Journal of Solar Energy Research

Augmentation of Solar Air Heater Performance by Experimental Modification

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Iraqi Ministry of Education, General Directorate Vocational Education, Iraq

2 Technical Instructors Training Institute, Middle Technical University, Baghdad, Iraq

3 College of Engineering, Al-Naji University, Baghdad, Iraq

4 College of Engineering, Gulf University, Sanad, 26489, Kingdom of Bahrain

10.22059/jser.2025.402707.1639

Abstract

The current research intends to create an efficient absorber plate aimed at enhancing energy capture through the use of an expanded absorber surface. To achieve this, an array of rectangular pipes is used to expand the absorber area. The investigation is specifically carried out on an SAH measuring 120 cm in length, 85 cm in width, and 12 cm in height, which is oriented southward and inclined at a 30° angle. The results indicate that the improved SAH can exhibit a significant enhancement in performance, achieving an overall efficiency of 38.4%. Additionally, the modified SAH has the potential to increase air temperature by up to 28.9 °C at the specified tilt angle of 30°. Furthermore, the findings suggest that increasing the absorber area is an effective strategy to enhance the performance of the SAH. Such advancements in solar thermal collector efficiency are pivotal for accelerating the adoption of renewable energy in the industrial sector, contributing directly to the decarbonization of process heat and advancing the objectives of SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).

Keywords

[1] Rashid, F.L., Al-Obaidi, M.A., Hussein, A.K., Akkurt, N., Ali, B. and Younis, O., 2022. Floating solar stills and floating solar-driven membranes: Recent advances and overview of designs, performance and modern combinations. Solar Energy, 247, pp.355-372. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2022.10.044 
[2] Rashid, F.L., Al-Obaidi, M.A., Mahdi, A.J. and Ameen, A., 2024. Advancements in Fresnel lens technology across diverse solar energy applications: A comprehensive review. Energies, 17(3), p.569. https://doi.org/10.3390/en17030569  
[3] Resen, I.S., Alsayah, A.M., Alshukri, M.J., Eidan, A.A., Ali, S., Faraj, J. and Khaled, M., 2025. Exergy analysis of the effects of extreme hot conditions on cooling system efficiency: A case study of a split air conditioner. Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, 11, p.101187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101187
[4] Ali, M.F.M., Resen, I.S. and Ibrahim, I.J., 2023. Capillary Tube Length and Heat Transfer Dynamics in Air Conditioners: A Comparative Analysis of R-12 and Its Alternatives. International Journal of Heat and Technology, 41(6). https://doi.org/10.18280/ijht.410619
[5] Hai, T., Mansir, I.B., Alshuraiaan, B., Abed, A.M., Ali, H.E., Dahari, M. and Albalawi, H., 2023. Numerical investigation on the performance of a solar air heater using inclined impinging jets on absorber plate with parallel and crossing orientation of nozzles. Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, 45, p.102913. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2023.102913
[6] Alsibiani, S.A., 2024. Application of pulsating jet concept for efficiency improvement of solar-based air heaters. Cleaner Engineering and Technology, 18, p.100727. https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.clet.2024.100727 
[7] Resen, I.S. and Allawi, A.S., 2025, May. Thermal analysis of ventilated roof panels with PCM for insulation building roofs under extremely hot climate. In AIP Conference Proceedings (Vol. 3211, No. 1, p. 040009). AIP Publishing LLC. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0257168
[8] R.S. Gill, V.S. Hans, S. Singh, Investigations on thermo-hydraulic performance of broken arc rib in a rectangular duct of solar air heater, Int. Commun. Heat Mass Tran. 88 (2017) 20–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2017.07.024
[9] Karwa, R., 2024. Performance of finned absorber plate solar air heater having multiple triangular air flow passages in parallel under transition to turbulent flow condition. J. Sol. Energy Eng. 146, 1–46. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4063494
[10] CHABANE, F., Kherroubi, D., Arif, A., Moummi, N., Brima, A., 2020. Influence of the rectangular baffle on heat transfer and pressure drop in the solar collector. Energy Sources, Part A Recover. Util. Environ. Eff. 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/ 15567036.2020.1767727
[11] Salih, M.M.M., Alomar, O.R., Ali, F.A., Abd, H.M., 2019. An experimental investigation of a double pass solar air heater performance: a comparison between natural and forced air circulation processes. Sol. Energy 193, 184–194. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j. solener.2019.09.060
[12] Deo, N.S., Chander, S., Saini, J.S., 2016. Performance analysis of solar air heater duct roughened with multigap V-down ribs combined with staggered ribs. Renew. Energy 91, 484–500. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2016.01.067
[13] Jin, D., Zuo, J., Quan, S., Xu, S., Gao, H., 2017. Thermohydraulic performance of solar air heater with staggered multiple V-shaped ribs on the absorber plate. Energy 127, 68–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2017.03.101
[14] Guo, L., Nowzari, R., Saygin, H., Al-Bahrani, M., Nejad, M.G. and Baghaei, S., 2023. Experimental investigation and two-factor factorial analysis of a solar air heater with scrap wire meshes and cans as energy storage components. Journal of Energy Storage, 70, p.107998. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2023.107998
[15] Shayan, M.E., Ghasemzadeh, F. and Rouhani, S.H., 2023. Energy storage concentrates on solar air heaters with artificial S-shaped irregularity on the absorber plate. Journal of Energy Storage, 74, p.109289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2023.109289
[16] Hedau, A. and Singal, S.K., 2024. Thermo-hydraulic performance investigation of double pass solar air heater integrated with PCM-based thermal energy storage. Journal of Energy Storage, 79, p.110202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2023.110202
[17] Prasad, J.S., Datta, A. and Mondal, S., 2024. Flow and thermal behavior of solar air heater with grooved roughness. Renewable Energy, 220, p.119698. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.renene.2023.119698
[18] Sharma, S., Das, R.K. and Kulkarni, K., 2021. Computational and experimental assessment of solar air heater roughened with six different baffles. Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, 27, p.101350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2021.101350
[19] Resen, I.S. and Allawi, A.S., 2024, August. Numerical study of lightweight panels incorporated with PCM used for insulation building roof under Iraqi climate. In AIP Conference Proceedings (Vol. 3105, No. 1, p. 030009). AIP Publishing LLC. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0212340
[20] Duffie, J. A., and Beckman, W. A. (1991). Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes. John Wiley and Sons.
[21] Resen, I.S., Alsayah, A.M., Ali, M.F.M., Khudhur, D.S. and Singh, N.K., 2025, June. Designing Photovoltaic and Solar Water Heating Systems for Energy Efficiency and Environmental Sustainability in Iraq. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 1507, No. 1, p. 012015). IOP Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1507/1/012015
[22] Alsibiani, S.A., 2023. Employment of roughened absorber palate and jet nozzles with different hole shapes for performance boost of solar-air-heaters. Cleaner Engineering and Technology, 17, p.100703. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clet.2023.100703
[23] Al-khafaji, O.R. and Alabbas, A.H., 2020, February. Computational fluid dynamics modeling study for the thermal performance of the pin fins under different parameters. In IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering (Vol. 745, No. 1, p. 012070). IOP Publishing.
[24] Alaskaree, È.H., Skheel Alkhafaji, O.R. and Al-Muhsen, N.F., 2020. Effect of chromium trioxide coating on the thermal performance of solar thermal collector. Karbala International Journal of Modern Science, 6(1), p.4.
[25] Skheel Alkhafaji, O.R., 2019. The improvement of the solar air heater duct by wired ribs utilization. Karbala International Journal of Modern Science, 5(3), p.6.
[26] Alkhafaj, O.R., Yasin, N.J. and Al-abbas, A.H., 2023. Optimization of wickless heat pipe heat exchanger using R1234-yf and ethanol as working fluids. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Eng, 20(3), pp.1-12.
Journal of Solar Energy Research
Volume 10, Issue 3
July 2025
Pages 2491-2500