Thermal performance and optimization of an integrated collector–storage solar air heater based on lap joint-type flat micro-heat pipe arrays

Abstract

This study seeks to optimize the performance of an integrated collector–storage solar air heater (ICSSAH) based on lap joint-type (LJT) flat micro-heat pipe arrays (FMHPAs) and latent thermal storage through numerical simulation. A novel dynamic heat transfer model is developed by incorporating the heat transfer correlation describing the thermal characteristics of phase change material (PCM) in narrow and elongated confined spaces within plate fins and validated using experimental data to address the issue of deviation caused by the fixed thermal resistance of the PCM in conventional numerical simulation methods. The validated model is used to simulate and predict the dynamic performance of LJT-FMHPA-ICSSAH under different heat transfer structures. Several optimization parameters, including the air gap thickness, the optical properties of the collector and glass cover plates, and fins structure, are considered. Simulation results indicate that the heat lost to the external environment through the glass cover plate accounted for over 70 % of the total heat dissipation. The optimal combination included a 50 mm gas layer; copper-based blue titanium coating; ultra-white glass; and fin spacing, thickness, height, and length of 5, 0.2, 60, and 195 mm, respectively. Under autumn/winter operating conditions, the optimized thermal performance is 1.13–1.35 times higher than the performance prior to optimization.