Thermal performance analysis of triangular solar air heater duct having broken V-shaped ribs

Abstract

In the present investigation, a numerical study has been done to analyse the effect of attachment of broken V-shaped ribs on the heating surface of the triangular-shaped solar air heater duct. The roughness and flow parameters include relative roughness pitch (between 8 and 14), angle of attack (between 30 and 75 degrees) and Reynolds number (between 4000 and 20,000). The effect on heat transfer and flow characteristics has been observed due to variation in parameters. Considerable enhancement in convective heat transfer is observed along with frictional effect and indicated by Nusselt number and friction factor values. All the variations resulted in an increase in the performance of a solar air heater, which was indicated by the value of the thermohydraulic performance parameter being more than 1. Abbreviations: CFD, Computational fluid dynamics; SAH, Solar air heater; THPP, Thermohydraulic performance parameter