Multi-Objective Optimization of Performance of a Solar Air Heater with Fin and Baffle and Recycle Using Genetic Algorithm

Authors

Abstract

The present work focuses on energy and exergy performances as well as parameter optimization of a solar air heater integrated with fins, baffles, and external recycle. Theoretical analyses have been considered to study the effect of geometrical and operating parameters on the effective and exergy efficiency of SAH. Energy and exergy balance equations have been solved by developed code using MATLAB. Further, Genetic algorithm has been invoked to optimize the design and the operating parameters of SAH. The distance between the fins (number of fins), the width of the baffles, the distance between the baffles, and the recycle ratio are the parameters, the optimal values of which were obtained for different values of Reynolds numbers and solar radiation with the aim of achieving maximum energy and exergy efficiency. It was found that the use of fins and baffles under external recycle in a flat solar air heater improved thermal efficiency in all cases. However, at higher air flows, the additional power required to overcome the pressure drop may impair the performance of the SAH. The best effective and exergy efficiency for various Re, which obtaind for I=1200 W/m2, are 64.15% and 6.34% respectively. Simulation results of the present model have been validated by the models available in the literature and found to be in good agreement.

Keywords


[1] Kabeel, A.E., Mofreh, H. Hamed., Omara, Z.M. and Kandeal, A.W., "Solar air heaters: Design configurations, improvement methods and applications – A detailed review", Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 70, pp. 1189-1206, 2017. [2] Mohammadi, K. and Sabzpooshani, M., "Comprehensive performance evaluation and parametric studies of single pass solar air heater with fins and baffles attached over the absorber plate", Energy, Vol. 57, pp. 741-750, 2013. [3] Saravanakumar, P.T., Somasundaram, D. and Matheswaran, M.M., "Thermal and thermo-hydraulic analysis of arc shaped rib roughened solar air heater integrated with fins and baffles", Solar Energy, Vol. 180, pp. 360-371, 2019. [4] Bensaci, C., Moummi, A., Sanchez de la Flor, F.J., Rodriguez Jara, E.A., Rincon-Casado, A. and Ruiz-Pardo, A., "Numerical and experimental study of the heat transfer and hydraulic performance of solar air heaters with different baffle positions", Renewable Energy, 2020. [5] Hu, J., Liu, K., Ma, L. and Sun, X., "Parameter optimization of solar air collectors with holes on baffle and analysis of flow and heat transfer characteristics", Solar Energy, Vol. 174, pp. 878-887, 2018. [6] Fiuk, J.J. and Dutkowski, K., "Experimental investigations on thermal efficiency of a prototype passive solar air collector with wavelike baffles", Solar Energy, Vol. 188, pp. 495-506, 2019. [7] Hu, J., Liu, K., Guo, M., Zhang, G., Chu, Z. and Wang, M., "Performance improvement of baffle-type solar air collector based on first chamber narrowing", Thermal Science and Engineering Progress, Vol. 8, pp. 145-153, 2018. [8] Mohammadi, K. and Sabzpooshani, M., "Appraising the performance of a baffled solar air heater with external recycle", Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 88, pp. 239-250, 2014. [9] Ho, C.D., Hsiao, C.F., Chang, H. and Tien, Y.E., "Investigation of device performance for recycling double-pass V-corrugated solar air collecto", Energy Procedia, Vol. 105, pp.28-34, 2017. [10] Singh, S. and Dhiman, P., "Analytical and experimental investigations of packed bed solar air heaters under the collective effect of recycle ratio and fractional mass flow rate", Journal of Energy Storage, Vol. 16, pp. 167-186, 2018. [11] Singh, S., "Thermal performance analysis of semicircular and triangular cross-sectioned duct solar air heaters under external recycle", Journal of Energy Storage, Vol. 20, pp. 316-336, 2018. [12] Gupta, M.K. and Kaushik, S.C., "Performance evaluation of solar air heater having expanded metal mesh as artificial roughness on absorber plate", International Journal of Thermal Science, Vol. 48, pp. 1007-1016, 2009. [13] Lior, N., Sarmiento-Darkin, W. and Al-Sharqawi, H.S., "The exergy fields in transport processes: their calculation and use", Energy, Vol. 31, pp.553-578, 2006. [14] Saravanakumar, P.T., Somasundaram, D. and Matheswaran, M.M., "Exergetic investigation and optimization of Arc Shaped Rib Roughened Solar Air Heater Integrated with Fins and Baffles", Applied Thermal Engineering, 2020. [15] Luan, N.T. and Phu, N.M., "Thermohydraulic correlations and exergy analysis of a solar air heater duct with inclined baffles", Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, 2020. [16] Kalogirou, S.A., "Optimization of solar systems using artificial neural networks and genetic algorithms", Applied Energy, Vol. 77, pp. 383-405, 2004. [17] Cheng, Y.H. and Lin, I., "Geometric optimization of thermoelectric coolers in a confined volume using genetic algorithms", Applied Thermal Engineering, Vol. 25, pp. 2983-2997, 2005. [18] Varun, S., "Thermal performance optimization of a flat plate solar air heater using genetic algorithm", Applied Energy, Vol. 87, pp. 1793-179, 2010. [19] Siddhartha, Sh. and Varun, N., "A particle swarm optimization algorithm for optimization of thermal performance of a smooth flat plate solar air heater", Energy, Vol. 38, pp. 406-413, 2012. [20] Ansari, M. and Bazargan, M., "Optimization of Flat Plate Solar Air Heaters with Ribbed Surfaces", Applied Thermal Engineering, Vol. 136, pp. 356-363, 2018. [21] Keshavarzzadeh, A.H. and Ahmadi, P., "Multi-objective techno-economic optimization of a solar based integrated energy system using various optimization methods", Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 196, pp. 196–210, 2019. [22] Dezan, D.J., Rocha, A.D. and Ferreira, W.G., "Parametric sensitivity analysis and optimisation of a solar air heater with multiple rows of longitudinal vortex generators", Applied Energy, Vol. 263, 114556, 2020. [23] Guo, C., "A Programming of Genetic Algorithm in Matlab7.0", Modern Applied Science, Vol. 5, 2011. [24] Ho, C.D., Yeh, H.M. and Chen, T.C., "Collector efficiency of upward-type double-pass solar air heaters with fins attached", International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol. 38, pp. 49-56, 2011.