Experimentally derived efficiency and exergy analysis of a new solar air heater having different surface shapes

The aim of this study is to provide a remedy for the low thermo-physical properties of air which is used as different absorber surface of air heater. This paper presents an experimental investigation on the absorber surface of the collector whose shape and arrangement were made up to provide better heat transfer surfaces. In the study an experimental performance and exergy analysis of five types of air heating solar collectors: corrugated trapeze, reverse corrugated, reverse trapeze, and a base flat-plate collector are presented. The results of the experiments were evaluated at the same time of the days with the same radiation. The efficiencies were determined for the collectors and comparisons were made among them. The present data showed that heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop increase with shape of absorbers surface.

► An experimental performance and exergy analysis of five types of air heating solar collectors.
► Experimental analysis both the first law and second law of thermodynamics.
► The effciency of air collectors, depending on the surface geometry of the collector and extension of the air flow line.