Experimental investigation of concentrated solar air-heater with internal multiple-fin array

Abstract

a b s t r a c tThis paper presents the results of experimental validation of energy conversion in a concentrated solar air-heater with internal multiple-fin array. A novel high temperature solar air heater was proposed to convert solar energy to heat for space heating in climatic conditions of Poland.The aim of the study was to verify the previously created mathematical model of heat transfer processes. The collector's performance was analysed experimentally against the reduced temperature difference. During the experiments, an electrical air heater was used to change the air temperature at the inlet of the receiver according to the test demands. Additionally, two daily performance evaluation tests were done. During the tests the all-day measured data was collected automatically and recorded at 1-min intervals. Hourly and daily thermal efficiency was calculated. Validation of the model showed its correctness and proved that the model can be accepted.

Sustainable Integration of a Solar Heating System into a Single-Family House in the Climate of Central Europe—A Case Study

“…Within the framework of theoretical and experimental research, three test stands were built. The analytical model of a concentrating collector with internal ribbing was described in [24], while its experimental tests were presented in [25]. The model of the bed storage is included in [26], whereas tests of the cooperation of the collector and the bed storage, and results of simulation of the annual work of the system, are included in [23].…”

A Granite Bed Storage for a Small Solar Dryer

“…The proposed technical solution allows the hot medium from the collector to be mixed with fresh air taken from the surroundings. A solar air heater operating in Polish climatic conditions was the subject of research conducted by one of the authors [ 33 , 34 ]. In order to intensify the heating rate of the flowing air, the absorber was equipped with internal ribs.…”

Thermo-Hydraulic Analysis of Heat Storage Filled with the Ceramic Bricks Dedicated to the Solar Air Heating System

“…The effectiveness of the accumulation process should include pressure drop in the system, which is related to the flow resistance due to the shape and the filling factor of the packed bed, analogically to the calculations for a solar thermal collector [ 20 , 21 ]. To find total pressure drop Δp c using the packed bed’s measurement system, it was necessary to calculate the pressure drop in the bed itself and in the outlet channel, as well as the local pressure drop due to the system’s geometry.…”

“…Both the airflow stream and the values of temperatures at the inlet of the medium to the packed bed were selected from a perspective of integrating the packed bed with a concentrated solar collector as part of a heating system installed in a single-family house. The parameters were selected previously, according to the analyses of the solar heater, as offered in [ 20 , 21 ].…”