Solar Air Heater - An Analysis for thermal performance

2D computational analysis is carried out to assess the comparative performance of the absorb-er plate of a solar air heater with T-shape rectangular roughness elements using commercial software packages Fluent 14.5 are investigated at the Reynolds number range from 4000-16000 in which solar air heater normally operate. The k-ɛ turbulence model is selected by comparing the predictions of different turbulence models with experimental results available in the literature. Using the selected turbulence model a computational analysis is carried out to predict the heat transfer performance and flow friction characteristics of absorb-er plates with T-shape and rectangular rib roughness elements.