventional solar air heater is also shown
107 in Fig. 2. The relevant simplifying assumptions have been given below

108 (a) Steady state condition for heat and fluid flow is considered.
109 (b) There is no thermal resistance in the glass cover.
110 (c) There is one dimensional heat flow and air temperature change only in the flow direction.

111 The base/range values of roughness parameters, collector parameters and operating parameters used in
112 computation have been given in Table 2.

113

114 Fig.1 (a). Roughened absorber plate solar air heater.

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115

116 Fig.1 (b). Arc shape absorber plate with wire rib roughness.

117

118

119 Fig. 2. Smooth plate solar air heater.

120 2.1. Energy balance equations

121 For steady state condition, the energy balance equations of various components of roughened solar air
122 heater (Fig.1.) as well as of smooth/simple solar air heater duct (Fig.2.) can be written as

123 For glass cover

c I (hc ab c hr ab c )(Tpm Tg ) (h w h r c s )(Tg Ta ) (1)

124 For absorber plate
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( p )e I (hc ab c hr ab c )(Tpm Tg ) hr ab bp (Tpm Tbm ) h c ab f (Tpm T fm ) (2)

125 For Fluid Flow

h c ab f (Tpm T fm ) q u hc f bp (T fm Tbm ) (3)

Qu
126 Where qu m .C pa (T fo T fi )
Ac

127 For Bottom Plate

h r ab bp (Tpm Tbm ) h c f bp (T fm Tbm ) U b (Tbm Ta ) (4)

128 The temperature of glass cover (Tg) can be obtained by assuming, Tfm= (Tfi+Tfo)/2. [34] from the Eq. (1)

c I hwTa h r c s .Ta (hc ab c hr ab c )Ta

Tg (5)
hc ab c hr ab c hw h r c s
129 The absorber mean plate temperature (Tpm) can be obtain form the Eq. (2)

( p )e I (hc ab c hr ab c )Tg hr ab bp .Tbm h c ab f .T fm

Tpm (6)
hc ab c hr ab c hr ab bp h c ab f
130 The fluid mean temperature (Tfm) can be obtained from the Eq. (3)

h c ab f (Tpm Tbm ) 2mC paT fi

T fm (7)
2 h c ab f 2mC
pa
131 The bottom mean plate temperature (Tbm) can be obtained from the Eq. (4)

U b .Ta h r ab bp h c ab f .T fm
Tbm (8)
U b h r ab bp h c ab f
132

133 2.2. Evaluation of heat transfer coefficients

134 Considering sky as a black body, the radiation heat transfer coefficient between glass cover to sky
135 ( h r c s ) can be given as;
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(Tg Ts )
h r c s g (Tg Ts )(Tg2 Ts2 ) (9)
(Tg Ta )
136 Where the sky temperature Ts is given by [21]

Ts 0.0552(Ta )1.5 (10)

137 And Convective heat transfer coefficient due to wind (for 0 Vw 5 m/s) is given by [21]

hw 5.7 3.8Vw (11)

138 The radiative heat transfer coefficient between glass cover and absorber plate ( hr ab c ) can be obtained
139 as;

(Tpm
2
Tg2 )(Tpm Tg )
hr ab c (12)
1 1 1
p g
140 The radiative heat transfer coefficient between absorber plate and bottom plate ( hr ab bp ) can be obtained
141 as;

(Tpm
2
Tbm2 )(Tpm Tbm )
h r ab bp (13)
1 1
p b 1
142
143 The Convective heat transfer coefficient between glass cover and absorber plate (hc-ab-c) due to natural
144 convection is given by is given by
Nuc .k a
hc ab c (14.a)
L1
145 Where Nuc is given by [21]
146

1708(sin1.8 )1.6 Ra cos
0.33
1708
Nuc 1 1.44 1 1
5830 1 (14.b)
Ra cos Ra cos
147
148 Where the (+) exponent implies that only positive values of the terms in the big brackets have to be
149 considered and negative to be ignored. The above equation is valid for 0 75
150 The Rayleigh number (Ra) in the Eq. (14.b) can be obtained using the correlation.
151
Ra Gr.Pr (15)
152
153 Where, Grashof number (Gr) and Prandtl number (Pr) are given respectively by
154
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g (Tpm Tg ) L13
Gr (16)
v2
155
156 Where is the thermal expansion coefficient of air and is given by
157
1
(17)
(T fo T fi ) 2
158
159 and
C pa
Pr (18)
ka
160
161 The back loss coefficient (Ub) is given by
162
ki
Ub (19)
i
163 The side loss coefficient (Us) can be given as
164
( L L2 ) L3 ki
Us (20)
L.L2 i
165 which may be neglected, being very small

166 For a duct having smooth absorber plate and bottom plate the convective heat-transfer coefcients
167 between, owing air and absorber plate (hc-ab-f) and between owing air and bottom plate (hc-f-bp) are
168 considered as equal. [33].

169 To calculate the heat transfer coecients hc-ab-f and hc-f-bp of a solar air heater duct with upper side
170 heated absorber plate, lower side a back plate with bottom insulation and remaining two sides properly
171 insulated, the following correlation is used for turbulent flow (Re > 2300) [20].

k
hc ab f hc f bp Nus a (21)
D
172
173 Where, the Nusselt number Nus for smooth duct is given by [20]
174
175
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Nus 0.024 Re0.8 Pr 0.4 (22)

176
177 If the flow is laminar then following correlation for the case of parallel smooth plates with one of the
178 plates at constant temperature is used [21]
179
0.5
D
0.0606 Re Pr .
h .D L
Nus c ab f 4.9 0.7 (23)
ka D
1 0.0909 Re Pr . (Pr)0.17
L

180
181 The heat transfer coefficient hc-ab-f between the flowing air and the wire rib-roughened absorber plate is
182 calculated by using the equation
183
Nur ka
hc ab f (24)
D
184 Where, the Nusselt number Nur is given by [20]
185
Nur 0.001047 Re1.3186 (e D)0.3772 ( 90) 0.1198 (25)
186
187 Equivalent or hydraulic diameter for a duct of width (L2) and depth (H) is expressed as
188
2.L 2 H
D (26)
L2 H
189 Reynolds numbers (Re) is computed by using the expression given below;

2m
Re (27)
(L 2 +H)
190

191 2.3. Performance Evaluation of solar air heaters

192 a). Thermal efficiency

193 The thermal performance of a solar air heater is associated with the effectiveness of heat collection and
194 transfer processes on the absorber plate and is evaluated in term of thermal efficiency of the solar air
195 heater. Expression of thermal efficiency of a solar air heater is given as [21-22]:
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Qu
th (28)
IAc
196
197 b). Thermohydraulic efficiency

198 The evaluation of thermohydraulic performance of a solar air heater is concerned with the pressure drop
199 and consequently the power needed to propel air in the heater duct. Accordingly, the thermohydraulic
200 efficiency or effective efficiency (e) that takes into account of the pumping power needed, is evaluated
201 by using the relationship [23] given below.

Wp
Qu C
f (29)
eff
IAc
202 Where Wp is pump work required to force the air in the air-heating duct and is given by the equation;

W p mp

(30)
203 And Cf is a factor that accounts for the conversion of the magnitude of Mechanical energy () into
204 equivalent Thermal energy and is given by the relationship.
C f thtr m f (31)
205 The value of Cf has been recommended equal to 0.18 [23].
206
207 Pressure drop ( p) in the air heating duct as mentioned in Eq. (30) is evaluated by using the
208 relationship;
2 fLV 2
p (32)
D
209 To evaluate friction factor (fs) for smooth plate solar heater duct is calculated by [9, 15]

f s 0.085 Re 0.25 (33)

210
211 Whereas, the friction factor (fr) for solar air heater duct having arc shape wire rib roughness on absorber
212 plate, is evaluated by using the correlation [20].
213
f r 0.14408 Re 0.17103 (e D)0.1765 ( 90)0.1185 (34)
214

215

216
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217 3. Selection of System and Operating Parameters

218 The list of fixed and variable parameters used in the computation of the results, is shown in Table - 2.
219 The variable parameters include the roughness parameters like e/D, P/e and /90. The range of these
220 roughness parameters has been selected on the basis of the experimental work [20]

221 Table.2: Range/ Base Values of system and operating parameters used in the present investigation.

S.No Parameters Base Value

Fixed System and Operating Parameters
1 Duct length (L), m 1.5
2 Collector width (W), m 1.0
3 Rib pitch-to-height ratio (P/e) 10
4 Number of glass covers (ng) 1.0
5 Thermal conductivity of insulation (ki), W/m K 0.037
6 Thermal conductivity of glass (kg), W/m K 0.75
7 Thickness of insulation ( i ), m 0.05

8 Eective transmittance absorptance product ( p )e 0.85

9 Emissivity of absorber plate (P) 0.9

10 Emissivity of bottom plate (b) 0.9
11 Emissivity of glass cover (g) 0.88
12 Thickness of glass cover (Lg), m 0.004
13 Air gap between absorber plate and glass cover (L1), m 0.05
14 Atmospheric temperature (Ta), K 300
15 Wind velocity (Vw), m/s 1.5
Variable Operating and System Parameters
16 Rib height-to-duct hydraulic diameter ratio (e/D) 0.0213-0.0422
17 Duct depth (H), m 0.030-0.050
18 Flow-attack-angle (/90) 0.333 - 0.666
19 Reynolds number (Re) 2000-35,000
20 Intensity of solar radiation (I), W/m2 600-1000
222

223 3.1. Numerical simulation

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224 From Eq. (5) to Eq. (12), it is observed that the equations for various temperatures and heat transfer
225 coefficients are coupled and hence difficult to solve. Therefore, the values of temperatures Tg, Tpm, Tbm
226 and Tfm, the heat transfer coefficients and thermal and eective eciencies were evaluated by adopting
227 the method of iteration and as a first step initial values of mean plate temperature (Tpm) and mean air
228 temperature (Tfm) were assumed according to the inlet air temperature. The various heat-transfer
229 coefcients were calculated using Eqs. (5) (12), and at temporary value of thermal efficiency was
230 estimated from Eq. (28).

231 The new mean plate (Tpm) and mean air temperatures (Tfm) are calculated using Eqs. (6) and (7)
232 respectively. If the calculated new values of Tpm and Tfm are different from the previously assumed
233 value, then the iteration is continued with the new values till the absolute differences of the new value
234 and the previous value of mean plate temperature as well as mean uid temperature are within 0.01%
235 from their respective previous values. Finally calculated values of Tpm and Tfm are used to evaluate the
236 thermal and eective eciencies using Eqs. (28) and (29) respectively. Air properties are calculated at
237 mean temperatures of air [32]. The above procedure is repeated for next set of parameters P/e, e/D, /90,
238 T/I and I. The computations have been carried out by generating programme in MATLAB and using a
239 computer

240 4. Results and Discussion

241 Thermal and eective eciencies of solar air heater with arc shape wire roughened absorber plate have
242 been computed by considering the values of system and operating parameters, listed in Table. 2.
243 Different plots of thermal and eective eciencies versus temperature rise parameter ( T I ) and solar
244 radiation intensity (I) were prepared and presented. Results obtained for roughened and smooth plates
245 solar air heaters have been discussed in the following sub-sections.

246 4.1. Variation of Thermal Eciency

247 Using the calculated values, design curves for thermal eciency of roughened and smooth absorber
248 plate solar air heaters have been prepared and shown in Figs. 38.The variation of thermal efficiency (
249 th) with Reynolds number (Re) for the different rib height-to-duct hydraulic diameter ratio (e/D) at
250 fixed value of insolation (I), duct depth (H) = 0.035 m and other roughness parameter ,is shown in
251 Fig.3.It is observed from the plot in Fig. 3 that the thermal efficiency of both types i.e. roughened and
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252 smooth absorber plate solar air heaters increases with increase in Re. It can also be seen that due to
253 presence of wire roughness there is an appreciable enhancement in thermal eciency as compared to
254 smooth duct. Furthermore, the variations of thermal efficiency depicts that the tendency of its rate of
255 increase is quite higher in lower values of Re (Re < 10000) .The maximum th is obtained
256 corresponding to the maximum value of e/D = 0.0422 due to breaking and re-attachment of laminar sub-
257 layer towards down-stream of the flow. The presence of repeated rib causes much turbulence in the air
258 flow path, which results in increase in Nusselt number significantly and consequently overall thermal
259 performance.

260

261 Fig.3. Thermal efficiency as function of Reynolds number for different rib height-to-duct hydraulic diameter
262 ratio.

263 Fig. 4 has been drawn to show the variation of th with T I as well as with Re for (e/D) = 0.0213-

264 0.0422 at fixed values of I = 800 W/m2 /90= 0.3333 and P/e =10.
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265 This Figure shows that th has decreasing nature with increase in the values of T I but

266 simultaneously it is having increasing nature with increase in Re. For entire range of T I and Re, the
267 thermal eciency is the highest for e/D = 0.0422.

268

269
270 Fig.4. Thermal efficiency variation as function of temperature rise parameter and Reynolds number for different
271 rib height-to-duct hydraulic diameter ratio.

272 Fig. 5 shows the variation of thermal efficiency (th) with Reynolds number (Re) for /90 = 0.3333 -
273 0.6666 and for fixed values of insolation I = 800 W/m2, rib pitch-to-height ratio (P/e) = 10, duct depth
274 (H) = 0.035 m and for rib height-to-duct hydraulic diameter ratio (e/D) = 0.042.

275 It is evident from Fig. 5 that /90 = 0.3333 corresponds to optimum th for all values of Re. The
276 occurrence of optimum th at this value of /90 is due to the fact that at this condition the degree of
277 angling of wire rib with respect to fluid flow produces secondary flow and vortices along the span-wise
278 direction of flow. The breaking of laminar sub-layer also occurs simultaneously which promotes local
279 wall turbulence causing enhancement in heat transfer coefficient.
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280

281 Fig.5. Variation of thermal efficiency with different Reynolds number and /90.

282 Fig. 6 shows the variation of thermal efficiency (th) with temperature rise parameter ( T I ) and Re
283 for the values of flow-attack-angle (/90) in the range of 0.3333 0.6666 at fixed value of insolation (I)
284 = 800 W/m2, duct depth (H) = 0.035 m and other roughness parameters. It can be seen from this Figure
285 that, for entire range of T/I, flow-attack-angle (/90) of 0.3333, yields the highest thermal
286 performance. It is also evident from the plot that th lowers down with increase in T/I for all values of
287 /90. Furthermore th increases with increase in Re for given values of /90.

288
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289
290
291 Fig.6. Variation of thermal efficiency with temperature rise parameter and Reynolds number for different /90.

292 4.2. Variation of Effective Efficiency

293 Different plots for eective eciency showing the variations with Reynolds number (Re) and
294 temperature rise parameter (T/I) corresponding to the relevant roughness and operating parameters, for
295 present roughness geometry along with simple solar duct have been presented as shown in Figs. 710.

296 Fig. 7 has been plotted to show the effect of different Re on effective efficiency (eff) for different rib
297 height-to-duct hydraulic diameter ratio (e/D) = 0.0213 0.0422. It is evident from Fig. 7 that the
298 maximum eective eciency is obtained corresponding to e/D = 0.0422 for a Re value up to 25,000,
299 whereas the eff is maximum corresponding to e/D = 0.0213 in the range of 25000 < Re < 35000. For
300 each value of e/D, effective efficiency is having an optimum value upto a critical value of Reynolds
301 number (Re), and after this critical value of Re, eff has a decreasing trend with Re. Furthermore, for a
302 conventional duct eff is having increasing nature upto a critical value of Re and then after it remains
303 almost constant with increasing Re.

304 It is also revealed form this plot that there is no effect of variation of e/D values at some value of
305 Reynolds number, Re = 27,000 (approx.) after this value of Reynolds number the effective efficiency for
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306 the lowest e/D value becomes the highest. This is because, pumping power needed to propel the air
307 through the duct at higher e/D values beyond Re = 31000, becomes more than required at the lower
308 value of e/D. It also can be concluded from plot that the eff of conventional solar air heater duct is
309 better than that of roughened solar duct after the Reynolds number value of 31,000 (approx.) it means to
310 add roughness on absorber plate beyond this value of Reynolds number becomes ineffective.

311

312 Fig.7. Effective efficiency variation as a function of Reynolds number for different e/D

313 Fig. 8 shows variation of effective efficiency (eff) with temperature rise parameter (T/I) for different
314 values of rib height-to-duct hydraulic diameter ratio (e/D) at fixed value of insolation (I), duct depth (H)
315 = 0.035 m and other roughness parameters.

316 It is evident from this Figure that e/D = 0.0422 corresponds to maximum effective efficiency
317 corresponding to all values of T/I taken in the present investigation. For each values of e/D, eff is
318 having first increasing nature upto a certain value of T/I, which can be treated as critical value of T/I
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319 and thereafter it is found of decreasing nature with T/I. For simple solar air heating duct, eff follows
320 almost the same characteristics of variation as in case of roughened solar air heater. It is also observed
321 that at the lower value of T/I (T/I < 0.006 C m2 /W), the variation in the values of e/D owing to the
322 change in height of roughness has no significant effect on the eff.

323

324

325 Fig.8. Effective efficiency as a function of temperature rise parameter for different e/D

326 The plots shown in Fig. 9 has been drawn to show the effect of Re and /90 simultaneously on the eff
327 of artificial roughened solar air heater duct. The fixed values of radiation intensity (I) = 800 W/m2, duct
328 depth (H) = 0.035 m, e/D = 0.0422 and P/e = 10 have been taken to draw these plots.

329 It can be said from Figure that eff is having maximum value corresponding to /90 = 0.3333 for almost
330 all values of Re. eff is found to increase up to a critical values of Re (Re = 17,500) for all values of
331 /90 and then starts decreasing after increase in the values of Re. Furthermore for simple solar air heater
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332 duct eff increases up to critical Reynold number (Re = 16,100) and thereafter it remains almost
333 constant.

334

335 Fig.9. Variation of effective efficiency with Reynolds number and flow-attack-angle.

336 A plot of eff verses T/I for /90 = 0.3333 0.6666 has been shown in Fig. 10. The fixed values of
337 other parameters, as mentioned in Figure have been taken while preparing the plot.

338 It can be observed from this Figure that corresponding to, /90 = 0.3333, the eff remains highest for all
339 values of T I considered. For a given value of /90, eff is found to increase up to a maximum point
340 and then starts decreasing with increase in T/I. The maximum value of effective efficiency is obtained
341 in the range of T/I = 0.008 - 0.01 C m2/W for all values of /90 undertaken. For smooth solar air
342 heating duct, the variation of eff with T/I is having similar nature as in case of roughened absorber
343 plate solar air heater.
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344

345 Fig.10. Variation of effective efficiency with T/I and /90.

346 It can be observed from design plots shown in Figs. 7-10 that eective eciency has a maxima point,
347 for particular set of roughness and operating parameters.

348 It happens due to the fact that while attaining the maximum value for certain Re (critical Re), after this
349 the eect of heat transfer coecient and useful heat gain is more dominating in comparison to
350 enhancement in friction factor, pressure drop and pumping power for the duct. It appears due to the fact
351 that at lower Re, the contribution of heat transfer to effective efficiency is more as compared to the
352 pumping power required. While with increase in the Re the effect of heat transfer comparatively goes on
353 decreasing and pumping power goes on increasing. The net effect is that the effective efficiency tends to
354 decrease with increase in the Re after attaining maximum value of eff. It can also be concluded that the
355 presence of wire roughness in the form of arc on the absorber plate of a solar air heater is fruitful as it
356 delivers higher eective eciency as compared to simple solar air heater duct and therefore, it is
357 advantageous.

358

359
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360 4.3. Effect of duct depth (H) on thermal and thermohydraulic efficiencies of roughened duct

361 The variations of thermal efficiency (th) and thermohydraulic efficiency (eff) with duct depth (H) of

362 solar air heater duct having wire roughness on the heat absorbing side, for a given value of roughness
363 parameters and insulation have been shown in Figs.11 and 12 respectively. The computed values of th
364 and eff for the duct depth of 0.020 m - 0.050 m and the Reynolds number of 2000 - 35000 are given in
365 Table - 3 for comparison. It is observed from Figure 11 that the thermal efficiency of solar air heater
366 decreases with increase in duct depth from 0.020 0.050 m. The thermohydraulic efficiency increases
367 up to a duct depth of 0.030 m and decreases with a faster rate in the range of higher Re. as shown in
368 Fig. 12. Based on the result it can be concluded that the th and eff of solar air heater with wire
369 roughness are higher and this heater exhibits the best performance in the range of duct depth of 0.025-
370 0.035 m.

371

372 Fig. 11. Variation of thermal efficiency with duct depth (H) and Reynolds number (Re).
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373

374 Fig. 12. Variation of effective efficiency with duct depth (H) and Reynolds number (Re).
375
376

377

378

379

380

381

382

383

384
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385 Table.3: Thermal and thermohydraulic efficiency of present roughened duct for different values of duct depth (H).

Thermal efficiency ( th ) Thermohydraulic efficiency ( eff )

Duct depth, H (m) Duct depth, H (m)

Reynolds
No.
0.020 0.030 0.040 0.050 0.020 0.030 0.040 0.050

2920 0.568 0.5336 0.512 0.4932 0.5676 0.5335 0.5101 0.4932

3194 0.584 0.5486 0.524 0.5059 0.5835 0.5484 0.5239 0.5059
3514 0.6011 0.5651 0.5395 0.5203 0.6005 0.5649 0.5394 0.5202
3905 0.6194 0.5833 0.5569 0.5367 0.6184 0.583 0.5567 0.5366
4392 0.6389 0.6033 0.5764 0.5554 0.6377 0.6029 0.5763 0.5554
5020 0.6596 0.6252 0.5984 0.577 0.6579 0.6247 0.5982 0.5769
5860 0.6814 0.6491 0.6231 0.6017 0.6788 0.6483 0.6228 0.6016
7026 0.7042 0.6751 0.6508 0.6302 0.6999 0.6738 0.6502 0.6299
8784 0.7278 0.703 0.6815 0.6627 0.7196 0.7006 0.6805 0.6621
11700 0.7518 0.7325 0.7151 0.6993 0.7333 0.727 0.7128 0.6981
14634 0.7636 0.7476 0.7330 0.7194 0.7253 0.7362 0.7281 0.7169
17568 0.7755 0.7628 0.7509 0.7396 0.7173 0.7454 0.7434 0.7357
21925 0.78105 0.7701 0.7598 0.7499 0.6341 0.7261 0.7409 0.7402
26283 0.7866 0.7774 0.7687 0.76035 0.5509 0.7068 0.7385 0.7378
30641 0.7921 0.7847 0.7776 0.7707 0.4677 0.6875 0.7361 0.7353
34989 0.7977 0.792 0.7865 0.7811 0.3845 0.6682 0.7337 0.7338
386
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387 4.4. Optimization of different roughness parameters

388 In order to facilitate a designer to design a solar air heater for its enhanced thermal and thermohydraulic
389 performance, it seems necessary to optimize the system parameters preferably the roughness parameters.
390 For this purpose different plots, based on the eff were plotted as shown in Figs. 13 and 14 for different
391 values of I. These Figures show the optimum values of eff with T/I corresponding to roughness
392 parameters e/D and /90 respectively.

393 Fig. 13 shows the optimum value of e/D with variation of T/I for different values of I. It is seen from
394 this Figure that for T/I < 0.0044 m2 C/W, e/D = 0.0213 yields optimum value of effective efficiency
395 for I = 700 1000 W/m2 which is the usual range of values of solar intensity for a solar collector. For
396 T I > 0.0062 m2 C /W, e/D = 0.0422 corresponds to optimum value of eff for all values of

397 radiation intensity. It can also be concluded that for T/I in the range of 0.0044 - 0.0062 m2 C /W, the
398 optimum e/D is a function of I and T/I.

399

400 Fig.13. Optimum value of e/D as a function of temperature rise parameter.

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401 Fig. 14 has been drawn in a view to show the optimum value of /90 with varying T/I for different
402 values of I. It can be observed that T/I < 0.0030 m2 C /W, /90 = 0.3333 shows optimum eff for I =
403 700 1000 W/m2 taken into consideration. For T/I > 0.0042 m2 C /W, /90 = 0.6666 represents
404 optimum value of eff for radiation intensity values (I) = 700 1000 W/m2. Furthermore for T/I in the
405 range of 0.0030 - 0.0041 m2 C /W, the optimum /90 is a function of I and T/I.

406

407

408 Fig.14. Optimum value of /90 as a function of temperature rise parameter.

409 4.5. Comparison of performance parameters

410 a) Thermal efficiency of roughened solar air heater

411 Fig. 15 (a) shows the comparison of thermal efficiencies of solar air heaters, obtained in the present
412 work with thermal efficiencies of solar air heaters having other roughness geometries [4, 8, 27, 29-31]
413 on the absorber plates for common roughness parameters and operating parameters, using the
414 respective correlations, as given in Table - 1. It is observed that the nature of variation of thermal
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415 efficiency with T/I for arc shaped wire rib roughened solar air heater follows the similar pattern to the
416 solar air heaters of other roughness geometries, except in the case of the roughness used in form of
417 small diameter protrusion ribs [31], which validates the perfection of the results obtained by
418 mathematical modelling of the system in the present work. It is also observed that almost every
419 roughened solar air heater is having lower thermal efficiency as compared to the thermal efficiency
420 obtained by arc shaped wire roughened solar air heater for all values of T/I. The solar air heater with
421 W-shape wire rib roughness [26] exhibits the higher thermal efficiency for temperature rise parameter
422 (T/I) > 0.012 m2 C /W, however, it has the lower thermal efficiency than the arc shaped wire rib
423 roughness for temperature rise parameter (T/I) < 0.012 m2 C /W.

424

425 Fig. 15.(a) Comparison of thermal efficiencies of arc-shape wire roughness and other roughness
426 geometries of roughened solar air heater.
427

428

429
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430 b). Effective efficiency of roughened solar air heater

431 The comparison of effective efficiency of solar air heater obtained in the present study has been shown
432 with the effective efficiencies of solar air heaters with different roughness geometries [4, 8, 29, 30] on
433 the absorber plates for common roughness and operating parameters as shown in Fig. 15 (b).

434

435 Fig. 15.(b) Comparison of effective efficiencies of arc-shape wire roughness and other roughness
436 geometries of roughened solar air heaters.
437

438 It is found that the trend of variation of effective efficiency with Reynolds number for arc shaped wire
439 rib roughened solar air heater is similar to the effective efficiency of solar air heaters of other roughness
440 geometries, which conforms the perfection of the results obtained by mathematical modelling of the
441 system in the present work.

442 c). Thermal Efficiency Improvement Factor (TEIF)

443 To evaluate the improvement in thermal efficiency of a solar air heater having artificial roughness on its
444 absorber plate a factor called Thermal Efficiency Improvement Factor (TEIF) is defined as
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th r th s
TEIF
th s
445 Where th r , is thermal efficiency of roughened absorber plate solar air heater and th s , is thermal

446 efficiency of conventional or smooth absorber plate solar air heater.

447 The percentage TEIF values for arc shape wire roughened solar air heater (Present study) and for some
448 other solar air heaters with different roughness geometries under similar conditions have been
449 calculated and presented in Table 4 for comparison. In addition to this, plots of TEIF as a function of
450 Reynolds numbers have also been shown in Fig. 15 (c) for solar air heater of different roughness
451 geometries.

452 Table.4: Thermal Efficiency Improvement Factor (in percentage) for roughened solar air heaters

Thermal Efficiency Improvement Factor [TEIF] (%)

Small
Comb.
Reynolds Present W-shape Transverse Inclined wire protrusion Metal grit
of Inclined
number, study wire ribs ribs ribs wire ribs ribs
& Transverse
Re [30] [27] [4] [31] [29]
ribs [8]
2920 2.9389 9.9027 1.7594 5.7051 1.056 2.8081 -1.3776
3194 3.7443 10.237 1.2846 5.844 1.4742 3.2505 -0.7705
3514 4.6325 10.5256 0.7113 5.9525 1.9447 3.7284 -0.0467
3905 5.5969 10.7548 0.311 6.0234 2.4681 4.2385 0.8011
4392 6.6214 10.9066 0.7618 6.0474 3.042 4.7738 1.7762
5020 7.6759 10.957 1.668 6.0121 3.6592 5.3593 2.8726
5860 8.7081 10.8728 2.6775 5.9008 4.3037 5.8593 4.0686
7026 9.631 10.6072 3.7595 5.6897 4.9442 -25.72 5.3123
8784 10.301 10.0907 4.8427 5.3441 5.5206 -26.56 6.4973
11700 10.4797 9.2141 5.7748 4.8095 5.9166 -27.06 7.4158
14634 10.1175 8.5002 6.003 4.4004 5.9052 -26.88 7.5378
17568 9.7553 7.7865 6.2312 3.9914 5.8938 -26.7 7.6598
21925 9.1476 7.1902 6.0357 3.6665 5.6415 -25.96 7.3339
26283 8.54 6.5939 5.8403 3.3417 5.3892 -25.225 7.008
30641 7.9324 5.9976 5.6449 3.0169 5.1369 -24.48 6.6821
34989 7.3248 5.4013 5.4495 2.6921 4.8846 -23.75 6.3562
453

454
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455

456 Fig. 15. (c) Variation of thermal efficiency improvement factor (TEIF) of different types of roughened
457 Solar Air Heaters with Reynolds number.
458
459
460 It is observed that Thermal Efficiency Improvement Factor (TEIF) of the roughened solar air heater for
461 all of the roughness geometries under consideration and working under similar conditions, increases at
462 lower Reynolds number and after attaining a maximum value it decreases with increase in Reynolds
463 number.
464 It is also found that the TEIF value for the roughened SAH in the present study is higher than those of
465 other roughness geometries except to that of the W-shape wire rib roughened SAH [30] in lower range
466 of Reynolds number (Re < 8800).
467
468 5. Validation of the model
469 In order to validate the present developed mathematical model, a comparison is made with theoretical
470 result reported by Gupta and Kaushik [35] as shown in Figs.16 (a) and (b).
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471 Fig. 16 (a) shows the variation of thermal efciency and Fig. 16 (b) shows the variation of effective
472 efficiency of smooth plate SAHs for flow below the absorber plate as function of Reynolds number.
473 These plots show a good agreement between the results of present model and the results reported by
474 Gupta and Kaushik [35] under similar geometrical and operating parameters, which validates the present
475 mathematical model.

476

477
478 Fig.16.(a) Comparison of the thermal efficiencies of smooth plate SAH obtained from present
479 mathematical model with that reported by Gupta and Kaushik [35].
480
481
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482
483 Fig.16.(a) Comparison of the effective efficiencies of smooth plate SAH obtained from present
484 mathematical model with that reported by Gupta and Kaushik [35].
485
486
487 6. Conclusions
488 In this paper a comprehensive theoretical analysis to investigate thermal and thermohydraulic
489 performances of solar air heater duct having wire rib elements in arc shape on the absorber plate at
490 its air flow side and for the Reynolds number range of 2000- 35,000 has been carried out. The results
491 have been compared with simple or smooth duct working under similar conditions of operating and
492 system parameters. The following conclusions have been drawn:

493 1. Arc shaped wire roughened solar air heater shows the appreciable enhancement in thermal and
494 effective efficiencies for all values of Reynolds number. The maximum values of thermal
495 efficiency and effective efficiency are found to be 79.84% and 75.24% respectively
496 corresponding to rib-height-to-duct hydraulic diameter ratio (e/D) = 0.0422 and flow-attack-
497 angle (/90) = 0.3333
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498 2. The set of rib-roughness parameters e/D = 0.042, P/e = 10 and /90 = 0.3333 for which the
499 effective efficiency has its optimal value with temperature rise parameter (T/I) can be used for
500 the design of solar air heater with its absorber plate integrated by wire roughness in the form of
501 arc.
502 3. The effective efficiency increases with increase in Reynolds number up to 15,000 and then starts
503 decreasing with further increase in Reynolds number. Therefore, based on the criteria of having
504 higher effective efficiency of a solar air heater with arc shaped wire roughened absorber plate, it
505 is advisable to use such air heaters in the lower range of Reynolds number (Re < 15,000) for a
506 particular set of roughness geometry and operating parameters.
507 4. The value of Thermal Efficiency Improvement Factor (TEIF) for arc shaped wire roughened
508 SAH (present study) is the highest among other types of roughened SAH for all Reynolds
509 number, except for W-shape wire rib roughened SAH at lower Reynolds number (Re < 8800),
510 working under similar conditions.
511 5. The performance analysis based on effective efficiency is more realistic for the roughened solar
512 air heater, because it considers both the parameters i.e. pumping power consumption and thermal
513 energy gain.

514 References

515 [1] Prasad K, Mulick SC. Heat transfer characteristics of a solar air heater used for drying purposes.
516 Applied Energy 1983; 13:8393.

517 [2] Kumar A, Saini RP, Saini JS. Heat and uid ow characteristics of roughened solar air heater ducts-a
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