International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976 –

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL

6340(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6359(Online) Volume 3, Issue 1, January- April (2012), © IAEME
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (IJMET)
ISSN 0976 – 6340 (Print)
ISSN 0976 – 6359 (Online)
Volume 3, Issue 1, January- April (2012), pp. 90-99
IJMET
© IAEME: www.iaeme.com/ijmet.html
Journal Impact Factor (2011) - 1.2083 (Calculated by GISI) ©IAEME
www.jifactor.com

PARAMETRIC STUDY ON THE THERMAL PERFORMANCE

OF THE SOLAR AIR HEATER WITH ENERGY STORAGE
1 2
Yogesh C. Dhote , Dr. S.B. Thombre
1
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Hindustan College of Science & Technology, Farah, Mathura - 281 122 (U.P.) India
Email: yogidhote@gmail.com
2
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur – 440 011 (M.S.) India,

ABSTRACT
Under investigation solar air heater is tested analytically under this exercise using
prepared mathematical model using simulation tool as MATLAB 7 for the available
solar radiation data on a particular day of the year. The computations are carried out
using available solar radiation data for the month of March at Nagpur (21o06’ N,
79o03’ E). The purpose of this parametric study is to analyze the performance of the
under investigation solar air heater having thermal storage with the help of calculated
data and corresponding graphs. More appropriate heat transfer correlations suggested
by the different investigators are used for the calculations of heat transfer coefficients
at different surfaces. With standard and very less assumptions made while
calculations, it is expected that the mathematical model developed is reliable and
provides more accurate results.
Keywords: Solar Air heater, Heat transfer coefficient, Thermal reservoir, Useful heat gain

1. INTRODUCTION
Drying is one of the most practical methods of preserving the quality of
agricultural products [2]. Direct sun drying has been practiced since ancient times.
However, it is not hygienic for some products which are easily contaminated in the
open air [4]. In addition it depends upon weather conditions because there is no
shelter to protect the product in the event of rain. As a result, new drying methods
with conventional heat sources have been widely developed and used in order to solve
these problems. Because of the energy crisis and intensive energy consumption in the
drying process, solar drying has been studied widely in many countries in order to
reduce cost and substitute conventional energy.
One of the possible areas of immediate intervention in developing countries
like India appears to be the solar drying of cash crops such as tobacco, tea, coffee,

90
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976 –
6340(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6359(Online) Volume 3, Issue 1, January- April (2012), © IAEME
grapes raisin, chili, coriander seeds, ginger, turmeric, black pepper, onion flakes and
garlic flakes, timber etc. where solar energy is available in most of the region
throughout the year. A solar air heater also finds applications in air-conditioning for
space heating purpose. Though lot of research is taken place in storage type of solar
air heater mostly the research took place with latent heat storage. Still there is scope
for thorough analysis of solar air heater with liquid sensible heat storage medium.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED SOLAR AIR HEATER

A schematic diagram of the proposed double flow solar air heater with thermal
energy storage is as shown in Fig.1. The solar radiation is transmitted from the glass
covers and is absorbed by the absorber plate and below, the storage material, where it
is heated. Double flow operation of the collector may lead to the further improvement
of the efficiency. The different parameters are assigned the values as given in Table 1.

.
Fig.1 Under-Investigation Double Flow Solar Air Heater with Thermal Storage

Table 1 Parameters used for analysis

Length of the collector 2m
Width of the collector 1m
Side insulation thickness 0.05 m
Back insulation thickness 0.05 m
Absorber plate thickness 0.001m
Glass cover thickness 0.004 m
Collector tilt 36 o

3. COMPUTATIONAL MODEL
As mid of month March is the harvesting period at area surrounding nearby
Nagpur as well as for similar climatic conditions at different part of the state; solar
radiation data at Nagpur for the month of March is used for calculation purpose.
Simple energy balance equations written for proposed arrangement of solar air heater
are being used to get various simultaneous equations in terms of different temperature
variables. For simplifying the calculations standard assumptions have been assumed
and a self reliant mathematical model is developed in MATLAB 7. A forced
convection varying air flow rate corresponding to the free wind velocity of air is
assumed through the ducts for this analysis.

91
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976 –
6340(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6359(Online) Volume 3, Issue 1, January- April (2012), © IAEME
4. HEAT TRANSFER CORRELATIONS USED
Most appropriate available correlations devised by various investigators have
been selected for calculations of heat transfer coefficients at different locations of the
proposed system under investigation as given below.
a) Convective heat transfer from various surfaces to the duct air (W. M. Kays):
Nu = 0.0158 x (Re)0.8 ..........
(i)
b) Convective heat transfer from the absorber plate to the liquid sensible heat storage
medium (Buchberg et.al equation):
..........
Nu = 1, for Raδcosβ < 1708 (ii)
= 1 + 1.446{1 – 1708/(Raδcosβ)}, for 1708 < Raδcosβ <5900
..........
(iii)
= 0.229 x (Raδcosβ)0.252, for 5900 < Raδcosβ < 9.23 x 104 ......... (iv)
= 0.157 x (Raδcosβ)0.285 for 9.23 x 104 < Raδcosβ < 106 .........
(v)
c) Convective heat transfer from the glass cover surface to the ambient air (Sparrow):
hc = j.ρ.cp.v∞.Pr-2/3 .........
(vi)
d) Radiative heat transfer from one surface to another surface (Duffie and Beckman):
hr = σεeff(T12 + T22) (T1 + T2) .........
(vii)
e) Bottom Loss Coefficient:
.........
Ub = ki/δbi (viii)

5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The proposed solar air heater is tested analytically using developed
mathematical model under following conditions.
i) Different mass of storage material (Unused Engine Oil)
ii) Different plate spacing
For the given set of parameters the outcome results of the analysis are presented as
below followed by the graphs where the variation of different properties can be seen.
a) Maximum temperature difference throughout the day for Stream-1 (∆Tf1) =
25.50 oC at δpc = δsb = 0.01 m and moil = 88.25 kg, while maximum rise in
temperature of the inlet ambient air is found to be 12.4209 oC, again at δpc =
δsb = 0.01 m and moil = 88.25 kg.
b) Maximum temperature difference throughout the day for Stream-2 (∆Tf2) =
14.17 oC at moil = 88.25 kg and remains constant for all assumed plate
spacing while maximum rise in temperature of the inlet ambient air is found to
be 0.0977 oC at δpc = δsb = 0.01 m and moil = 88.25 kg,
c) Maximum rise in storage oil temperature (∆Ts) = 14.17 oC for the plate
spacing of 0.01 m and almost same values are obtained for different oil masses
at the same spacing.
d) Maximum average instantaneous collection efficiency of 67.58% is observed
corresponding to the maximum average useful heat gain of 787.76 W for plate
spacing δpc = δsb = 0.05 m and storage oil mass of 88.24 kg. It has been noticed
that maximum values of (qu)av and (ηi)av are observed at this condition due to
higher mass flow rate of air through the duct. In fact the rise in temperature of
air is considerable less than the cases of lower plate spacing.
e) It is clearly observed that for less spacing between the plates there will be
more rise in outlet temperature of Stream-1 (Tf1).

92
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976 –
6340(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6359(Online) Volume 3, Issue 1, January- April (2012), © IAEME
f) In this double flow arrangement, though oil temperature initially increases
gradually it seems that this temperature is always adjacent to the ambient
temperature during the sunshine hours.
As compared to the outlet temperature of Stream-1 (Tf1) there is negligible or
no increment in outlet temperature of Stream-2 (Tf2) takes place during day time,
hence it is concluded that there is no need of Air-Stream-2.

93
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976 –
6340(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6359(Online) Volume 3, Issue 1, January- April (2012), © IAEME

94
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976 –
6340(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6359(Online) Volume 3, Issue 1, January- April (2012), © IAEME

95
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976 –
6340(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6359(Online) Volume 3, Issue 1, January- April (2012), © IAEME

96
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976 –
6340(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6359(Online) Volume 3, Issue 1, January- April (2012), © IAEME

Further results obtained by varying parameters are tabulated as shown in Table 2 .

Table 2 Consolidate performance of under investigation storage type solar air heater
Average Useful Heat gain / moil (kg)
δpc = δsb (m) Average Collection
Efficiency 22.06 44.12 88.25
qu(av) (W) 578.45 610.33 633.26
0.01
ηi(av) (%) 49.42 52.10 54.05
qu(av) (W) 685.07 716.48 740.32
0.02
ηi(av) (%) 58.57 61.30 63.34
qu(av) (W) 732.30 763.83 787.76
0.05
ηi(av) (%) 62.77 65.52 67.58

Table 3 Maximum temperatures obtained

Plate Oil mass moil (kg)
Temperatures spacing
δpc = δsb (m) 22.06 44.12 88.24
0.01 317.60 318.20 318.61
Tf1 (K) 0.02 313.20 313.50 313.70
0.05 309.90 310.00 310.10
0.01 307.60 307.60 307.60
Tf2 (K) 0.02 307.63 307.63 307.63
0.05 307.70 307.70 307.70
0.01 307.50 307.50 307.50
Toil (K) 0.02 307.51 307.51 307.51
0.05 307.52 307.52 307.72

6. CONCLUSION
As per the results obtained for the mathematical model it has been concluded
that in under investigation storage type solar air heater with double flow arrangement,
though oil temperature gradually increases it always remains adjacent to the ambient
temperature. Further there is no or negligible increment in the temperature (Tf2) of air
passing through Stream-2 and hence it is concluded that there is no need of Air-
Stream-2. Higher values of outlet temperature (Tf1) of air passing through Stream-1

97
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976 –
6340(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6359(Online) Volume 3, Issue 1, January- April (2012), © IAEME
are observed for smaller plate-cover spacing and for larger mass of heat storage
medium (oil). Average useful heat gain and corresponding average instantaneous
collection efficiency also increases with increased plate spacing and larger mass of
storage medium (oil) although it has been observed that with increased plate spacing
there is further decrement in the temperature Tf1.

7. SCOPE FOR FUTURE WORK

The analysis shows that with the use of sensible heat storage medium, the
efficiency of the air heater increases. In fact, it will be more realistic to calculate the
overall efficiency for the period of operation in place of instantaneous collection
efficiency due to the presence of thermal energy storage element. The analysis can be
extended to optimize the size of the storage mass for maximum nocturnal heat gain.

NOMENCLATURE
c specific heat, J/kg-K σ Stefan-Boltzmann const, W/m2-K4
h heat transfer coefficient, W/m2-K; Subscripts:
j j-factor a air
m mass flow rate, kg/s b back
Nu Nusselt number c convective
Pr Prandtl number f fluid (air) stream
Ra Rayleigh number i insulation
Re Reynolds number m mean fluid
T temperature, K g glass cover
U loss coefficient, W/m2-K i instantaneous, initial
V velocity, m/s l loss
Greek Letters: p absorber plate, constant pressure
β collector tilt angle (Slope), degrees r radiative
δ thickness, spacing, m s storage medium (oil)
ε emissivity ∞ free stream
η efficiency 1 stream-1, surface-1
ρ density, kg/m3 2 stream-2, surface-2

REFERENCES

[1] Enibe, S.O., 2003, Thermal analysis of a natural circulation solar air heater
with phase change material energy storage, Renewable Energy, Vol. 28, Issue
14, pp. 2269-2299.
[2] Hassan, Fath, E.S., 1995, Thermal performance of a simple design solar air
heater with built-in thermal energy storage system, Renewable Energy, Vol. 6,
Issue 8, pp. 1033-1039.
[3] Hassan, Fath, E.S., 1995, Transient analysis of thermosyphon solar air heater
with built-in latent heat thermal energy storage system, Renewable
Energy, Vol. 6, Issue 2, pp. 119-124.
[4] Soponronnarit, S., 1995, Solar Drying in Thailand, Energy for Sustainable
Development, Vol. 2, Issue 2, pp. 19-25.

98
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976 –
6340(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6359(Online) Volume 3, Issue 1, January- April (2012), © IAEME
[5] Sukhatme, S.P., 2005. Solar Energy Principles of Thermal Collection and
Storage, book published by Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Limited,
New Delhi, pp. 266-268.
[6] Guyer, Eric C., Hand Book of Applied Thermal Design, book published by
Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Limited, New York, pp.1.31-1.47.
[7] Mani, A., 1980. Hand Book of Solar Radiation Data for India, Allied
Publishers Private Limited, New Delhi, pp. 1-88.
[8] Thombre, S.B., 2000. A Data Book on Thermal Engineering, Green Brains
Publications, Nagpur, pp. 5-93.
[9] William, J., Palm III., 2008. Introduction to MATLAB ® 7.4, Tata McGraw-
Hill Publishing Company Limited, New Delhi, pp. 1-135.
[10] Ozisik, Necati,M., 1988. Heat Transfer, Tata McGraw-Hill, International
Edition, pp. 403-407.
[11] Holman, J.P., 2008. Heat Transfer, Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company
Limited, New Delhi, pp. 340-344.
[12] Mills, A.F., 1992. Heat Transfer, Irwin Homewood Boston, pp. 301-308.

99