Numerical simulation of flat plate solar air heater with optimal absorber effect and double glazed glass

علوم کاربردی و محاسباتی در مکانیک

Article 6, Volume 37, Issue 2 - Serial Number 40, June 2025, Pages 91-110   

Document Type: Original Article

DOI: 10.22067/jacsm.2024.89384.1278

Authors

Ali Zanganeh Inalo¹; mohammad sefid^{* 2}; mohammad saleh barghi jahromi²

¹Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran

²Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran.

Abstract

Due to the low efficiency of these air heaters, methods such as the use of expanded surfaces on the absorber, the use of thicker glass, the use of porous media, and geometric changes on the absorber plate (waving the absorber plate with different patterns) can be used. In this numerical research, an attempt is made to investigate the geometrical changes created on the solar air heater with the computational fluid dynamics method compare the result with the conducted research, and select the optimal mode. By adding several baffles to the air heater, the output temperature and as a result the overall efficiency of the air heater increased. The optimization of changing the air gap (thickness) and single and double-pane glass was investigated. The results show that the most optimal thickness for the flat plate solar air heater is about 15 to 18 cm thick and the efficiency in the case of double glazed glass is many times higher than that of single glazed glass.

Keywords

Solar Energy; Flat Plate Solar Air Heater; Thermal Efficiency; Optimal Absorber Plate; Double Glass

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