Thermo-economic optimization of solar air heaters with arcuate-shaped obstacles

Abstract

In this study, thermo-economic optimization of single-pass SAHs (solar air heaters) with obstacles of arcuate shape has been carried out. The research is conducted in order to compare the exergy efficiency of three different types of flat plate SAHs. Also, using NSGA-II (non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm) influencing factors were optimized. The SAHs were two different arcuate obstacles (type II and type III), and the other one had no obstacles (type I). All heater types with single and double glass cover were evaluated. The results showed that the heater with double glass cover and the obstacles (type III) had the highest function in both economic and exergetic aspects. Based on the NSGA-II results, collector with flow rate, area and the outlet temperature of 0.017 kg s−1, 2.6 m2 and 78 °C, respectively, had the best performance.