Sustainable Development through CFD Analysis of a Co-Axial Evacuated Tube Solar Air Heater
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Abstract
Solar energy is a vital and environmentally friendly energy source, particularly abundant in regions like India with ample sunlight year-round. Evacuated Tube Solar Collectors (ETSCs) are designed to harness solar thermal energy for heating water or air. In this study, computational fluid dynamics is employed to analyse the thermal performance of a co-axial ETSC for air heating applications. The primary objective is to investigate the collector's thermal performance under varying flow rates and heat flux conditions. Computational results were validated against experimental findings from prior studies. The results show that the highest air outlet temperature 356.7 K can be achieved while the air inlet temperature of 319.4 K, a mass flow rate of 9.36 kg/h, and a constant heat flux of 888 W/m². The peak thermal efficiency of 63.45 % achieved at 8.36 kg/h and a constant heat flux of 822 W/m². This study suggests potential design improvements to further enhance the system's overall thermal efficiency by optimizing heat transfer mechanisms within the co-axial ETSC.
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