The Effect of Flow Obstacles of Different Shapes for Generating Turbulent Flow for Improved Performance of the Solar Air Heater

Abstract

It is common knowledge that by creating turbulent aspect of flow the efficacy of a solar collector which generally tends to have lower conversion efficiencies could be improved. An important focus for many researchers who are working keenly to improve the efficacy of conversion is by using turbulators of different configurations on the absorber plate itself. However, there is a simple method to improve the conversion efficiency by creating turbulence of the main flow by designing flow obstacles of various geometries, as discussed in this paper. These obstacles create flow turbulence such that they are able to create a better momentum exchange among the air particles. This will result in a higher enthalpy rise among the heated air particles. In this paper, an improved turbulence intensity is produced as consequence of the flow disturbance around the obstacles that causes better convective heat transfer. Flow obstacles of different shapes are studied corresponding to various geometries and under different mass flow rate considerations so as to prescribe an improved design for the solar collector.