Effect of Global Solar Radiation on the Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop Characteristics of Double Flow Packed Bed Solar Air Heater

An analytical study was conducted to evaluate the thermal performance of a new solar air heater using wire mesh packed bed in double flow. Using the first law of thermodynamics the energy balance equation were written and the expression for temperature rise and thermal efficiency have been developed. Results showed that the global solar radiation shows an enhancement in the temperature rise through the packed bed double flow solar air heater and this is a strong function of mass flow rates. An enhancement of 3.43 to 4.34 times has been found in temperature rise and 4 to 5% enhancement in thermal efficiency for the investigator range of global solar radiation and mass flow rate. Also the pressure drop has been found independent of global solar radiation.