SOLAR AIR HEATER

Abstract

This book focuses on three approaches or methods that can be used to solve a problem of fluid flow and heat transfer in an artificially roughened solar air heater. Solar air heater is one of the basic equipment through which solar energy is converted into thermal energy. Prediction of heat transfer and fluid flow processes of an artificially roughened solar air heater can be obtained by three approaches: theoretical, experimental and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Based on the literature review, it is concluded that most of the studies carried out on artificially roughened solar air heater with theoretical and experimental approaches. Few studies were carried out with CFD approach. In recent years CFD has been applied in the design of solar air heater. The quality of the solutions obtained from CFD simulations are largely within the acceptable range proving that CFD is an effective tool for predicting the behavior and performance of an artificially roughened solar air heater. The objective of this book is to presents a comparison of different approaches that can be used to solve problems of fluid flow and heat transfer of an artificially roughened solar air heater.