Research Article

Thermal performance of an evacuated tube solar air heater inserted with copper tubes

Volume: 46 Number: 1 May 1, 2026
  • Veerakumar Adaikalasamy *
  • Karthickmunisamy T
  • Venkatramanan R
  • Vijayan S
  • Parthiban R
  • Ram Kumar S
  • Karthi K
  • Hari Ganesh V
TR EN

Thermal performance of an evacuated tube solar air heater inserted with copper tubes

Abstract

This study investigates the performance of butterfly evacuated tube solar air heater with copper tubes (BETSAH-CT). The experimental analysis was conducted in across varying air flow rates ranging from 10 to 50 kg/h. The effect of CT configuration on outlet temperature, thermal and effective efficiencies, heat gain and pressure drop was examined. The BETSAH-CT achieved a maximum outlet air temperature of 110.1 °C at 10 kg/h and an average temperature of 89.7 °C at 10 kg/h. The highest useful heat gain noted as 663.8 W at 50 kg/h. The thermal efficiency increased with air flow rate, reaching a peak instantaneous efficiency of 54.2% at 50 kg/h. The considerations of pressure drop and pumping power bring to the fore the ideal system performance rate of airflow. The trends of exergy efficiency are nearly similar to the trends of solar irradiance and the highest values of the exergy efficiency decreases with the flow rate. The results indicate that the BETSAH-CT design has the benefit of improving thermal efficiency and heat gain, which can be used as a sustainable and energy-efficient solution to solar-air heating.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Experimental Methods in Fluid Flow, Heat and Mass Transfer, Turbulent Flows

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

May 1, 2026

Submission Date

November 22, 2025

Acceptance Date

April 9, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 46 Number: 1

APA
Adaikalasamy, V., T, K., R, V., S, V., R, P., S, R. K., K, K., & V, H. G. (2026). Thermal performance of an evacuated tube solar air heater inserted with copper tubes. Isı Bilimi Ve Tekniği Dergisi, 46(1), 156-166. https://doi.org/10.47480/isibted.1827768
AMA
1.Adaikalasamy V, T K, R V, et al. Thermal performance of an evacuated tube solar air heater inserted with copper tubes. Isı Bilimi ve Tekniği Dergisi. 2026;46(1):156-166. doi:10.47480/isibted.1827768
Chicago
Adaikalasamy, Veerakumar, Karthickmunisamy T, Venkatramanan R, et al. 2026. “Thermal Performance of an Evacuated Tube Solar Air Heater Inserted With Copper Tubes”. Isı Bilimi Ve Tekniği Dergisi 46 (1): 156-66. https://doi.org/10.47480/isibted.1827768.
EndNote
Adaikalasamy V, T K, R V, S V, R P, S RK, K K, V HG (May 1, 2026) Thermal performance of an evacuated tube solar air heater inserted with copper tubes. Isı Bilimi ve Tekniği Dergisi 46 1 156–166.
IEEE
[1]V. Adaikalasamy et al., “Thermal performance of an evacuated tube solar air heater inserted with copper tubes”, Isı Bilimi ve Tekniği Dergisi, vol. 46, no. 1, pp. 156–166, May 2026, doi: 10.47480/isibted.1827768.
ISNAD
Adaikalasamy, Veerakumar - T, Karthickmunisamy - R, Venkatramanan - S, Vijayan - R, Parthiban - S, Ram Kumar - K, Karthi - V, Hari Ganesh. “Thermal Performance of an Evacuated Tube Solar Air Heater Inserted With Copper Tubes”. Isı Bilimi ve Tekniği Dergisi 46/1 (May 1, 2026): 156-166. https://doi.org/10.47480/isibted.1827768.
JAMA
1.Adaikalasamy V, T K, R V, S V, R P, S RK, K K, V HG. Thermal performance of an evacuated tube solar air heater inserted with copper tubes. Isı Bilimi ve Tekniği Dergisi. 2026;46:156–166.
MLA
Adaikalasamy, Veerakumar, et al. “Thermal Performance of an Evacuated Tube Solar Air Heater Inserted With Copper Tubes”. Isı Bilimi Ve Tekniği Dergisi, vol. 46, no. 1, May 2026, pp. 156-6, doi:10.47480/isibted.1827768.
Vancouver
1.Veerakumar Adaikalasamy, Karthickmunisamy T, Venkatramanan R, Vijayan S, Parthiban R, Ram Kumar S, Karthi K, Hari Ganesh V. Thermal performance of an evacuated tube solar air heater inserted with copper tubes. Isı Bilimi ve Tekniği Dergisi. 2026 May 1;46(1):156-6. doi:10.47480/isibted.1827768