IMPACT OF SOLAR IRRADIANCE AND AIR MASS FLOW RATE ON THE THERMAL PERFORMANCE OF A DOUBLE-PASS SOLAR AIR HEATER WITH FINS

The impacts of sun irradiation and air mass flow rate are investigated in this study, along with the thermal performance of an aluminum fin double-pass solar air heater. A 35-lamp tungsten halogen artificial sun simulator, which can produce irradiance levels between 600 and 1000 W/m², is used in the experimental setting.After passing through the bottom channel, air is allowed to depart the system after absorbing heat from the glass and absorber plate that has been reinforced with fins. The collector is intended to improve convective heat transmission and has an insulated body, a 4 mm glass top, and a finned aluminum absorber plate. By means of a regulated blower system, mass flow rates ranging from 0.014 to 0.0261 kg/s are evaluated. The glass, absorber, fins, and air inlet/outlet temperatures are monitored using a multi-channel data logger. Heat uptake, airflow behavior, and overall thermal efficiency are all regulated by changes in mass flow rate and irradiance, which are also examined in depth in the inquiry.