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Applied Energy
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Design and fabrication of a cost effective solar air heater for Bangladesh
M.A. Wazed a,*, Y. Nukman a,1, M.T. Islam b,2
a
Department of Engineering Design and Manufacture, University of Malaya (UM), 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
b
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology (CUET), Chittagong 4349, Bangladesh
a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t
Article history: In this research, a solar air heater is designed, fabricated and its performance is assessed in the perspec-
Received 28 July 2009 tive of an emerging/developing country with a huge energy demand like Bangladesh. The winter season
Received in revised form 3 February 2010 (mid-November–mid-February) of the country characterizes by low temperatures, cool air blowing from
Accepted 8 February 2010
the west or northwest, clear sky and meager rainfall. Minimum temperature in the extreme northwest in
Available online xxxx
late December and early January sometimes reaches 3 °C and day length is about 10 h. The shortness of
winter days can be compensated by reducing the heat loss during long nights. The solar air heater is con-
Keywords:
structed to prevent as much heat loss as possible. In other words, the heating of air is accomplished by
Solar energy
Air heater
maximizing light gain and minimizing heat loss. It is observed that the fabricated solar air heater is work-
Bangladesh ing efficiently. The maximum room temperature and the temperature difference from ambient are
45.5 °C and 12.25 °C for forced circulation and 41.75 °C and 8.5 °C for natural circulation respectively.
The experimental outlet temperatures have been compared with that of theoretical values. Due to its
low-cost and simple technology, it is affordable in all aspects, viz. of cost, operation and maintenance
by the typical people of Bangladesh.
Ó 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
0306-2619/$ - see front matter Ó 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2010.02.014
Please cite this article in press as: Wazed MA et al. Design and fabrication of a cost effective solar air heater for Bangladesh. Appl Energy (2010),
doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2010.02.014
ARTICLE IN PRESS
Nomenclature
receiver. Sims [21] developed a solar energy receiver, which could gated specular surfaces of air heater. The use of Vee-corrugated ab-
be used in a high concentration ratio compound parabolic reflector. sorber in place of a flat absorber provides a large surface area for
Here, the absorber is an evacuated transparent envelope with a so- heat transfer to the air stream. Löf et al. [35] was first developed
lar receiver made of extruded aluminum, through which passages the overlapped glass plate air heater and used in his house in Col-
have been formed. Two-stage collectors can be used to boost the orado, USA. It combines the advantages of low pressure drop and
concentration ratio of solar collectors. The laws of thermodynamics high efficiency with moderate temperature losses. It consists of a
limit the efficiency of a concentrating collector which can be ap- series of overlapping parallel glass plates with each plate consist-
proached with a two-stage system. In some cases, the efficiency ing of two parts, a black part and a clear part. Gupta and Garg
can be doubled [22]. Solomon et al. [23] have developed a model [36] studied two types of matrix air heaters and observed an aver-
of a flat-plate solar collection system. A theoretical model has been age rise of temperature of 20 °C at an efficiency of 50%. In one hea-
developed to predict the thermal performance of double pass solar ter galvanized iron wire mesh as a matrix was employed while in
air heater with porous media [24]. Yousef and Adam [25] have the second aluminum matrix was employed. In a matrix air heater
investigated the effect of mass flow rate, flow channel depth and the air flows through the matrix, generally made of metal of regu-
collector length on the system thermal performance and pressure lar or irregular shape, and the solar radiation is absorbed gradually
drop through the collector with and without porous medium. along the depth of the matrix. The flow of air can be from top to
A comprehensive parametric study on the thermal performance bottom or from bottom to top. Lalude and Buchberg [37] proposed
of cross-corrugated solar air collectors has been carried out by Lin the honeycomb porous bed air heater which consists of a specu-
et al. [26]. The collector consists of a wavelike absorbing plate and larly reflecting rectangular honeycomb over a black porous absor-
a wavelike bottom plate which is crosswise positioned to form the ber to reduce convective and radiative losses. Satcunanathan [38]
air flow channel. Liu et al. [27] improved the thermal performance has used a two pass solar air heater connected to a drying chamber.
of a solar air collector using v-groove absorber. A comparative The hot air passes through the crops immediately after it leaves
study of the thermal performances of cross-corrugated and through the collector. Hence insulation is not required to be used
v-groove solar air collectors is conducted by Liu et al. [28]. The in the air heater. Khoukhi et al. [39] have studied the flat-plate so-
study concludes that cross-corrugated collectors are superior to lar collector performance with coated and uncoated glass cover.
v-groove ones for all the configurations and operating conditions Elminir et al. [40] provided recommendations on how the collected
considered. energy can be increased for solar flat-plate collector by varying the
A conventional solar air heater is essentially a flat-plate collec- tilt angle. Linear and quadratic sets of equations are proposed for
tor with an absorber plate, a transparent cover system at the top calculating the thermal efficiency of a flat-plate solar collector hav-
and insulation at the bottom and on the sides. The working fluid ing a single glass cover and an absorber by Yildiz and Gungor [41].
is air, though the passage for its flow varies according to the type The devastating energy crisis and its future escalation in Ban-
of the air heater. Satcunanathan and Deonarine [29] have sug- gladesh can presume from some reported literatures. The electrical
gested use of two pass solar air heater to reduce the heat loss. energy crisis in the country has become such extent that the load-
Whillier [30] carried out experiments and analyze the conven- shedding exceeds 4–5 h in a day [42]. There is a huge gap between
tional air heater consists of an absorbing plate, a rear plate, insula- the current use energy and potential for generation. This gap is
tion below the rear plate, transparent cover on exposed side, and compounded by the large need for investment in electricity gener-
the air flows between the absorbing plate and rear plate. Ranjan ation capacity due to increasing demand for electrification [43].
et al. [31] refers to an air heater with flow above the absorber Bangladesh Power System (BPS) can meet only 75% of the total de-
which consists of an absorber plate with a transparent cover at mand. Generation shortage forces BPS for massive load shading
the top and insulation at the bottom. The cover and the plate pro- hindering nation’s development activities [44]. Therefore, the pur-
vide the passage for the air. Solar radiation, after transmission pose of this study is to design and fabricate an efficient solar air
through the cover, is absorbed by the absorber plate. Sodha and heater using locally available cheaper as well as lesser amount of
Bansalt [32] have studied an air heater with flow on both sides material and to analyze its performance.
of the absorber assuming that equal flow occurs both above and
below the absorber plate and the heat transfer coefficient between 2. Mathematical approach
the absorber plate and the air stream on either side is the same.
Malik and Buelow [33] have worked on air heater with finned ab- The theoretical calculations are performed under the following
sorber in order to improve the heat transfer from the plate to air assumptions: the temperatures of the absorbing plate, bottom
stream and hence the efficiency of the heater. Fins are added to plate and bulk fluids are functions of the flow direction only, and
the rear side of the absorber. Hollands [34] studied the directional both the glass cover and the fluids do not absorb radiant energy.
selectivity, emittance and absorptance properties of Vee-corru- Further, except the glass cover, all parts of the outside surface of
Please cite this article in press as: Wazed MA et al. Design and fabrication of a cost effective solar air heater for Bangladesh. Appl Energy (2010),
doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2010.02.014
ARTICLE IN PRESS
Qu h i
the solar air collector, as well as the flow channel, are well insu-
qu ¼ ¼ F R S U L ðT i T a Þ 3600 106
lated thermally. Ac
It is obvious that the overall heat loss coefficient (UL) is made up
The collector efficiency for that hour, g ¼ AQc IuT ¼ qITu and the day-
of top (Ut) bottom (Ub) and edge loss coefficient (Ue). P
q
long collector efficiency, gday ¼ P I u .
T
So; U L ¼ U t þ U b þ U e P
The total useful gain, Q u ¼ Ac qu .
The top loss coefficient is given by
2 31 3. Design considerations
6 N1 17
Ut ¼ 4 n oe þ 5 Several designs for solar air heaters have been proposed and
C ðT p;m T a Þ hw discussed in literature. The designer and potential user of these
T p;m ðN 1 þf Þ
systems must consider a number of factors when comparing their
rðT p;m þ T a ÞðT 2p;m þ T 2a Þ merits. These can mainly be categorized as: (i) thermal perfor-
þ 2N 1 þf 1þ:133ep
ðep þ :00591N1 hw Þ1 þ eg N1 mance, (ii) cost and (iii) lifetime, durability, maintenance and ease
of installation [45].
where N1 = number of glass covers; f ¼ ð1 þ :089hw The design of the solar air heating systems for a particular appli-
0:1166hw ep Þð1 þ 0:07866N 1 Þ; e ¼ 0:43ð1 T100 Þ; b = collector tilt cation demands some factors to be considered. The different ele-
p;m
ments of this system are absorber plate, absorber coating, cover
(°); eg = emittance of glass (0.88); ep = emittance of plate; Ta = ambi-
plate or glazing and insulation. The design requirements for the ab-
ent temperature (K); Tp,m = mean plate temperature (K); V = velocity
sorber plate are operating temperature range, maximum stagnant
of wind (air) in m/s; Tsky = Sky temperature = 0.0552 T 1:5 = Ta 6;
a temperature, operating flow rate and cost. The coating should ab-
hw = wind heat transfer coefficient (W/m2 °C) = 2.8 + 3.0V; sorb maximum energy and emits the minimum. The primary func-
C = 520(1 0.000051b2) for 0° < b < 70° (for 70° < b < 90°, use tion of the cover plate or glazing is to minimize the heat losses,
b = 70°). convection and radiation, from the collector plate.
The bottom loss coefficient is given by U b ¼ kL b ; where k and L Insulation is an important factor playing a very significant role
are the thermal conductivity and thickness of insulation respec- in minimizing the heat losses from the lower surface of the collec-
ðkÞ Ae tor plate and from the lateral edges of the collector. The insulation
tively. The edge loss coefficient is given by U e ¼ L Aec ; where
Ae = perimeter thickness of collector and Ac = collector area. So, material in a collector should have low thermal conductivity. The
the losses based on inlet temperature is UL (Ti Ta) 3600 author has used a two pass solar air heater for heating the room.
106 MJ/m2. Fig. 1 shows the flow chart of operations of the system.
Overall heat loss coefficient, collector efficiency and flow factors
are used to calculate the outlet temperature. Overall heat loss coef- 4. Components of the system
ficient is assumed to be constant along the flow direction. The col-
lector efficiency factor is essentially a constant for any design and A flat-plate collector (two pass) consists of cover plate of glass,
fluid-flow rate. It is denoted by F 0 and mainly dependent on the battens to hold the glass in place, air as heat exchanger medium,
geometry of the collector surface. Collector efficiency factor is de- metal plate painted black as absorber and insulation. Insulation
fined as is placed below the absorber plate to reduce the heat loss. A table
with foam. The heat storage medium like water drum, rock, etc.
The useful energy gain for a specified hour, per unit area of col- can also be used. The dimension of the collector is
lector is 101.6 76.2 cm2, absorber plate is 91.44 62.23 cm2 and inside
Please cite this article in press as: Wazed MA et al. Design and fabrication of a cost effective solar air heater for Bangladesh. Appl Energy (2010),
doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2010.02.014
ARTICLE IN PRESS
room volume is 784063.7 cm3. Fig. 3a and b are showing photo- transfer. Then the hot air comes out by the upper channel. Six dif-
graphs of the system respectively. ferent temperatures are observed for every half an hour by k-type
thermocouple and thermometer. The temperatures are inlet air,
outlet air, absorber surface, ambient, glass surface and room tem-
5. Data collection perature. The cover is kept clean to get best results. Air flow rate is
calculated from its velocity measured by anemometer (AlnorÒ
The author has set up the solar air heater on the roof of EME Model RVA801). The parameters have been measured both for nat-
building of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology ural draft and for forced draft. In case of natural circulation, the
(CUET), a public engineering university situated in the port city flow of air is due to the density difference. The hot air has lower
of Bangladesh, faced to south. The collector is tilted at an angle density than cold air, for this reason hot air goes upward naturally
of 35° and all the outlet air passages are sealed. In the two pass col- and cold takes the position. In forced draft, a small fan forces out
lector, cool air enters the collector at the bottom opening and gets the hot air. The air velocity is obtained as 0.03 m/s in case of nat-
heated by taking heat from the absorber surface by convection heat
Fig. 3. Photograph of solar air heater: (a) front view and (b) left view side.
Fig. 1. Flowchart of operations of the system.
Fig. 2. Drawing of the model type solar air heater from side. Fig. 4. Average values of hourly solar radiation and ambient temperatures.
Please cite this article in press as: Wazed MA et al. Design and fabrication of a cost effective solar air heater for Bangladesh. Appl Energy (2010),
doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2010.02.014
ARTICLE IN PRESS
ural draft. In contrary, the inlet and outlet air velocity are 0.9 m/s
and 0.3 m/s, respectively, for force draft. The average outside wind
velocity is observed as 2.5 m/s.
Please cite this article in press as: Wazed MA et al. Design and fabrication of a cost effective solar air heater for Bangladesh. Appl Energy (2010),
doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2010.02.014
ARTICLE IN PRESS
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Please cite this article in press as: Wazed MA et al. Design and fabrication of a cost effective solar air heater for Bangladesh. Appl Energy (2010),
doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2010.02.014