Energy and Exergy Analysis of Multi-Pass Flat Plate Solar Air Heater—An Analytical Approach

Abstract

In this paper, a mathematical model based on the energy balance equations is developed to study the energy and exergy performances of single, double, and triple pass solar air heaters. The energy and exergy performances of solar air heaters are determined by simulation using Matlab-8.1. The influence of mass flow rate on the rise in air temperature, energy efficiency, improvement efficiency, exergy efficiency, and irreversibility are studied. The energy and exergy performance of the triple pass is higher than the single and the double pass conditions. The results obtained from the analytical models are in good agreement with experimental data reported by earlier researchers.

Keywords:

• Irreversibility
• exergy
• energy
• solar air heater