CFD Based Performance Evaluation of Solar Air Heater by using Centerline Perforated Sine Wave Baffles

perating parameters: Reynolds number (Re), relative streamwise pitch (P_sw⁄e), angle of attack (α), and relative perforation diameter (d_PD⁄e). The parameter ranges considered are: Re=3000-18000 (6 values), P_sw⁄e=8-14 (4 values), α=10^0-45^0(4 values) and d_PD⁄e=0.24-0.48 (4 values) while maintaining a constant aspect ratio (W/H) of 12 for the heater. Through meticulous evaluation, the optimal set of geometric parameters has been determined based on three performance-defining factors: Nusselt number (Nu_pb), friction factor (f_pb) and thermo hydraulic performance (η). The findings of this study showcased the enhancements in the heater's performance. The Nusselt number exhibited a 6.6-fold increase, while the friction factor experienced a substantial 8-fold augmentation. The significant improvement in Nusselt number (Nu_pb) attributed to the substantial boost in turbulence and the reduction of the viscous layer within the system. Consequently, the maximum thermo hydraulic performance achieved an impressive value of 3.9.