Experimental Investigation on Performance Comparison between Flat Plate and Matrix of Tubes Solar Air Heater

Abstract

This study is a comparative study of two solar Air Heaters (SAH) having different absorber plates: the Flat Plate Solar Air Heater (FPSAH) with a flat metal plate and the Matrix Tube Solar Air Heater (MTSAH) using novel design of longitudinal circular metal tubes. The objective is to study the possible enhancement in the thermal performance of the newly designed SAH compared to the traditional one. The results clearly confirmed the priority of MTSAH over FPSAH in different properties. Compared to the FPSAH, the MTSAH showed high thermal efficiency, output power, and outlet air temperature, with decreased in heat loss. Moreover, the temperature difference between the outlet and inlet air temperatures achieved a remarkable value of 46.5°C at an inlet air mass flow rate of 0.03 kg/s for MTSAH configuration. Furthermore, the average daily efficiency of the MTSAH stands at approximately 72.55%, 85.77%, and 92.18% for air mass flow rates of 0.03, 0.05, and 0.071 kg/s, respectively. These values represent substantial enhancements of 42.25%, 50.04%, and 52.33%, respectively, compared to the FPSAH. These findings suggest new possibilities for efficient SAH designs, impacting renewable energy and sustainable heating systems. They contribute to better energy utilization from solar thermal sources, promoting sustainability.