A detailed review on research, technology, configurations and application of wire ribs as artificial roughness in rectangular solar air heater duct

Abstract

Use of artificial roughness in the duct of solar air heater (SAH) has been an interesting area of research during the last few decades. In present review article a holistic view about application of circular shape wire ribs as roughness element and its different geometry on the absorber plate of SAH duct for performance enhancement has been done. This article, reported in details numerous experimental as well as analytical studies for rib roughened SAHs which have been carried out by different researchers positively. Correlations for heat transfer and friction factor, developed by various investigators for different artificially roughened solar air heaters (SAHs) geometry have been reported in chronological order and in well tabulated form. The roughness and operating parameters into which investigators have obtained their maximum performances of SAHs have also been presented separately in the table. Effects of various rib roughness parameters on heat transfer and fluid flow process are also discussed in details.