Experimental study and correlation development for Nusselt number and friction factor for discretized broken V-pattern baffle solar air channel

The present study examines the augmentation in heat transfer and friction in a flow through solar air channel with discretized broken V-pattern baffle. Experiments have been carried out for system parameter such as a width to height ratio, W/H of 10, the relative baffle gap distance, Dd/Lv range of 0.26-0.83, relative baffle gap width, gw/Hb range of 0.5-1.5, relative baffle height, Hb/H range of 0.25-0.80, relative baffle pitch, Pb/H range of 0.5-2.5, and angle of attack, αa range of 30-70°. The effect of discretized broken V-pattern baffle has been investigated for the range of Reynolds number from 3000 to 21,000. The maximum enhancement is observed at a Dd/Lv of 0.67, gw/Hb of 1.0, Hb/H of 0.50, Pb/H of 1.5, and αa of 60°. Discretized broken V-pattern baffle has better thermal hydraulic performance as compared to other baffle shapes investigated by various investigators under similar operating conditions. By the use of the experimental data, correlations for heat transfer and friction characteristics have been developed for solar air channel as function of system parameters of discretized broken V-pattern baffle.