Mathematical Modelling and Performance Analysis of Flat Plate Solar Dryer- CFD Simulation Approach

Abstract

This study focuses on the investigation of enhancing convective heat transfer between the absorber and the air inside a channel. The investigation approaches modeling different absorber through CFD simulation and validating the result with experimental data. Supplying air to both sides of the top and the bottom surfaces of the absorber increase the air mass flow rate and therefore increases the thermal efficiency of the dryer. The studies in a V-grooved absorber attain high hot air velocity; high thermal efficiency resulted from high turbulence created in the duct. For the sample taken with a flow range, 0.01kg/s to 0.06 kg/s, the high output temperature was observed in a lower temperature range and increases as the flow rate increases. At a flow rate 0.01 kg/s, the velocity of hot air passing over the V-grooved absorber attain 0.28 m/s and increased to 1.4 m/s as the mass flow rate increased to 0.06 kg/s. For the rectangular absorber, the velocity of hot air attains 0.15 m/s at a flow rate of 0.01 kg/s and increased to 1.46 m/s as the mass flow rate increases to 0.06 kg/s. The double-sided V-grooved absorber contributes 8 – 12.40% value more efficiency compared to the rectangular plate with the same flow orientation. Further investigation is recommended taking the quantitative analysis obtained in this study and generating qualitative data.