CFD Analysis of a Solar Air Collector with Aluminum Honeycomb Absorber Plate

Abstract

In this study, CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) analyses of two different solar air collector configurations according to the air intake spot were performed. An aluminum absorber plate with honeycomb geometry is used to increase the efficiency of the solar air collector. In order to examine the heat transfer and air flow properties, simulation analyses were carried out on the solar air collector with air-draught from the center and side. The optimum operating ranges of the system under different radiation and mass flow rates were determined and the design comparison of the center and side aspirated collectors was performed. Thermal analysis of collectors with aluminum honeycomb absorber plate were carried out for 600-1000 W/m² radiation, 0.01-0.015 kg/s mass flow rates and constant 300K inlet air temperature. Temperature rise in outlet air and corresponding thermal efficiencies were found. The findings show that the highest temperature output is approximately 312 and 310K at 1000 W/m² irradiance and 0.01 kg/s mass flow rate for edge and center air draught type solar air collectors, respectively. The highest thermal efficiencies, on the other hand, were approximately 45% for the side air intake collector and 42% for the center air intake collector both at 600 W/m² irradiance and 0.015 kg/s flow rate for both configurations.

Keywords

• Solar air collector
• CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) analysis
• Honeycomb absorber plate

Alüminyum Balpeteği Soğurucu Yüzeye Sahip bir Güneş Hava Kollektörünün HAD Analizi

Öz

Bu çalışmada, bir güneş hava kollektörü tasarımının hava çekiş yerine göre HAD (Hesaplamalı Akışkanlar Dinamiği) analizleri gerçekleştirilmiştir. Güneş hava kollektörünün verimini artırmak için balpeteği geometrisine sahip bir alüminyum soğurucu plaka kullanılmıştır. Isı transferi ve hava akış özelliklerini incelemek için merkez ve kenar hava çekişli güneş hava kollektörünün HAD analizleri yapılmış, farklı ışınım ve kütle debileri altında sistemin optimum çalışma aralıkları belirlenerek merkez ve kenar hava çekişli kollektörlerin tasarım karşılaştırılması yapılmıştır. Alüminyum balpeteği yapılı kollektörlerin, 600-1000 W/m² ışınım, 0.01-0.015 kg/s kütle debileri ve 300K sabit hava giriş sıcaklığı için termal analizleri gerçekleştirilmiş ve çıkan hava sıcaklık artış değerleri ve karşılık gelen termal verimlilikler bulunmuştur. Bulgular, kenar çekişli ve merkez çekişli güneş hava kollektöründen en yüksek hava sıcaklık çıkışının, 1000 W/m² ışınım ve 0.01 kg/s kütlesel debide sırasıyla 312K ve 310K olduğunu göstermiştir. En yüksek termal verimlilikler ise benzer şekilde her iki konfigürasyon için 600 W/m² ışınım ve 0,015 kg/s debide, kenar çekişli kollektör için yaklaşık %45, merkez çekişli kollektör için ise %42 olarak gerçekleşmiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Güneş hava kollektörü
• HAD (Hesaplamalı Akışkanlar Dinamiği) analizi
• Balpeteği soğurucu plaka.

Kaynakça

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