Energetic and exergetic analysis of a new double pass solar air collector with fins and phase change material

Abstract

Advanced solar air collectors are widely implemented in research for drying purposes. This research study presents a new steady state energy balance and exergy equations for a novel double pass solar air collector with fins and phase change material (PCM) according to first and second law of thermodynamics. The mathematical equations of energy balance were solved using the matrix inversion method. The predictions were observed at mass flow rates ranging from 0.01 kg/sec to 0.15 kg/sec, and solar radiation ranging between 425 W/m2 and 1000 W/m2. The impacts of solar radiation levels and mass air rates on energy efficiency, exergy efficiency and the improvement potential have been estimated and evaluated. The optimum energy efficiency of proposed collector is 73% at mass air rate of 0.15 kg/sec. The exergy efficiency is nearly 2.5–4.2% at maximum solar radiation level of 1000 W/m2 as well as the lowest and highest improvement potential are 980–2287 W for a solar radiation of 425–1000 W/m2.