Analysis of Collector Performance Parameters in Three Sides Artificially Roughened and Glass Covered Solar Air Heater

Solar air heaters having artificially roughened absorber plate have been found to have higher heat transfer coefficient as compared to that of a solar air heater having a smooth (plane) absorber plate. A novel solar air heater with three artificially roughened absorber plates has been analyzed which result in more increase in heat transfer than that in only one side roughened solar air heaters. Optimal thermo hydraulic performance of one side roughened solar air heaters has been analyzed and investigated for the maximum heat transfer and the minimum pumping power (friction factor). The present paper deals with the results on collector performance parameters in three sides artificially roughened solar air heater with three sides glass covers. Results on the collector performance parameters, FR (τα) and FR UL, have been worked out with the help of the experimental data collected. The values of the collector heat removal factor, FR and plate efficiency factor, F', obtained, have been found to enhance in the range of 18 to 31 % and 20 to 25% respectively, as compared to one side roughened solar air heater and 51 to 60% and 41 to 49% respectively, as compared to smooth solar air heater, within the range of the parameters investigated.