Experimental investigations on thermal performance enhancement of solar air heater via nanostructured pin fin absorber plates

Abstract

The escalating demand for energy efficiency in thermal applications newlinehas prompted the development of advanced heat transfer technologies in solar newlineair heaters (SAH). Traditional SAH designs, while functional, suffer from low newlinethermal transfer efficiency and limited applicability under varying newlineenvironmental conditions. This work explores the enhancement of heat transfer newlineefficiency by incorporating Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) into newlinethe design of absorber plates, specifically examining flat and pin-fin plates. The newlinesuperior thermal conductivity properties of MWCNTs offer a promising avenue newlinefor enhancing solar heater performance. newlineThe experimental study was methodically structured around the newlinefabrication, testing, and analysis of two different types of absorber plates: flat newlineplates and pin-fin plates with varying thicknesses of MWCNT coatings (20-40 newlinenm, 40-60 nm, 60-100 nm). Each type of absorber plate was fabricated and then newlinesubjected to a series of coating processes. MWCNT dispersions were applied newlineusing spray coating techniques to optimize the surface coverage and thickness. newlineThe experimental setup was designed to simulate operational solar air heating newlineconditions while monitoring key parameters such as heat transfer efficiency, newlinetemperature profiles, and pressure differentials. newline