Exergy based analysis of solar air heater having discrete V-down rib roughness on absorber plate

The artificially rib roughened solar air heaters perform thermally better than the conventional flat-plate solar air heater under same operating conditions. However, the artificial rib roughness leads to higher friction factor thereby increasing pumping power. The second law based exergy analysis is suitable for design of rib roughened solar air heaters as it incorporates quality of useful energy output and pumping power. The exergetic efficiency of a solar air heater having discrete V-down rib roughness is studied analytically and the results obtained are compared with that of a conventional flat-plate solar air heater. Flow Reynolds number and rib-roughness parameters, viz., relative roughness pitch, relative gap position, relative gap width, angle of attack and relative roughness height have combined effect on heat transfer as well as fluid friction. The exergy based criterion suggests use of the discrete V-down rib roughened solar air heater for the Reynolds number range normally used in solar air heaters. It was found that there exist optimum roughness parameters of the discrete V-down rib for a given Reynolds number (or temperature rise parameter) at which the exergetic efficiency is highest. Curves of optimum rib-roughness parameters are also plotted.

► ηII of discrete V-down rib roughened solar air heater is investigated. ► The roughened solar air heaters have higher ηII than conventional solar air heaters for Re < 18,000. ► For ΔT/I > 0.0175 K m2/W, optimum rib parameters are P/e = 8, d/w = 0.65, α = 60°, g/e = 1.0 and e/Dh = 0.043. ► For ΔT/I < 0.0175 K m2/W, optimum rib parameters are function of ΔT/I and I.