Energetic and exergetic performance analysis of finned plate solar air heater integrated with PCM-aluminium chips composite as heat storage system

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this experimental work, the effect of combining a finned absorber solar air heater (FSAH) with PCM-aluminum chips composite on enhancing its thermal response is experimentally investigated based on energy and exergy standpoints. Experiments are conducted to compare the thermal response of FSAH using PCM-aluminum chips composite against the FSAH with no PCM and with PCM only, under weather circumstances in Baghdad city, Iraq. The thermal response factors of the proposed FSAH are examined for varying air mass flow rates, such as 0.009, 0.029, and 0.061 kg/s, and constant PCM’s mass. The results reveal that against the FSAH with no PCM, the energy heat gain of FSAH with PCM is only increased by 65.1% and its energy and exergy efficiencies are increased by 55% and 12%. Meanwhile, the inclusion of an aluminum chips within the PCM is found to be the best configuration among all the tested cases, providing an outlet air temperature for a long duration time of about 2.25 hr compared to FSAH with no PCM. In addition, the energy heat gain is increased by 115.4% and its energy and exergy efficiencies are increased by 168% and 123%, respectively, which is suitable for agricultural drying and space heating operations.