Performance Analysis of Solar Air Heater using CFD Simulation

Abstract

Solar energy has emerged as one of the alternate to conventional sources of energy. Solar air heaters are one of the important devices to utilize solar energy. But, poor heat transfer coefficient is one of the major problem in solar air heater. In this research article, an attempt is made to increase heat transfer coefficient of solar air heater by putting Hollow bodies over the absorber plate. These resulted in increase in heat transfer coefficient, efficiency and increase in outlet temperature of air simultaneously.