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Solar air heaters: Design configurations, improvement methods and applications – A detailed review

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  • Kabeel, A.E.
  • Hamed, Mofreh H.
  • Omara, Z.M.
  • Kandeal, A.W.

Abstract

This article aims to present a review of the literature dealing with improvement methods, design configurations and applications of different types of solar air heaters (SAHs). Different investigations have been made on SAHs either experimental or theoretical in order to improve their performance. Different modifications on absorber plate have been made. One of the important improving theories is using fins to increase the heat transfer area. Various types of fins achieved enhancement in the performance such as longitudinal fins, corrugated fins and fins attached with baffles. The recycling process also enhanced the performance of SAHs. Also it is found that to improve both the heat transfer and thermo-hydraulic performance of SAH, artificially roughened absorbers are used. Using artificial roughness, the results showed good enhancement of both Nusselt number and friction coefficient for a wide range of Reynolds number. Also in the view of using heat storage materials, especially phase change materials (PCMs), various types of packing bed and selective coated absorbers give good improvement of the efficiency of SAHs. As a result of these improvements, SAHs became more popular in more applications, with a good reduction in fuel consumption and costs of installation and operation.

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  • Kabeel, A.E. & Hamed, Mofreh H. & Omara, Z.M. & Kandeal, A.W., 2017. "Solar air heaters: Design configurations, improvement methods and applications – A detailed review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 1189-1206.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:70:y:2017:i:c:p:1189-1206
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2016.12.021
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    7. Nemś, Magdalena & Kasperski, Jacek & Nemś, Artur & Bać, Anna, 2018. "Validation of a new concept of a solar air heating system with a long-term granite storage bed for a single-family house," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C), pages 384-395.
    8. Visarion Cătălin Ifrim & Laurențiu Dan Milici & Pavel Atănăsoae & Daniela Irimia & Radu Dumitru Pentiuc, 2022. "Future Research Tendencies and Possibilities of Using Cogeneration Applications of Solar Air Heaters: A Bibliometric Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-24, September.
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    10. Madadi Avargani, Vahid & Zendehboudi, Sohrab & Zamani, Mohammad Amin, 2023. "Performance evaluation of various nano heat transfer fluids in charging/discharging processes of an indirect solar air heating system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).
    11. Reddy, Soma Sekhar & Soni, Vikram & Kumar, Arvind, 2019. "Diurnal thermal performance characterization of a solar air heater at local and global scales integrated with thermal battery," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 144-157.
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    13. Charvát, Pavel & Klimeš, Lubomír & Pech, Ondřej & Hejčík, Jiří, 2019. "Solar air collector with the solar absorber plate containing a PCM – Environmental chamber experiments and computer simulations," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 731-740.
    14. Dimitrios Fidaros & Catherine Baxevanou & Michalina Markousi & Aris Tsangrassoulis, 2022. "Assessment of Various Trombe Wall Geometries with CFD Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-24, April.
    15. Benhamza, Abderrahmane & Boubekri, Abdelghani & Atia, Abdelmalek & El Ferouali, Hicham & Hadibi, Tarik & Arıcı, Müslüm & Abdenouri, Naji, 2021. "Multi-objective design optimization of solar air heater for food drying based on energy, exergy and improvement potential," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 1190-1209.
    16. Saini, Raj Kumar & Saini, Devender Kumar & Gupta, Rajeev & Verma, Piush & Thakur, Robin & Kumar, Sushil & wassouf, Ali, 2023. "Technological development in solar dryers from 2016 to 2021-A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    17. António Araújo, 2020. "Thermo-Hydraulic Performance of Solar Air Collectors with Artificially Roughened Absorbers: A Comparative Review of Semi-Empirical Models," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-33, July.

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