Abstract—This paper reports the results of a performance study in solar air heater subjected to single/ double pass flow patterns. The effect of varied mass flow rate (24.84 kg/hr, 50.04 kg/hr and 75.05 kg/hr) at similar solar intensity is investigated on single/double pass solar air heater. Experimental findings show a better thermal efficiency for double pass conditions. In double pass air heater, the temperature of air at collector exit decreases at higher mass flow rate (75.05 kg/hr). The thermal efficiency of the collector increases due to reduced losses to ambience. Similar results were obtained for single pass (over flow and under flow) experimental conditions. Further the glass plate temperature and absorber plate temperature is found to be lower at high mass flow rate (75.05 kg/hr) employing double pass.

Index Terms—Solar air heater, Under flow, Over flow, Single pass, Double pass

Cite: P Velmurugan and R Kalaivanan, "Effect of Diverse Stream Patterns on the Performance of Solar Air Heater," International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics Research, Vol.2, No. 1, pp. 65-70, January 2013.