IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/endesu/v27y2025i5d10.1007_s10668-023-04402-7.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A comprehensive review on the effect of turbulence promoters on heat transfer augmentation of solar air heater and the evaluation of thermo-hydraulic performance using metaheuristic optimization algorithms

Author

Listed:
  • G. K. Pramod

    (Manipal Academy of Higher Education)

  • U. C. Arunachala

    (Manipal Academy of Higher Education)

  • N. Madhwesh

    (Manipal Academy of Higher Education)

  • M. S. Manjunath

    (Manipal Institute of Technology Bengaluru, Manipal Academy of Higher Education)

Abstract

Solar air heaters are characterized by poor thermal performance due to limited heat transfer capability of air, thereby necessitating the need for design modifications. Among a different system performance augmentation technique, turbulence promotors are widely used owing to its effectiveness. Based on design parameters such as geometry, size, pitch and arrangement of turbulence promoters, varying levels of heat transfer increment with the pressure drop penalty is achievable. This led to the development of new designs which could offer on optimum thermo-hydraulic performance for a wide range of Reynolds number. Such research invariably requires a thorough insight of data related to various design parameters and optimal thermal–hydraulic performance range. This article provides a detailed overview of various turbulence promotor designs and their optimal thermal–hydraulic performance ranges compiled from a wide spectrum of experimental and numerical studies. Apart from outlining the general flow characteristics of each turbulator design, this study also evaluates different metaheuristic optimization algorithm such as bonobo optimization (BO), particle swarm optimization and teaching–learning-based optimization algorithm for enhancing the thermal–hydraulic performance parameter (THPP). The study shows that the BO algorithm does not exhibit local trapping due to its self-adapting nature of the optimized parameters which makes it a promising choice for THPP optimization studies in air heater applications. The extensive review also shows that the arrangement pattern of rib turbulator plays a key role in thermo-hydraulic performance augmentation. Based on the BO optimization analysis, the range of THPP is determined for the optimized geometry of turbulence promoters. In the pool of rib design, transverse prism rib, multi-V-rib, multi-V-shaped rib with staggered rib, sinewave-shaped rib with gap and S-shaped ribs exhibits an optimal THPP range of 2.05–3.32, 2.43–2.94, 3.00–3.61, 1.58–3.40 and 2.05–3.74, respectively. Other turbulence promotor designs such as winglet vortex generator, dimple protrusion in arc shape and multi-V-baffles exhibits optimal THPP range of 1.95–2.2, 2.44–3.68 and 1.75–2.01, respectively. At the end, the study proposes key research gaps such as the use of combined ribs and vortex generators and discrete fin arrays of different geometry as future scope of research. Graphical abstract

Suggested Citation

  • G. K. Pramod & U. C. Arunachala & N. Madhwesh & M. S. Manjunath, 2025. "A comprehensive review on the effect of turbulence promoters on heat transfer augmentation of solar air heater and the evaluation of thermo-hydraulic performance using metaheuristic optimization algor," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(5), pages 9873-9922, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:27:y:2025:i:5:d:10.1007_s10668-023-04402-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-023-04402-7
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10668-023-04402-7
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10668-023-04402-7?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Thakur, Deep Singh & Khan, Mohd. Kaleem & Pathak, Manabendra, 2017. "Performance evaluation of solar air heater with novel hyperbolic rib geometry," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 786-797.
    2. Qader, Bootan S. & Supeni, E.E. & Ariffin, M.K.A. & Talib, A.R. Abu, 2019. "RSM approach for modeling and optimization of designing parameters for inclined fins of solar air heater," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 48-68.
    3. Jin, Dongxu & Quan, Shenglin & Zuo, Jianguo & Xu, Shiming, 2019. "Numerical investigation of heat transfer enhancement in a solar air heater roughened by multiple V-shaped ribs," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 78-88.
    4. Dezan, Daniel J. & Rocha, André D. & Ferreira, Wallace G., 2020. "Parametric sensitivity analysis and optimisation of a solar air heater with multiple rows of longitudinal vortex generators," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    5. Kumar, Rajesh & Chand, Prabha, 2017. "Performance enhancement of solar air heater using herringbone corrugated fins," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 271-279.
    6. Rashidi, Saman & Hormozi, Faramarz & Sundén, Bengt & Mahian, Omid, 2019. "Energy saving in thermal energy systems using dimpled surface technology – A review on mechanisms and applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 250(C), pages 1491-1547.
    7. Dong, Zhimin & Liu, Peng & Xiao, Hui & Liu, Zhichun & Liu, Wei, 2021. "A study on heat transfer enhancement for solar air heaters with ripple surface," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 477-487.
    8. Siddhartha, & Sharma, Naveen & Varun,, 2012. "A particle swarm optimization algorithm for optimization of thermal performance of a smooth flat plate solar air heater," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 406-413.
    9. Aharwal, K.R. & Gandhi, B.K. & Saini, J.S., 2008. "Experimental investigation on heat-transfer enhancement due to a gap in an inclined continuous rib arrangement in a rectangular duct of solar air heater," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 585-596.
    10. Manjunath, M.S. & Karanth, K.Vasudeva & Sharma, N.Yagnesh, 2017. "Numerical analysis of the influence of spherical turbulence generators on heat transfer enhancement of flat plate solar air heater," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 616-630.
    11. Bhuvad, Sushant Suresh & Azad, Rajnish & Lanjewar, Atul, 2022. "Thermal performance analysis of apex-up discrete arc ribs solar air heater-an experimental study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C), pages 403-415.
    12. Hwi-Ung Choi & Kwang-Hwan Choi, 2020. "CFD Analysis on the Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow of Solar Air Heater having Transverse Triangular Block at the Bottom of Air Duct," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-19, March.
    13. Lanjewar, Atul & Bhagoria, J.L. & Sarviya, R.M., 2011. "Heat transfer and friction in solar air heater duct with W-shaped rib roughness on absorber plate," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(7), pages 4531-4541.
    14. Kumar, Sharad & Saini, R.P., 2009. "CFD based performance analysis of a solar air heater duct provided with artificial roughness," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(5), pages 1285-1291.
    15. Arunkumar, H.S. & Kumar, Shiva & Karanth, K. Vasudeva, 2020. "Analysis of a solar air heater for augmented thermohydraulic performance using helicoidal spring shaped fins-A numerical study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 297-311.
    16. Singh, Sukhmeet & Singh, Bikramjit & Hans, V.S. & Gill, R.S., 2015. "CFD (computational fluid dynamics) investigation on Nusselt number and friction factor of solar air heater duct roughened with non-uniform cross-section transverse rib," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 509-517.
    17. Thakur, Deep Singh & Khan, Mohd. Kaleem & Pathak, Manabendra, 2017. "Solar air heater with hyperbolic ribs: 3D simulation with experimental validation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 357-368.
    18. Zhao, Zhiqi & Luo, Lei & Qiu, Dandan & Wang, Zhongqi & Sundén, Bengt, 2021. "On the solar air heater thermal enhancement and flow topology using differently shaped ribs combined with delta-winglet vortex generators," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    19. Kumar, Anil & Saini, R.P. & Saini, J.S., 2013. "Development of correlations for Nusselt number and friction factor for solar air heater with roughened duct having multi v-shaped with gap rib as artificial roughness," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 151-163.
    20. Anil Singh Yadav & Tabish Alam & Gaurav Gupta & Rajiv Saxena & Naveen Kumar Gupta & K. Viswanath Allamraju & Rahul Kumar & Neeraj Sharma & Abhishek Sharma & Utkarsh Pandey & Yogesh Agrawal, 2022. "A Numerical Investigation of an Artificially Roughened Solar Air Heater," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-27, October.
    21. Singh, Sukhmeet & Chander, Subhash & Saini, J.S., 2011. "Heat transfer and friction factor correlations of solar air heater ducts artificially roughened with discrete V-down ribs," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(8), pages 5053-5064.
    22. Saini, R.P. & Verma, Jitendra, 2008. "Heat transfer and friction factor correlations for a duct having dimple-shape artificial roughness for solar air heaters," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(8), pages 1277-1287.
    23. Gill, R.S. & Hans, V.S. & Saini, J.S. & Singh, Sukhmeet, 2017. "Investigation on performance enhancement due to staggered piece in a broken arc rib roughened solar air heater duct," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 148-162.
    24. Deo, Narinderpal Singh & Chander, Subhash & Saini, J.S., 2016. "Performance analysis of solar air heater duct roughened with multigap V-down ribs combined with staggered ribs," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 484-500.
    25. Yadav, Anil Singh & Bhagoria, J.L., 2013. "A CFD (computational fluid dynamics) based heat transfer and fluid flow analysis of a solar air heater provided with circular transverse wire rib roughness on the absorber plate," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 1127-1142.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Karmveer & Naveen Kumar Gupta & Tabish Alam & Raffaello Cozzolino & Gino Bella, 2022. "A Descriptive Review to Access the Most Suitable Rib’s Configuration of Roughness for the Maximum Performance of Solar Air Heater," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-46, April.
    2. Al-Zahrani, Salman, 2023. "Thermal performance augmentation of solar air heater with curved path," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    3. Nidhul, Kottayat & Yadav, Ajay Kumar & Anish, S. & Kumar, Sachin, 2021. "Critical review of ribbed solar air heater and performance evaluation of various V-rib configuration," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    4. Vengadesan, Elumalai & Senthil, Ramalingam, 2020. "A review on recent developments in thermal performance enhancement methods of flat plate solar air collector," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    5. Singh Yadav, Anil & Kumar Thapak, Manish, 2014. "Artificially roughened solar air heater: Experimental investigations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 370-411.
    6. Singh Bisht, Vijay & Kumar Patil, Anil & Gupta, Anirudh, 2018. "Review and performance evaluation of roughened solar air heaters," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P1), pages 954-977.
    7. Saxena, Abhishek & Varun, & El-Sebaii, A.A., 2015. "A thermodynamic review of solar air heaters," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 863-890.
    8. Alam, Tabish & Kim, Man-Hoe, 2017. "A critical review on artificial roughness provided in rectangular solar air heater duct," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 387-400.
    9. Varun Kumar, B. & Manikandan, G. & Rajesh Kanna, P., 2021. "Enhancement of heat transfer in SAH with polygonal and trapezoidal shape of the rib using CFD," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    10. Kumar, Anil & Kim, Man-Hoe, 2016. "Thermohydraulic performance of rectangular ducts with different multiple V-rib roughness shapes: A comprehensive review and comparative study," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 635-652.
    11. Gawande, Vipin B. & Dhoble, A.S. & Zodpe, D.B., 2014. "Effect of roughness geometries on heat transfer enhancement in solar thermal systems – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 347-378.
    12. Prasad, Jay Shankar & Datta, Aparesh & Mondal, Sirshendu, 2024. "Numerical analysis of a solar air heater with offset transverse ribs placed near the absorber plate," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    13. Vyas, Sagar & Sharma, Amit Kumar & Rai, Anant Kumar, 2024. "Double pass solar air heater with aerofoil and bio-inspired fins: A numerical analysis of thermohydraulic performance," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 311(C).
    14. Zhang, Pu & Xia, Peng & Guo, Xueyan & Xie, Shaozhang & Ma, Wensheng, 2022. "A CFD-adjoint reverse design of transverse rib profile for enhancing thermo-hydraulic performance in the solar air heater," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 587-601.
    15. Gill, R.S. & Hans, V.S. & Saini, J.S. & Singh, Sukhmeet, 2017. "Investigation on performance enhancement due to staggered piece in a broken arc rib roughened solar air heater duct," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 148-162.
    16. Poongavanam, Ganesh Kumar & Panchabikesan, Karthik & Leo, Anto Joseph Deeyoko & Ramalingam, Velraj, 2018. "Experimental investigation on heat transfer augmentation of solar air heater using shot blasted V-corrugated absorber plate," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 213-229.
    17. Srivastav, Ayushman & Maithani, Rajesh & Sharma, Sachin, 2024. "Investigation of heat transfer and friction characteristics of solar air heater through an array of submerged impinging jets," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    18. Singh, Satyender & Dhiman, Prashant, 2016. "Thermal performance of double pass packed bed solar air heaters – A comprehensive review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 1010-1031.
    19. Varun Pratap Singh & Siddharth Jain & Ashish Karn & Ashwani Kumar & Gaurav Dwivedi & Chandan Swaroop Meena & Nitesh Dutt & Aritra Ghosh, 2022. "Recent Developments and Advancements in Solar Air Heaters: A Detailed Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-55, September.
    20. Sharma, Sanjay K. & Kalamkar, Vilas R., 2015. "Thermo-hydraulic performance analysis of solar air heaters having artificial roughness–A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 413-435.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:27:y:2025:i:5:d:10.1007_s10668-023-04402-7. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.