INTERNATIONAL

JOURNAL
MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING
AND
International Journal of
Mechanical OF
Engineering
and Technology
(IJMET), ISSN 0976

6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online)

Volume 3, Issue
2, May-August (2012), IAEME
TECHNOLOGY
(IJMET)
ISSN 0976 6340 (Print)
ISSN 0976 6359 (Online)
Volume 3, Issue 2, May-August (2012), pp. 387-396
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IJMET
IAEME

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF SOLAR AIR HEATER

USING POROUS MEDIUM
Ajay Kumar Kapardar *; Dr. R. P. Sharma **
* Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, India
E-mail: ajaykapardar@gmail.com
**Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, India
E-mail: rpsbit123@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
The experimental study of single pass solar air heater with different porous media has been
conducted. The experiments were conducted by changing the parameter that influences the
thermal efficiency of the collector. The efficiency of solar air heater has been examined by
changing the mass flow rate and using different types of porous media. Porous media
provided large area for the heat transfer and therefore have high heat transfer co-efficient.
Their use as absorbers enhances heat transfer from the absorber to the air stream. In the
present study it has been found that efficiency of solar air heater using steel wool as a
porous medium is higher than glass wool (porous media) as well as conventional air heater
also.
Key word: Porous medium, solar air heater, thermal efficiency, mass flow rate
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Solar energy collector is a special type of heat exchanger that transforms solar radiation
energy into internal energy of the transport medium. The simplest method to utilize solar
energy for heating applications is to convert it into thermal energy by using solar
collectors. Basically, there are two types of flat-plate solar heating collectors; water
heating collectors and air heating collectors. The pace of development of air heating
collector is slow compared to water heating collector mainly due to lower thermal
efficiency. Solar air heaters are considered to be compact and less complicated as
compared to solar water heaters. These are also free from corrosion and freezing problems.
Solar air heater can be fabricated using cheaper as well as lesser amount of material and is
simpler to use than solar water heater. Solar air collectors are widely used for low
moderate temperature applications like space heating, crop drying, timber seasoning and
other industrial applications. Conventional solar air collectors have poor thermal efficiency
principally due to high heat loses and low convective heat transfer coefficient between the
absorber plate and flowing air stream. Many researches have attempted to improve the
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International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976

6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online) Volume 3, Issue 2, May-August (2012), IAEME

thermal performance of conventional solar air collectors by employing various design and
flow arrangements.
Wao etal.[1] used the sine wave absorber in place of plane absorber plate and numerically
studied the natural convection inside the channel between cover and the sine wave
absorber by single pass flat plate solar air collector. Garg etal.[2]used an absorber with fin
attached in order to improve the thermal performance of single pass solar air collector.
Yeh[3] studied the effect of parallel barriers on the collector efficiency of single pass flat
plate solar collector. Sodha etal.[4] presented the performance of solar air heater with
matrix. Ahmad etal.[5] investigate the effect of absorber matrix, mass flow rates and solar
energy flux on a packed bed single pass solar air collector. Metwally etal.[6]
experimentally investigate the thermal performance of corrugated duct solar air collector.
Dhiman and Tiwari [7] studied performance of a two channel suspended flat-plate solar air
heater. Sahu and Bhugoria [8] reported the augmentation of heat transfer coefficient by
using transverse ribs on absorber plate of solar air collector. Karwa etal.[9] presented the
performance of solar air heaters having integral chamfered rib roughness on absorber plate.
Mohamad [10] analyzed the performance of counter flow solar air heater with a porous
matrix. Naphon etal.[11] applied the mathematical models for predicting heat transfer
characteristics and performance of various configuration of flat-plate solar air collector.
The thermal performance of a packed bed double pass solar air heater was presented by
Ramadan etal. [12]. Sopain.K. [13] carried out the simulation study and the thermal
performance of double pass solar heater with and without porous media. The use of porous
packing material for improving the performance of solar air collector has been proposed by
many investigators including Kolb etal. [14]. Varshney and Saini [15] & Thakur etal. [16]
investigated this kind of arrangement for single pass solar collectors. Paisarn Niphan [17]
has presented the mathematical model for predicting the heat transfer characteristics, the
performance, and heat generation of double-pass solar air heater with longitudinal fins. It
was found that the thermal efficiency increases with increasing the height and number of
fins. Ramani etal. [18] has developed a mathematical model for predicting the thermal
performance of a double pass solar air collector with porous media and reveals that thermal
efficiency of double pass solar collector with porous media is 20-25% higher.
2.0 POROUS MEDIA
A porous medium (or a porous material) is a material containing pores (voids). The
skeletal portion of the material is often called the "matrix" or "frame". The pores are
typically filled with a fluid (liquid or gas). The skeletal material is usually a solid, but
structures like foams are often also usefully analyzed using concept of porous media. A
porous medium is most often characterized by its porosity. Other properties of the medium
(e.g., permeability, tensile strength, electrical conductivity) can sometimes be derived from
the respective properties of its constituents (solid matrix and fluid) and the media porosity
and pores structure, but such a derivation is usually complex. Even the concept of porosity
is only straightforward for a poro-elastic medium. Often both the solid matrix and the pore
network (also known as the pore space) are continuous, so as to form two interpenetrating
continua such as in a sponge. However, there is also a concept of closed porosity and
effective porosity, i.e., the pore space accessible to flow.
The concept of porous media is used in many areas of applied science and engineering:
filtration, mechanics (acoustics, geomechanics, soil mechanics, rock mechanics),
engineering (petroleum engineering, bio-remediation, construction engineering),

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International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976

6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online) Volume 3, Issue 2, May-August (2012), IAEME

geosciences (hydrogeology, petroleum geology, geophysics), biology and biophysics,

material science, etc. Fluid flow through porous media is a subject of most common
interest and has emerged a separate field of study. The study of more general behaviour of
porous media involving deformation of the solid frame is called poromechanics.
3.0 EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
The experimental setup is shown in figure.1 for the estimation of mass flow rate and
efficiency of the flat plate air heater under varying conditions.

Solar air heater

Thermometer

Manometer

Figure1: Working model of the flat plate single pass solar air heater.
The frame of the solar collector was cuboidal in shape and made of plywood of 10mm
thickness. The internal dimension was 1m0.5m0.15m. The top surface of the collector
was left open for glass cover. Aluminium channels were nailed onto the top of the frame to
secure the glass cover. The inlet was a 10 cm hole drilled on the side surface near the
bottom. For the outlet section 3 holes each of 1 inch diameter were drilled on the adjacent
surface near top. Angle of the stand was set at angle of 28.A glazed glass sheet measuring
1.02m x 0.52m x 5mm was used as the single glass cover for the apparatus. The
characteristics of the glass were: Reflectivity 0.1, Transmittivity 0.88. A thermocol sheet
measuring 0.9m x 0.5m x 2.5cm was secured to the bottom surface of the wooden frame by
nails and glue. It was used to minimize heat loss from the absorber to the surroundings.
Multiple aluminium sheets were used to cover the entire floor area of the collector. To
increase absorptivity of heat the aluminium sheets were painted black.3 pipes of diameter 1
inch were attached to the outlet holes in the collector frame. The three parallel pipes fed a
larger outlet pipe of 1.5 inch diameter through T joint couplers. The outlet section was
insulated with foam wherever possible to minimize or eliminate heat exchange with the
surroundings. To measure the different flow rates achieved while conducting the
experiment, an orifice section from an existing pipe (from scrap) was sawed off and
attached to the end of the outlet section via a 1.5 x 1 reducer. The orifice was of 8mm
diameter and the pipe diameter was of 1. There were two holes on either side of the
orifice which were attached to a U-tube manometer for flow measurement. The outlet from
the orifice led directly to the DC fan creating an induced draught. Glass wool and steel
wool were used as porous medium for experiment.

International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976

6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online) Volume 3, Issue 2, May-August (2012), IAEME

Glass Wool
Glass wool (UK) or fiberglass insulation (US) is an insulating material made from
fiberglass, arranged into a texture similar to wool. Glass wool is produced in rolls or in
slabs, with different thermal and mechanical properties.
Steel wool
Steel wool, also known as wire wool, is a bundle of strands of very fine soft steel
filaments, used in finishing and repairing work to polish wood or metal objects, for
cleaning household cookware and light painting. Steel wool is made from low-carbon steel
(low enough to be close to plain iron).
U-tube manometer was used to measure the differential pressure between two sections in
terms of difference of height of liquid column in both limbs of the manometer. In this case
the two different limbs were connected to either side of the orifice for flow measurement.
The liquid used was coloured water (blue). The manometer also had a graduated scale
(1mm Least Count) for measuring the difference in liquid levels.
Q = CAc
2g(P P )
Where C =

( )


Where:
Q = volumetric flow rate (at any cross section)
Cd = coefficient of discharge
C = orifice flow coefficient
d1= diameter of the pipe, m
P1 = fluid upstream pressure
P2 = fluid downstream pressure
= fluid density
Following are the experimental graphs, which are plotted after calculation.

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International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976

6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online) Volume 3, Issue 2, May-August (2012), IAEME

EXPERIMENTAL DATA FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FLAT PLATE AIR

HEATER UNDER VARYING CONDITIONS
WITHOUT POROUS MEDIA (15TH MARCH)

Volume flow
rate (litr./min.)

Mass flow rate

(in kg/hr.)

Efficiency
(percent)

27

55

28

1.5

1.062293

16.56

1.055494

1.69266

962

27

56.5

29.5

1.5

1.057457

16.62

1.054496

1.796468

955

29

54.5

25.5

2.5

1.063915

21.36

1.363513

2.022663

951

29.5

55

25.5

2.5

1.062293

21.42

1.365259

2.033771

935

30

54.5

24.5

2.5

1.063915

21.36

1.363513

1.984912

930

30.5

54

23.5

1.065541

23.4

1.49602

2.100148

900

31

54

23

3.5

1.065541

25.26

1.614935

2.292808

T (Outlet Ambient) (deg

C)
p (in mm of
H2O)

Density (kg/cu.
Metre)

12:06
p.m.
12:14
p.m.
12:36
p.m.
12:48
p.m.
01:00
p.m.
01:05
p.m.
01:15
p.m.

Outlet
Temperature
(deg C)

970

Intensity
of
Solar Radiation
I (W/sq. m)
Ambient
Temperature
(deg. C)

Time (11:15
a.m. - 01:15
p.m.)

Performance of Solar Collector without porous media on Thursday (15th Mar. 2012)

Temp. difference

Mass Flow Rate vs. Efficiency

E
f
f
i
c
e
n
c
y

Mass Flow Rate vs. Temp.

difference

40

Mass Flow Rate vs. Efficiency

Poly. (Mass Flow Rate vs. Efficiency)
2.5
2

30
20
10

1.5
0

0.5
0
0

0.5

1.5

Mass Flow rate

Fig. 2

391

1
Mass Flow Rate

Mass
Flow
Rate
vs.
Temp.
differe
nce

International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976

6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online) Volume 3, Issue 2, May-August (2012), IAEME

WITH STEEL WOOL AS POROUS MEDIA (20TH MARCH)

PACKING DENSITY 400 GRAMS IN 0.075 CUBIC METER OF

COLLECTOR SPACE

p (in mm of
H2O)

69

44

1.5

1.018807

16.92

1.03429

2.619970

968

25

68

43

1.5

1.021795

16.92

1.03732

2.559976

962

26

66.5

40.5

1.026309

19.57

1.20509

2.818563

973

27

66

39

2.5

1.027823

20.46

1.26175

2.809665

970

28

64.5

36.5

1.032391

22.44

1.39001

2.905808

969

28

64

36

3.5

1.033923

24.3

1.50746

3.111372

965

29

63

34

1.037

26.1

1.62394

3.178701

Mass Flow Rate vs.

Efficiency
3.5

E
3
f
f 2.5
i 2
c 1.5
e 1
n
0.5
c
y 0

Mass
Flow
Rate vs.
Efficien
cy

Temp. difference

50

Efficiency
(percent)

Mass Flow Rate vs. Temp. difference

40

Mass Flow
Rate vs. Temp.
difference

30
20
10
0
0

Mass flow rate

(in kg/hr.)

T (Outlet
Ambient) (deg
C)

25

Vol. flow rate

(litr./min.)

Outlet Temp.
(deg C)

965

Density (kg/cu.
m)(average)

Ambient Temp.
(deg. C)

11:10
a.m.
11:30
a.m.
11:45
a.m.
12:05
p.m.
12:20
p.m.
12:40
p.m.
01:00
p.m.

Intensity of
Solar Radiation I
(W/sq. m)

Time (11:10
a.m. 01:40
p.m.)

Performance of Solar Collector with steel as porous media (20th Mar. 2012)

1
Mass Flow Rate

Mass Flow rate

Fig. 3

392

Poly. (Mass
Flow Rate vs.
Temp.
difference)

International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976

6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online) Volume 3, Issue 2, May-August (2012), IAEME

WITH GLASS WOOL AS POROUS MEDIA (26 MARCH)

PACKING DENSITY 578 GRAMS IN 0.075 CUBIC METER OF COLLECTOR
SPACE

Ambient Temp.
(deg. C)

Outlet Temp. (deg

C)

T (Outlet
Ambient) (deg C)

p (in mm of H2O)

Density (kg/cu.
m)(average)

Vol. flow rate

(litr./min.)

Mass flow rate (in

kg/hr.)

Efficiency
(percent)

960

28

60

32

1.5

1.046343

16.92

1.062247

1.967123

960

27.5

59.5

32

1.5

1.047916

16.92

1.063844

1.970082

960

28.5

60

31.5

1.046343

19.57

1.228615

2.239663

960

28.5

59

30.5

2.5

1.049494

20.46

1.288359

2.274013

960

28.5

59.5

31

1.047916

22.44

1.410914

2.531153

960

29

59

30

3.5

1.049494

24.3

1.530162

2.656532

960

29

58.5

29.5

1.051077

26.1

1.645987

2.809988

Mass Flow Rate vs. Temp.

difference
50

Mass Flow Rate vs. Efficiency

E3.5
f 3
f2.5
i 2
c
1.5
e
n 1
c0.5
y 0

Mass Flow
Rate vs.
Efficiency

Temp. difference

10.30
am
10.45
am
11.00
am
11.15
am
11.30
am
11.45
am
12.00
pm

Avg.Intensity of
Solar Radiation I
(W/sq. m)

Time (10.00 a.m.

12.00 p.m.)

Performance of Solar Collector with glass wool porous media (26th Mar. 2012)

40
30

Mass
Flow Rate
vs. Temp.
differenc
e

20
10
0
0

Mass Flow rate

Mass Flow Rate

Fig.4

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International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976

6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online) Volume 3, Issue 2, May-August (2012), IAEME

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

The useful gain by the solar collector to solar radiation with measured values of
fluid inlet (Ti) and outlet temperature (To) and the fluid mass flow rate (m) is given
as follows
Qu = mCP (To- Ti)
Where CP is the specific heat of the fluid. The density of the outlet air which was
varying with the outlet temperature and ranged from 1-1.1kg/m3 was assumed
constant at 1.05 kg/m3.
The efficiency of the collector is given by
=





where Ac is the area of the collector, S is the solar radiation incident on the
collector.
The air was heated up relatively quickly with time. However the maximum
temperature achieved was 55-56oC. The heat retentiveness of the collector was
relatively poor as compared to the collector having porous media. Inconsistencies
and undulations in the curves of mass flow rate vs temperature differences occurred
due to the low mass flow rate obtained. However it was generally observed that the
efficiency increased with the increasing mass flow of air and the temperature
difference between inlet and outlet was inversely proportional to the mass flow rate
although the nature of the curve was not determined over the small range of mass
flow. The methods of conducting the experiment for both porous and non-porous
media were almost same. The outlet temperatures obtained for steel wool as heat
transfer media were higher (max 690C) than those for glass wool (max 620C). The
efficiency curves were also of a similar nature.
However, the heat retentivity of the collector with glass wool was observed to be
better than the corresponding characteristic for steel wool although comparative
tables for similar times of exposure without sunlight are not tabulated. It means that
when the collector is used at night, utilizing the stored solar energy, the collector
having glass wool would supply warmer air for longer time than steel wool or
without porous media.
The comparative graphs for the performances of the 3 designs are as shown:
From fig.5 efficiency of the collector is strongly dependent on mass flow rate. The
collector efficiencies increase with flow rate. Efficiency increase is about 39.29% at
mass flow rate of (0.9-1.6) kg/hr when steel wool was used as porous media where
efficiency increased by 32.25 at same conditions when glass wool was used with
respect to the conventional solar air collector.

394

International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976

6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online) Volume 3, Issue 2, May-August (2012), IAEME

From fig.6 by using porous media that is steel wool highest temperature was noted
i.e 690C when steel wool was used as porous media as compared to 620C when
glass wool was used.

Fig. 5

Fig. 6
CONCLUSION
Performances curves of single pass solar air collector with steel wool and glass wool was
used as porous media and conventional solar air collector have been obtained. These
include the effects of mass flow rate and solar radiation on efficiency of solar collector.
The efficiency of the collector is strongly dependent on the flow rate. It increases with flow
rate. The solar collector with porous media as steel wool has efficiency about 26% more
than the conventional one whereas it is about 10% more when glass wool is used.
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