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Study of gas radiation effect on the performance of single-pass solar heaters with an air gap

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  • Hosseinkhani, A.
  • Gandjalikhan Nassab, S.A.

Abstract

This paper investigates the performance of solar gas heaters that utilize an air gap between the glass cover and the absorber, along with radiating gas. By using a participating fluid as the working gas, thermal radiation can be absorbed, emitted, and scattered, enhancing the heat transfer between the absorber and the flowing gas. Free convection airflow inside the air gap adds to the forced convection airflow through the solar collector's duct. The study utilizes the κ-ε model and the discrete ordinate method for radiative intensity computation to analyze the flow and energy equations. Numerical results indicate a significant increase in thermal efficiency, particularly at lower gas mass flow rates, when employing radiating gases with high radiative absorption coefficients. The research shows about 40% improvement in thermal efficiency is obtained in test cases at a gas mass flow rate of 0.01 kg/s. A gas flow optical thickness of τ = 2 is found to be optimal among the investigated parameters. In addition, this paper demonstrates high efficiency of up to 70% for plane solar collectors without the need for configuration changes by using working gases with high radiative properties, such as pressurized CO2.

Suggested Citation

  • Hosseinkhani, A. & Gandjalikhan Nassab, S.A., 2024. "Study of gas radiation effect on the performance of single-pass solar heaters with an air gap," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 294(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:294:y:2024:i:c:s0360544224006959
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.130923
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dong, Zhimin & Du, Qinglin & Liu, Peng & Liu, Zhichun & Liu, Wei, 2023. "A numerical investigation and irreversibility optimization of constantly grooved solar air heaters," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C), pages 629-646.
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    5. Abhishek Kumar Goel & S. N. Singh, 2020. "Experimental study of heat transfer characteristics of an impinging jet solar air heater with fins," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 3641-3653, April.
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    1. Prasad, Jay Shankar & Datta, Aparesh & Dewan, Anupam & Mondal, Sirshendu, 2024. "Solar air heater roughened with chamfered grooves: Thermal enhancement and entropy minimization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    2. Abedi, Alireza & Abbasian Arani, Ali Akbar, 2025. "Effect of relative roughness pitch on heat transfer and flow characteristics in a solar air heater with inversed semi-circular ribs," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 330(C).

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