CFD numerical investigation of Heat transfer characteristics of Y- shaped solar air heater

Abstract

The numerical investigation of thermal hydraulic performance of Y-shaped rib rectangular solar air heater is observed by CFD tool of Ansys Fluent software. This paper explains the development of solar air heater technique that makes a suitable designed model for increasing heat transfer without increasing the global warming in environment. The rectangular solar air heater model is designed by Ansys fluent software. The Ansys fluent software is generally used for investigating heat energy by using RNG k-e model method for the fluid (air or liquid) and also has perfect information about flowing fluid (3000 ≤ Re ≤ 18,000) and then gives the perfect physical information relevant to design model. The Rectangular channel is (1500 × 200 × 30 mm) a station for two Y- shaped ribs which are placed on top and bottom sides of surface of the channel and total length of each Y-shaped rib is 50 mm. Y-shaped ribs are constructed with variants of angles between upper two parts (θ and relative roughness pitch, P/e = 6, 8, 10, and 12. In the paper, Y- shaped ribs roughness is used to increase heat transfer rate of SAH and observed maximum Thermal hydraulic efficiency ƞmax = 3.5992 at relative roughness pitch P/e = 10 mm, Re = 18000 and angle is taken θ = 90° between upper two parts of Y- shaped ribs.