Thermal Performance Enhancement of Solar Air Heater

The study investigates how enhancing heat transfer and thermal performance can be achieved by adding artificial roughness components to a solar air heater's (SAH) absorber panel. These roughness components create turbulence, which accelerates convective heat transfer. Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) research, the study models heat transmission and airflow inside the SAH, looking at factors like Nusselt number, friction factor, and thermal efficiency. The results demonstrate that artificial roughness significantly enhances the SAH's thermal performance as compared to a smooth duct, boosting its applicability for solar energy applications.