CFD STUDY OF A DUAL-PASSAGE SOLAR COLLECTOR WITH LONGITUDINAL AND TRANSVERSE BAFFLES FOR ENHANCED THERMAL PERFORMANCE

Abstract

The focus of this research is to investigate the heat transfer performance of a solar flat plate collector by utilizing CFD simulation. To accomplish this, a 3-D model of the collector with an air inlet was created using ANSYS Workbench, and the grid was generated through ANSYS ICEM, ANSYS FLUENT, and ANSYS CFX were then used to obtain comprehensive results. The primary objective of this study is to enhance the efficiency of the solar collector by introducing two fluid-flow paths and comparing the results with those reported in existing literature. These findings will aid in the development of advanced solar collector designs and promote sustainable use of solar energy. Furthermore, the insights gained from this study may inspire further research in the renewable energy technology field. Overall, this research explores the potential of improving the performance of solar flat plate collectors and sheds light on how the use of CFD simulation can facilitate the development of innovative and sustainable energy solutions.