Performance Analysis of Flat-Plate and V-groove Solar Air Heater Through CFD Simulation

*Debela Geneti Desisa  -  Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Jimma Institute of Technology, Jimma University, Ethiopia
Gadisa Desa Shekata  -  Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, Wolkite University, Ethiopia
Received: 14 Feb 2020; Revised: 11 May 2020; Accepted: 20 Jun 2020; Published: 15 Oct 2020; Available online: 29 Jun 2020.
Open Access Copyright (c) 2020 The Authors. Published by Centre of Biomass and Renewable Energy (CBIORE)
License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

Citation Format:
Abstract

The simplicity of solar flat plate air collector and free availability of solar energy sources attract attention to the optimization of the collector. This study aims to assess the effect of double pass air flow on the performance of flat plate air collectors. The analysis of the performance characteristics of the indirect solar dryer was carried out by CFD simulation with three different smooth, rough and V-grooved surfaces, keeping the lower and lateral collector well insulated and the drying chamber acting as a vertical chimney. The average thermal efficiency of the V-grooved surface, smooth surface, and rough surface is 90%, 78%, and 62% respectively. The total area of the collector is 1.20 × 2.0 = 2.40 m2 with the dimension of drying cabinet width, depth, and height 1200 × 650 × 1000 mm respectively. The pressure drop observed at the entrance to the drying chamber is high in the case of a smooth surface, medium in a rough surface and low in a V-grooved plate which will allow sufficient gas pressure to pass through completely.The air mass flow rate is the most important and effective factor during drying. The humidity of the air, as well as air velocity, is also an important factor in improving the drying rate. 

Keywords: CFD simulation; v-grooved surface; smooth surface; rough surface; double pass

Article Metrics:

Article Info
Section: Original Research Article
Language: EN
In Vol 9, No 3 (2020): October 2020
Statistics: 1246 645
Related articles
Analytical and Numerical Solution for H-type Darrieus Wind Turbine Performance at the Tip Speed Ratio of Below One Effects of turbulence models and grid densities on computational accuracy of flows over a vertical axis wind turbine 2D Numerical Simulation and Sensitive Analysis of H-Darrieus Wind Turbine Numerical Study of Effect of Blade Twist Modifications on the Aerodynamic Performance of Wind Turbine Analysis of Influence of Tilt Angle on Variable-Speed Fixed-Pitch Floating Offshore Wind Turbines for Optimizing Power Coefficient Using Experimental and CFD Models Preliminary Investigation on Generation of Electricity Using Micro Wind Turbines Placed on A Car
  1. Abuşka, M., & Şevik, S. (2017). Energy, exergy, economic and environmental (4E) analyses of flat-plate and V-groove solar air collectors based on aluminium and copper. Solar Energy, 158(August), 259–277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2017.09.045
  2. Afriyie, J. K., Nazha, M. A. A., Rajakaruna, H., & Forson, F. K. (2009). Experimental investigations of a chimney-dependent solar crop dryer. Renewable Energy, 34(1), 217–222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2008.04.010
  3. Alam, T., & Kim, M. H. (2017). Performance improvement of double-pass solar air heater – A state of art of review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 79(May), 779–793. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.05.087
  4. Alam, T., Saini, R. P., & Saini, J. S. (2014). Experimental investigation on heat transfer enhancement due to V-shaped perforated blocks in a rectangular duct of solar air heater. Energy Conversion and Management, 81, 374–383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2014.02.044
  5. Ali Mohammed, B. T. (2014). Impact of Sun Drying Methods and Layer Thickness on the Quality of Highland Arabica Coffee Varieties at Limmu, Southwestern Ethiopia. Journal of Horticulture, 01(03), 547–554. https://doi.org/10.4172/2376-0354.1000117
  6. Aziz, A., Ur, S., & Rehman, S. U. (2016). Exergy Analysis of Solar Cabinet Dryer and Evaluate the Performance Enhancement of Solar Cabinet Dryer by Addition of Solar Reflectors. 6(4)
  7. Bolaji, B. O., & Olalusi, A. P. (2008). Performance Evaluation of a Mixed-Mode Solar Dryer. AU Journal of Technology, 11(4), 225–231. http://www.journal.au.edu/au_techno/2008/apr08/journal114_article05.pdf
  8. Burmester, K., & Eggers, R. (2010). Heat and mass transfer during the coffee drying process. Journal of Food Engineering, 99(4), 430–436. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2009.12.021
  9. Desisa, D. G., Ramayya, V., & Tiba, G. S. (2016). Development Research Product Development Through Cfd Simulation and Experimental Testing of a 200 Liter Biomass Fired Institutional Cook Stove
  10. El-Sebaii, A. A., Aboul-Enein, S., Ramadan, M. R. I., Shalaby, S. M., & Moharram, B. M. (2011). Investigation of thermal performance of-double pass-flat and v-corrugated plate solar air heaters. Energy, 36(2), 1076–1086. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2010.11.042
  11. Fudholi, A., Sopian, K., Bakhtyar, B., Gabbasa, M., Othman, M. Y., & Ruslan, M. H. (2015). Review of solar drying systems with air based solar collectors in Malaysia. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 51, 1191–1204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.07.026
  12. Gatea, A. A. (2011). Design and construction of a solar drying system, a cylindrical section and analysis of the performance of the thermal drying system. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 6(2), 343–351. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJAR10.347
  13. Gautz, L. D., Smith, V. E., & Bittenbender, H. C. (2008). Measuring Coffee Bean Moisture Content. Cooperative Extension Service, June, 2–4
  14. Grain crop drying , handling and storage. FAO.2011, Chapter 16
  15. Handoyo, E. A., Ichsani, D., Prabowo, & Sutardi. (2016). Numerical studies on the effect of delta-shaped obstacles’ spacing on the heat transfer and pressure drop in v-corrugated channel of solar air heater. Solar Energy, 131, 47–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2016.02.031
  16. Khatibi, A., Razi Astaraei, F., & Ahmadi, M. H. (2019). Generation and combination of the solar cells: A current model review. Energy Science and Engineering, 7(2), 305–322. https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.292
  17. Koua, K. B., Fassinou, W. F., Gbaha, P., & Toure, S. (2009). Mathematical modelling of the thin layer solar drying of banana, mango and cassava. Energy, 34(10), 1594–1602. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2009.07.005
  18. Kuhe, A., Ibrahim, J. S., Tuleun, L. T., & Akanji, S. A. (2019). Effect of air mass flow rate on the performance of a mixed-mode active solar crop dryer with a transpired air heater. International Journal of Ambient Energy, 0750. https://doi.org/10.1080/01430750.2019.1653970
  19. Kumar, R., Kumar, A., Chauhan, R., & Maithani, R. (2018). Comparative study of effect of various blockage arrangements on thermal hydraulic performance in a roughened air passage. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 81(August 2017), 447–463. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.08.023
  20. Manjunath, M. S., Karanth, K. V., & Sharma, N. Y. (2018). Numerical investigation on heat transfer enhancement of solar air heater using sinusoidal corrugations on absorber plate. International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 138–139, 219–228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2018.01.037
  21. Musebe, R., Agwanda, C., & Mekonen, M. (2014). Primary coffee processing in Ethiopia : patterns , constrains and determinants Primary coffee processing in Ethiopia : patterns , constraints and determinants. January 2007
  22. Olia, H., Torabi, M., Bahiraei, M., Ahmadi, M. H., Goodarzi, M., & Safaei, M. R. (2019). Application of nanofluids in thermal performance enhancement of parabolic trough solar collector: State-of-the-art. Applied Sciences (Switzerland), 9(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/app9030463
  23. Pakhare, V. V, & Salve, S. P. (2011). Design and Development of Solar Dryer Cabinet with Thermal Energy Storage for Drying Chilies. International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology, 5(5), 358–362. https://doi.org/10.14741/ijcet/22774106/spl.5.6.2016.67
  24. Priyam, A., & Chand, P. (2016). Thermal and thermohydraulic performance of wavy finned absorber solar air heater. Solar Energy, 130, 250–259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2016.02.030
  25. Ramani, B. M., Gupta, A., & Kumar, R. (2010). Performance of a double pass solar air collector. Solar Energy, 84(11), 1929–1937. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2010.07.007
  26. Sadeghzadeh, M., Ahmadi, M. H., Kahani, M., Sakhaeinia, H., Chaji, H., & Chen, L. (2019). Smart modeling by using artificial intelligent techniques on thermal performance of flat-plate solar collector using nanofluid. Energy Science and Engineering, 7(5), 1649–1658. https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.381
  27. Şevik, S. (2013). Design, experimental investigation and analysis of a solar drying system. Energy Conversion and Management, 68, 227–234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2013.01.013
  28. Shukla, A. P., Kushwaha, R., Gupta, B., & Bisen, A. (2018). Performance Analysis of Solar Air Heater using CFD Simulation. International Journal of Thermal Technologies, 8(01), 1771–1776. https://doi.org/10.14741/ijtt/v.8.1.2
  29. Tesema, S. (2014). Resource Assessment and Optimization Study of Efficient Type Hybrid Power System for Electrification of Rural District in Ethiopia. International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering, 3(6), 331. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20140306.16
  30. Tibebu, T. B., & Nkrumah, K. (2015). DESIGN , CONSTRUCTION AND EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE OF SOLAR DRYER FOR DRYING FRUIT. September
  31. Tyagi, V. V., Panwar, N. L., Rahim, N. A., & Kothari, R. (2012). Review on solar air heating system with and without thermal energy storage system. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 16(4), 2289–2303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.12.005
  32. Yousef, B. A. A., & Adam, N. M. (2017). Performance analysis for flat plate collector with and without porous media. Journal of Energy in Southern Africa, 19(4), 32–42. https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3051/2008/v19i4a3336
  33. Zulkifle, I., Alwaeli, A. H. A., Ruslan, M. H., Ibarahim, Z., Othman, M. Y. H., & Sopian, K. (2018). Numerical investigation of V-groove air-collector performance with changing cover in Bangi, Malaysia. Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, 12(July), 587–599. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2018.07.012

Last update: 2021-02-26 17:04:51

No citation recorded.

Last update: 2021-02-26 17:04:52

No citation recorded.
Copyright (c) 2020 The Authors. Published by Centre of Biomass and Renewable Energy (CBIORE)
License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. Articles are freely available to both subscribers and the wider public with permitted reuse.

All articles published Open Access will be immediately and permanently free for everyone to read and download. We are continuously working with our author communities to select the best choice of license options: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA). Authors and readers can copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format, as well as remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially, but they must give appropriate credit (cite to the article or content), provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original.