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Performance Enhancement of a Solar Air Heater Equipped with a Tree-like Fractal Cylindrical Pin for Drying Applications: Tests Under Real Climatic Conditions

Author

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  • Chotiwut Prasopsuk

    (Thermal and Fluid Laboratory (TFL), Department of Teacher Training in Mechanical Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, 1518 Phacharat 1 Rd., Bang Sue, Bangkok 10800, Thailand)

  • Kittiwoot Sutthivirode

    (Thermal and Fluid Laboratory (TFL), Department of Teacher Training in Mechanical Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, 1518 Phacharat 1 Rd., Bang Sue, Bangkok 10800, Thailand)

  • Tongchana Thongtip

    (Thermal and Fluid Laboratory (TFL), Department of Teacher Training in Mechanical Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, 1518 Phacharat 1 Rd., Bang Sue, Bangkok 10800, Thailand)

Abstract

This paper reports the improved thermal and drying performance of a solar air heater powered by real solar irradiance and equipped with a tree-like fractal-based cylindrical pin (SAH-TFCP) as a turbulator for drying applications. The main purpose of this work is to demonstrate the SAH-TFCP’s improvement potential based on its thermal and drying performance as compared with a conventional solar air heater based on a flat-plate absorber (SAH-FP). The test was implemented based on solar time from 8:30 to 17:30 under Thailand’s climatic conditions at a latitude angle of 14° and a longitude angle of 100°. Turmeric slices were used to evaluate the SAH’s drying performance. The thermal efficiency, moisture content wet basis (MC wb ), drying rate (DR), and drying efficiency were measured as parameters of interest to assess the improvement potential of the SAH-TFCP over the SAH-FP. The results indicate that the SAH-TFCP provides better thermal and drying performance than the SAH-FP. A higher flow rate yields a higher thermal efficiency and a greater improvement potential. The improvement potential is around 44–85%. The drying efficiency of the SAH-TFCP is always higher than that of the SAH-FP and has an improvement potential of 32–44%, depending on the airflow rate.

Suggested Citation

  • Chotiwut Prasopsuk & Kittiwoot Sutthivirode & Tongchana Thongtip, 2025. "Performance Enhancement of a Solar Air Heater Equipped with a Tree-like Fractal Cylindrical Pin for Drying Applications: Tests Under Real Climatic Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-25, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:9:p:2230-:d:1644248
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