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Performance Assessment of Solar Air Heater Channel with Inclined Groove Turbulators
Author(s)
Koolnapadol, N.
Khanoknaiyakarn, C.
Promthaisong, P.
Hoonpong, P.
Chaimanatsakun, A.
Gururatana, S.
Skullong, S.
Date Issued
May 19, 2025
Type
Article
Abstract
An experimental investigation was carried out to explore the thermal performance and frictional loss features in a solar air heater (SAH) channel that was intentionally roughened on the absorber surface using multiple inclined groove turbulators. The working fluid, air, flows into the SAH channel, which has a consistent surface heat flux for Reynolds numbers (Re) varying between 5290 and 22,600 in the current research. Thermal characteristics at a single inclination angle (a = 45°) are investigated in this research by comparing the effects of three distinct relative groove frequencies (P/H=PR=0.8, 1.2 and 1.6) and groove depth ratios (D/H=DR=0.16, 0.24 and 0.32). The findings highlight that the employ of inclined grooves results in a noticeable rise in Nusselt number (Nu) from 1.24 to 2.82 times relative to the smooth absorber plate (smooth channel), as well as a 1.88 to 7.9 times increase in friction factor (f). The Nu and f show an increasing trend when Re increases, whereas the opposite pattern occurs as DR and PR increase. At PR = 0.8 and DR = 0.32, the inclined groove roughness has the largest thermal effectiveness factor (TEF) of around 1.64. The Nu and f correlations, which are functions of inclined groove features, have also been established.
Citation
Journal of Research and Applications in Mechanical Engineering, 13(2), 2025