Efficiency enhancement in solar air heaters by modification of absorber plate-a review

ABSTRACT

This paper outlines a complete review on modifications made on the absorber plate of solar air heaters in order to improve the turbulence and heat transfer rate, thereby efficiency. Corrugated sheets, fins, extended surfaces, wire mesh, porous medium, etc., are a few of the modifications used. Most of such alterations in the absorber plate resulted with an increase in efficiency but associated with drawback of increased pumping power due to raising friction factor. Pumping power is considered here as a predominant comparison parameters of various solar air heaters with different absorber plate in terms of effective efficiency.

KEYWORDS:

• Absorber plate
• efficiency
• friction factor
• pumping power
• solar air heater

Acknowledgment

One of the authors acknowledges Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, for awarding DST INSPIRE Fellowship.