Track: Energy

Abstract

Comparative experimental performance evaluation of longitudinal and transverse four-pass soda can solar air heater has been studied. The aluminum soda can was used as the absorber plate of the solar air heater. Two design configurations, transverse and longitudinal arrangements, of the solar air heater’s absorber plate were studied. The tests were carried out at different tilt angles of 0^o, 7^o, 14^o, 21^o and 28^o between May and June 2019 and readings were taken on daily basis from 8:00 hrs. to 17:00 hrs. The outlet velocity, inlet and outlet temperature of each arrangement were measured. Parametric plots were made with the measured parameters and the efficiencies were computed and compared. Even at a low insolation value, the transverse arrangement recorded a 10% more useful energy gain and 15% higher cumulative efficiency than the longitudinal arrangement. Temperatures of about 105.4^oC and 103.1^oC at a mass flowrate of 0.019 kg/s, suitable for industrial and agricultural applications, were recorded for the transverse and the longitudinal arrangement, respectively.Comparative experimental performance evaluation of longitudinal and transverse four-pass soda can solar air heater has been studied. The aluminum soda can was used as the absorber plate of the solar air heater. Two design configurations, transverse and longitudinal arrangements, of the solar air heater’s absorber plate were studied. The tests were carried out at different tilt angles of 0^o, 7^o, 14^o, 21^o and 28^o between May and June 2019 and readings were taken on daily basis from 8:00 hrs. to 17:00 hrs. The outlet velocity, inlet and outlet temperature of each arrangement were measured. Parametric plots were made with the measured parameters and the efficiencies were computed and compared. Even at a low insolation value, the transverse arrangement recorded a 10% more useful energy gain and 15% higher cumulative efficiency than the longitudinal arrangement. Temperatures of about 105.4^oC and 103.1^oC at a mass flowrate of 0.019 kg/s, suitable for industrial and agricultural applications, were recorded for the transverse and the longitudinal arrangement, respectively.