Effect of Fraction of Mass Flow Rate on Collector’s Efficiency on Double Flow Solar Air Heater with Longitudinal Fins

Sanjay Choudhary, Lakshya Raj Singh, Shivam Kumar, Ritik Chetani, Nishit Kumawat

Solar Air Heater, Fins, Mass flow rate, solar intensity

The performance of double-flow types solar air heaters with longitudinal fins attached in which air is flowing simultaneously over and under the absorbing plate, is more effective than that of the devices with only one flow channel over or under the absorbing plate because the heat-transfer area in double-flow systems is double. The effect of the fraction of mass flow rate in the upper or lower flow channel of a double-flow device on collector efficiencies, has also been investigated theoretically. Considerable improvement in collector performance is obtained by employing a double-flow type solar air heater, instead of using a single flow device, if the mass flow rates in both flow channels are kept the same.