Professional Documents
Culture Documents
com
Received 26 December 2011; received in revised form 7 June 2012; accepted 25 June 2012
Available online 21 July 2012
Abstract
An experimental investigation has been carried out for a range of system and operating parameters in order to analyse the effect of
artificial roughness on heat transfer and friction characteristics in solar air heater duct which is having dimple shaped elements arranged
in angular fashion (arc) as roughness elements on absorber plate. Duct has an aspect ratio (W/H) of 11, relative roughness pitch (p/e)
range of 10–20, relative roughness height (e/Dh) range of 0.021–0.036, arc angle (a) range of 45–75° and Reynolds number (Re) ranges
from 3600 to 18,000. A considerable increase in heat transfer and friction loss has been observed. The experimental data have been used
to develop Nusselt number and friction factor correlations as a function of roughness parameters and operating parameters.
Ó 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Dimple shaped; Heat transfer; Nusselt number; Solar air heater
1. Introduction Jaurker et al. (2006) and Layek et al. (2007). The ribs
destroy the laminar sublayer and create turbulence in the
The use of artificial roughness on a surface is an effective flow. The turbulence leads to increase in pumping power
technique to enhance heat transfer to fluid flowing in ducts. which is required for flow of air in the duct. Therefore
This roughness can be provided by sand blasting, fixing roughness is created in such a region which is near to the
wires, wire mesh or by providing roughness in the form absorber plate i.e. laminar sublayer only.
of ribs, dimples, protrusion etc. reported by Dippery and The roughness was first used in solar air heater and
Sabersky (1963), Sheriff and Gumley (1966), Saini and resulted in better heat transfer in comparison to that in con-
Saini (1997), Saini and Verma (2008), Hans et al. (2009) ventional solar air heater by Prasad and Mullick (1985).
and Bhushan and Singh (2011). Several investigations have Prasad and Saini (1988) studied the effect of roughness
been carried out to study the effect of artificial roughness and flow parameters on heat transfer and friction factor
on heat transfer and friction factor used in compact heat for transverse ribs. It was observed that maximum heat
exchanger by Elyyan et al. (2008) and Webb (1994), gas transfer occurred near to the reattachment points. The max-
turbine cooling by Moon et al. (2000), Amro et al. (2007) imum enhancement in Nusselt number and friction factor
and in solar air heaters by Momin et al. (2002), Varun was reported to be 2.38 and 4.25 times respectively over
et al. (2008), Singh et al. (2011), Lanjewar et al. (2011), smooth duct. Verma and Prasad (2000) has been carried
out experimental study for thermohydraulic optimisation
⇑ Corresponding author. of the roughness and flow parameters for Reynolds number
E-mail address: varun7go@gmail.com (Varun). (Re) range of 5000–20,000, relative roughness pitch (p/e)
0038-092X/$ - see front matter Ó 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2012.06.024
M. Sethi et al. / Solar Energy 86 (2012) 2852–2861 2853
Nomenclature
range of 10–40 and relative roughness height (e/Dh) range parameters among different roughness geometries used in
of 0.01–0.03. The optimal thermohydraulic performance solar air heaters (Mittal et al., 2007; Sharma and Varun,
was reported to be 71%. Karwa et al. (1999) has been exper- 2010; Sethi et al., 2010). Sethi et al. (2010) has computed
imentally investigated the effect of repeated rectangular the effective efficiency for four types of discrete geometries
cross-section ribs on heat transfer and friction factor for (roughness elements) used in solar air heaters (V-shaped,
duct aspect ratio (W/H) range of 7.19–7.75, p/e value of dimple shaped, W-shaped and metal grit ribs). It has been
10, e/Dh range of 0.0467–0.050 and Re range of 2800– observed that dimple shaped roughness element shows the
15,000. The enhancement in the Stanton number was best performance among all. Sharma and Varun (2010) has
reported to be 65–90% while friction factor was found to also computed exergy efficiency for continuous types of
be 2.68–2.94 times as compared to smooth duct. Gupta roughness elements i.e. transverse ribs, angled ribs, wedge
et al. (1997) experimentally investigated the effect of e/Dh, shaped ribs, rib-grooved and arc shaped wire. Among these
inclination of rib with respect to flow direction and Rey- five types of roughness elements arc shaped wire shows the
nolds number (Re) on the thermohydraulic performance best performance. As the above literature shows that the
of a roughened solar air heater. The detailed studies on dimple shaped elements and angular arc perform better
roughness geometries used in solar air heater ducts are also among all the roughness geometries which has been used
available in Varun et al. (2007), Hans et al. (2009) and in solar air heaters. Therefore, this present investigation
Bhushan and Singh (2010). has been carried out with the objective of extensive exper-
The application of artificial roughness in the form of dim- imentation on dimple shape roughness element for identifi-
ples on absorber plate is attractive roughness geometry for cation of optimum positioning of the dimples to maximise
solar air heater due to its less complicated manufacturing heat transfer coefficient and minimise friction penalty. To
process (spherical indentation). Because of this characteris- achieve the stated objective, dimple shaped elements were
tic, dimples do not add extra weight to the absorber plate arranged in angular fashion (arc) to use the benefit of both
(Saini and Verma, 2008). Moon et al. (2000) investigated shape and pattern (optimal configuration) on the underside
the effect of channel height on the heat transfer and friction of the absorber plate of a solar air heater. Thus experimen-
factor in a dimpled channel. The thermal performance of tation data has been collected to see the effect of roughness
dimpled surface was superior to that of continuous ribs. parameters on heat transfer and friction characteristics.
The heat transfer enhancement with concavities can be Using this experimental data, correlations for Nusselt num-
achieved with a relatively low pressure penalty. Elyyan ber and friction factor have also been developed.
et al. (2008) carried out a detailed heat transfer and flow
study on a dimpled plate and identified increment in the heat 1.1. Roughness parameters
transfer is due to the formation of vortex structures.
Many performance studies on roughened solar air hea- Dimple shaped roughness elements have been generated
ter have also been carried out to compare the performance on the absorber plate to create roughness in the duct. A
2854 M. Sethi et al. / Solar Energy 86 (2012) 2852–2861
Fig. 1. (a) Diagram of the absorber plate. (b) Pictorial view of the absorber plate.
Table 1
sections namely entry section, test section and exit section.
Values of flow and roughness parameter.
A schematic diagram of the experimental setup is shown
S. No. Parameter Range
in Fig. 2. The duct is having dimensions for inner cross-sec-
1 Aspect ratio (W/H) 11 tion as 2300 mm 330 mm 30 mm. The test section has a
2 Relative roughness height (e/Dh) 0.021–0.036
length of 1500 mm and the length of entry and exit section
3 Relative roughness pitch (p/e) 10–20
4 Arc angle (a) 45–75° was provided as 530 mm and 270 mm respectively. These
5 Ratio of dimple depth to print diameter (e/d) 0.5 (fixed) lengths were taken as per the ASHRAE Standard 93-77
6 Reynolds number 3600–18,000 (1977). An electric heater having size of 1500 mm
330 mm was fabricated by combining series and parallel
schematic and pictorial view of roughness geometry is loops of heating nichrome wire on a 5 mm thick asbestos
shown in Fig. 1a and b. Rib roughness parameters in sheet. A mica sheet of 1 mm thick was placed on the
non dimensional form have been expressed as, relative nichrome wire to get uniform radiations between the electric
roughness pitch (p/e), relative roughness height (e/Dh) and heater and absorber plate. The heat flux may be varied from
arc angle (a). The dimples were produced by spherical 0 to 1200 W/m2 with the help of a variable transformer
indentation on the underside of the absorber plate. The which is connected across it. A 100 mm thick layer of glass
range of rib roughness parameters and operating parame- wool as an insulating material and a 12 mm thick wooden
ters is given in Table 1. The following procedure has been panel was provided in order to minimise the heat loses from
adopted to study the friction and heat transfer characteris- the top side of the electric heater. A 2 mm aluminium sheet
tics of roughened duct. For studying the effect of e/Dh, p/e having roughness on its underside was provided as absorber
and a on heat transfer and friction characteristics, 27 plate. The mass flow rate of air was measured by means of a
roughened plates were experimentally investigated at vari- calibrated orifice meter connected with a U-tube manome-
ous mass flow rates. ter. Control valves were provided to control the flow. Cali-
brated T type thermocouples were used to measure the
2. Experimental program and procedure temperature of air and absorbing plate temperature at dif-
ferent locations. A digital milli-voltmeter was used to indi-
An experimental setup has been designed and fabricated cate the output of the thermocouples. The pressure drop
to study the effect of roughness element on heat transfer and across the test section was measured with the help of a
fluid flow characteristics in rectangular duct. The range of micro-manometer.
parameters is decided on the basis of practical consider- For each experimental run, initially all the instruments,
ations of system and operating conditions. Experimental viz. micro-manometer, milli-voltmeter, U-tube manometer,
setup consists of wooden channel that includes three voltmeter and ammeter were checked for their correctness
M. Sethi et al. / Solar Energy 86 (2012) 2852–2861 2855
and all joints were carefully checked to avoid any air leak-
age. Data was recorded under quasi-steady state (when
there is no appreciable change in temperature for 10–
15 min) conditions for the air temperature at different
points on the duct and temperature of absorber plate at
12 different locations. In the beginning quasi-steady state
was attained in 2–3 h. After that it will take 1–1.5 h to
attain quasi-steady state. At this state pressure drop across
orifice meter and across test section has been measured.
3. Data reduction
Fig. 5. Variation of the Nusselt number with the Reynolds number for
different values of p/e and for fixed e/Dh = 0.036 and a = 45°.
Nu
h i
0:047 0:0048
Re 1:1386
ðp=eÞ ða=60Þ exp 0:7792ðlnða=60ÞÞ2
¼ D0 ðe=Dh Þ0:3629
ð12Þ
Fig. 16. Variation of friction factor with the Reynolds number. Fig. 19. Plot of {Nu/Re0.223(p/e)-0.059(a/60°)0.0042 exp[0.4801(ln(a/
60°))2]} versus e/Dh.
Fig. 17. Plot of (f/Re0.223) versus (p/e). Fig. 20. Comparison of the experimental and predicted value of the
Nusselt numbers.
A similar procedure has been followed to develop the f ¼ 4:869 101 ðe=Dh Þ0:2663 Re0:223
correlation for the friction factor. The values of the coeffi- 0:059 0:0042
ðp=eÞ ða=60Þ
cients are the function of flow parameter and roughness 2
parameter as show in Figs. 16–19. expb0:4801ðlnða=60ÞÞ c ð14Þ
2860 M. Sethi et al. / Solar Energy 86 (2012) 2852–2861
The comparison of experimental and predicted values of Bhushan, B., Singh, R., 2011. Nusselt number and friction factor
the Nusselt number and the friction factor are presented in correlations for solar air heater duct having artificially roughened
absorber plate. Solar Energy 85, 1109–1118.
Figs. 20 and 21 respectively. The plot between experimental Dippery, D.F., Sabersky, R.H., 1963. Heat and momentum transfer in
and predicted value of the Nusselt number shows that the smooth and rough tubes at various Prandtl number. International
deviation is ±8% which is in a good acceptable limit. The Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 6 (5), 329–332.
plot between experimental and predicted value of the fric- Elyyan, M.A., Rozati, A., Tafti, D.K., 2008. Investigation of dimple fins
tion factor shows the deviation is ±8% which is also in for heat transfer enhancement in compact heat exchangers. Interna-
tional Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 51, 2950–2966.
an acceptable limit. Gupta, D., Solanki, S.C., Saini, J.S., 1997. Thermohydraulic performance
of solar air heaters with roughened absorber plates. Solar Energy 61
(1), 33–42.
6. Conclusions Hans, V.S., Saini, R.P., Saini, J.S., 2009. Performance of artificially
roughened solar air heaters – a review. Renewable and Sustainable
An extensive experimental study has been carried out to Energy Reviews 13 (8), 1854–1869.
predict the heat transfer and flow characteristics of a solar Hwang, S.D., Kwon, H.G., Cho, H.H., 2008. Heat transfer with dimple/
air heater having roughened duct provided with dimple protrusion arrays in a rectangular duct with a low Reynolds number
range. International Journal of Heat and Fluid flow 29, 916–926.
shaped roughness arranged in angular fashion as on the Jaurker, A.R., Saini, J.S., Gandhi, B.K., 2006. Heat transfer coefficient
absorber plate. It can be concluded that heat transfer can and friction characteristics of rectangular solar air heater duct using
be enhanced effectively by providing this type of roughness rib-grooved artificial roughness. Solar Energy 80 (8), 895–907.
element on the absorber plate. Nusselt number and friction Karwa, R., Solanki, S.C., Saini, J.S., 1999. Heat transfer coefficient and
factor are the strong function of system and operating friction factor correlations for the transitional flow regime in rib
roughened rectangular ducts. International Journal of Heat and Mass
parameters. Transfer 42 (9), 1597–1615.
Kline, S.J., McClintock, F.P., 1953. Describing uncertainties in single-
1. Nusselt number increases whereas friction factor sample experiments. Mechanical Engineering 75, 3–8.
decreases with the increase in Reynolds number. Values Kore, S.S., Joshi, S.V., Sane, N.K., 2011. Experimental investigations of
of friction factor and Nusselt number are higher as com- heat transfer enhancement from dimpled surface in a channel.
International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology 3 (8),
pared to the smooth ones. 6227–6234.
2. The maximum value of Nusselt number has been found Lanjewar, A., Bhagoria, J.L., Sarviya, R.M., 2011. Heat transfer and
corresponding to relative roughness height of 0.036, rel- friction in solar air heater duct with W-shaped rib roughness on
ative roughness pitch of 10 and arc angle of 60°. absorber plate. Energy 36, 4531–4541.
3. The statistical correlation for Nusselt number and fric- Layek, A., Saini, J.S., Solanki, S.C., 2007. Heat transfer and friction
characteristics for artificially roughened ducts with compound turbu-
tion factor has been developed as a function of Reynolds lators. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 50 (23–24),
number and roughness geometry parameters. In the 4845–4854.
range of studied parameters, the maximum deviation Mittal, M.K., Varun, Saini, R.P., Singal, S.K., 2007. Effective efficiency of
for Nusselt number and friction factor has been found solar air heaters having different roughness geometry on absorber
to be ±8% and ±8% respectively. plate. Energy 32 (5), 739–745.
Momin, A.M.E., Saini, J.S., Solanki, S.C., 2002. Heat transfer and friction
in solar air heater duct with V-shaped rib roughness on absorber plate.
International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 45 (16), 3383–3396.
Acknowledgements Moon, H.K., O’Connell, T.O., Glezer, B., 2000. Channel height effect on
heat transfer and friction in a dimpled passage. Transactions of ASME
This work has been carried out in the Department of Journal of Gas Turbine and Power 122 (2), 307–313.
Prasad, K., Mullick, S.C., 1985. Heat transfer characteristics of a solar air
Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, heater used for drying purposes. Applied Energy 13, 83–93.
Hamirpur (HP), India. The authors acknowledge the Lab Prasad, B.N., Saini, J.S., 1988. Effect of artificial roughness on heat transfer
Technician Mr. Devraj Thakur for their support. Authors and friction factor in solar air heater. Solar Energy 41, 555–560.
also thanks to Mr. Gaurav Bharadwaj and Mr. Maneesh Saini, R.P., Saini, J.S., 1997. Heat transfer and friction factor correlations
Kaushal student of Thermal Engineering for their support for artificially roughened ducts with expanded metal mesh as rough-
ened element. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 40 (4),
during experimentation work. The authors also acknowl- 973–986.
edge the anonymous reviewer for his valuable comments. Saini, R.P., Verma, J., 2008. Heat transfer and friction factor correlations
for a duct having dimple-shape artificial roughness for solar air
References heaters. Energy 33 (8), 1277–1287.
Sethi, M., Sharma, M., Varun, 2010. Effective efficiency prediction for
Amro, M., Weigand, B., Poser, R., Schnieder, M., 2007. An experimental discrete type of ribs used in solar air heaters. International Journal of
investigation of the heat transfer in a ribbed triangular cooling Energy and Environment 1 (2), 333–342.
channel. International Journal of Thermal Sciences 46 (5), 491–500. Sharma, M., Varun, 2010. Performance estimation of artificially rough-
ASHRAE Standard 93-77, 1977. Method of Testing to Determine the ened solar air heater duct provided with continuous ribs. International
Thermal Performance of Solar Collectors. American Society of Journal of Energy and Environment 1 (5), 897–910.
Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers, New York. Sheriff, N., Gumley, P., 1966. Heat transfer and friction properties of
Bhushan, B., Singh, R., 2010. A review on methodology of artificial surfaces with discrete roughness. International Journal of Heat and
roughness used in duct of solar air heaters. Energy 35 (1), 202–212. Mass Transfer 9 (12), 1297–1320.
M. Sethi et al. / Solar Energy 86 (2012) 2852–2861 2861
Singh, S., Chander, S., Saini, J.S., 2011. Heat transfer and friction factor Varun, Saini, R.P., Singal, S.K., 2008. Investigation of thermal perfor-
correlations of solar air heater ducts artificially roughened with mance of solar air heater having roughness elements as a combination
discrete V-down ribs. Energy 36, 5053–5064. of inclined and transverse ribs on the absorber plate. Renewable
Varun, Mittal, M.K., 2006. Heat transfer and friction characteristics in Energy 33 (6), 1398–1405.
rectangular channel having inclined and transverse ribs on the Verma, S.K., Prasad, B.N., 2000. Investigation for the optimal thermo-
absorber plate. Journal of the Institution of Engineers (India) 87, hydraulic performance of artificially roughened solar air heaters.
26–29. Renewable Energy 20, 9–36.
Varun, Saini, R.P., Singal, S.K., 2007. A review on roughness geometry Webb, R.L., 1994. Principles of Enhanced Heat Transfer. John Wiley &
used in solar air heaters. Solar Energy 81, 1340–1350. Sons Inc, New York.