Evaluation of the Experimental Performance of an Asphalt Solar Air Collector

Motamed Sadr, Armin; Ameri Mahabadi, Mehran; Jahanshahi Javaran, ٍٍEbrahim

doi:10.30501/jree.2022.334587.1347

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, P. O. Box: 76169-14111, Kerman, Kerman, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.30501/jree.2022.334587.1347

Abstract

In this research, the performance of an asphalt solar air collector was experimentally tested and the daily thermal and exergy efficiencies of the collector were analyzed. The sun's radiant energy is absorbed by asphalt and converted into thermal energy. Then, it is transmitted to aluminum pipes buried under the asphalt and, finally, to the air passing through the pipes. A suction fan induces the ambient air to the collector. The experimental results show that the daily thermal efficiencies at mass flow rates of 0.007 (kg/s) and 0.014 (kg/s) are 11.98 % and 24.10 % and daily exergy efficiencies are 0.34 % and 0.66 %, respectively, showing the increase in daily energy and exergy efficiencies with increasing the air mass flow rate. In addition, results show that as the flow rate increases, the outlet air temperature decreases. The presence of temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the collector in the last hours of the day, when the sun's radiation is
low, indicates that asphalt acts as a thermal energy storage medium.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Solar Energy

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Evaluation of the Experimental Performance of an Asphalt Solar Air Collector

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Volume 10, Issue 2May 2023Pages 19-26

Volume 10, Issue 2
May 2023
Pages 19-26