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Thermal and Thermo-Hydraulic Performance of a Semi-Circular Solar Air Collector Utilizing an Innovative Configuration of Metal Foams

Author

Listed:
  • Basim A. R. Al-Bakri

    (Department of Aeronautical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Baghdad, Al-Jadriya Campus, Baghdad 10071, Iraq)

  • Ali M. Rasham

    (Department of Energy Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Baghdad, Al-Jadriya Campus, Baghdad 10071, Iraq)

  • Ali O. Al-Sulttani

    (Department of Water Resources Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Baghdad, Al-Jadriya Campus, Baghdad 10071, Iraq)

Abstract

The enhancement of the thermal and thermo-hydraulic performance of a semi-circular solar air collector (SCSAC) is numerically investigated using porous semi-circular obstacles made of metal foam with and without longitudinal porous Y-shaped fins. Two 10 and 40 PPI porous material samples are examined. Three-dimensional models are built to simulate the performance of SCSAC: model (I) with clear air passage; model (II) with only metal foam obstacles, and model (III) with metal foam obstacles as well as porous Y-fins. COMSOL Multiphysics software version 6.2 based on finite element methodology is employed. A conjugate heat transfer with a (k-ε) turbulence model is selected to simulate both heat transfer and fluid flow across the entire computational domain. However, only the local thermal non-equilibrium (LTNE) model of heat transfer is applied in the porous regions. The findings demonstrated that adding metal foam as the novel proposed configuration particularity of model (III) may enhance the thermal efficiency by about 30%, and the outlet air temperature may rise to 7% compared to other models. Also, the performance evaluation factor of this model is greater than one in all cases. Additionally, the thermal enhancement is accomplished by occupying only 5% of the air passage volume, thereby including an associated pressure drop of minimal magnitude.

Suggested Citation

  • Basim A. R. Al-Bakri & Ali M. Rasham & Ali O. Al-Sulttani, 2025. "Thermal and Thermo-Hydraulic Performance of a Semi-Circular Solar Air Collector Utilizing an Innovative Configuration of Metal Foams," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-35, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:10:p:2501-:d:1654412
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ali O. Al-Sulttani & Amimul Ahsan & Basim A. R. Al-Bakri & Mahir Mahmod Hason & Nik Norsyahariati Nik Daud & S. Idrus & Omer A. Alawi & Elżbieta Macioszek & Zaher Mundher Yaseen, 2022. "Double-Slope Solar Still Productivity Based on the Number of Rubber Scraper Motions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-34, October.
    2. Priyam, Abhishek & Chand, Prabha, 2018. "Effect of wavelength and amplitude on the performance of wavy finned absorber solar air heater," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 690-702.
    3. Singh, Satyender, 2020. "Experimental and numerical investigations of a single and double pass porous serpentine wavy wiremesh packed bed solar air heater," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 1361-1387.
    4. Liu, Zemin & Gao, Xinyu & Huang, Xinyu & Xie, Yuan & Gao, Jiayi & Yang, Xiaohu & He, Qiusheng, 2025. "Evaluation on solar-biogas heating system for buildings: Thermal characteristics and role of heat storage sectors," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 390(C).
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