Three-dimensional CFD study of triangular solar air heater duct (TSAHD) with trapezoidal ribs

Abstract

The current numerical analysis presents the thermo-fluidic performance of a triangular solar air heater duct having trapezoidal ribs on the absorber plate. Roughness variables like Non-dimensional pitch and non-dimensional height are varied from 7.5 to 30 and 0.013 to 0.053, respectively and Reynolds number is kept in the turbulent regime, i.e., Reynolds number = − 18 Trapezoidal-shaped ribs with non-dimensional pitch and non-dimensional height of 10 and 0.05, respectively, at Reynolds number of a maximum enhancement of 126% in heat transfer is attained as compared to the base model. A maximum increase in friction penalty is found 2.79 times over base model as a result of a non-dimensional pitch of 10 and non-dimensional height of 0.053 at a Reynolds number of Within the range of analysis, a highest thermal performance ratio of 1.66 is attained for the non-dimensional pitch of 10 and non-dimensional height of 0.053.