Abstract
Homes relying on traditional heating systems such as furnaces, stoves, boilers, and similar mechanisms typically have a common requirement: the use of fossil fuels. Since fossil fuel prices are prone to fluctuations, it is crucial to explore alternative options. In the ongoing transition towards more sustainable solutions, solar energy emerges as an environmentally friendly choice due to its renewable nature. A pivotal device in harnessing solar energy for heating purposes is the solar air heater. This study presents a numerical analysis conducted using the CFD simulation software ANSYS, focusing on the performance characteristics of a pumpless solar room air heater that incorporates sectioning. The aim was to optimize the dimensions, specifically the pitch or distance between the turbulator features, and predict the heat exchanger’s thermal performance by measuring the associated head loss. To validate their findings, the researchers compared the predicted results from the CFD simulation with the calculated results using an Excel solver. Throughout the calculations, the impact of design variations (sectioning the pipe at different lengths relative to head loss) and the Reynolds number on stream aerodynamics and heat exchange processes were considered. The findings revealed a linear relationship between temperature and distance between the turbulators, with the heat-transfer measurements increasing alongside this distance.
