ANSYS Fluent CFD Modeling of Solar Air-Heater Thermoaerodynamics

Abstract

Numerical modeling of thermal and aerodynamic processes taking place in a solar air heater with light-absorbing L-shaped fins is performed. The study is carried out by means of an ANSYS Fluent Solver with an integrated solar calculator for the city of Samara, Russia. The influence of the design (the step between the fins) and technological variables (the Reynolds number) on heat-exchange processes and flow aerodynamics was established during the CFD analysis. Pictorial contours are determined for the velocity distribution, pressure, and other characteristics of the airflow in the solar air-heater box. Thermoaerodynamic characteristics and effective values of technological parameters for the effective use of a solar air heater are studied. The maximum thermoaerodynamic characteristic for the solar air heater with a finned lightabsorbing surface is 1.91 for Re = 1500, and the minimum test fin pitch is 30 mm.