COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THERMAL PERFORMANCE OF A SOLAR AIR HEATER WITH FLUID FLOW ABSORBER PLATE

Abstract

Solar thermal energy is an abundant and freely available resource, presenting substantial potential for sustainable energy solutions.Solar air heaters (SAHs) are commonly used in applications such as space heating and drying. However, their efficiency is often limited by poor heat transfer between the absorber plate and the air. This study investigates the thermal performance of a solar air heater equipped with a zigzag-shaped absorber plate. The performance is analyzed by comparing two fluid flow channels: one above and one below the absorber plate. The results indicate that fluid flowing above the zigzag absorber plate achieved a higher temperature difference (30–55°C), outperforming fluid flow below the plate by approximately 5–15%. The findings highlight the benefits of modifying absorber plate geometry to improve heat transfer and enhance overall system efficiency, offering a promising solution for optimizing solar air heater performance.