Heat Transfer Performance and Pressure Drop Analysis According to Shape Conditions of Turbulent Promoters and Flow Conditions in Air-Type PV/T Collectors

Abstract

Air-type photovoltaic and thermal (PV/T) has a lower thermal capacity than liquid-type one; therefore, studies are being conducted turbulence promoters to improve heat transfer in a duct. This study aims to evaluate heat transfer performance and pressure drop while changing the increasing and decreasing ratio of turbulence promoters by using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The increasing and decreasing ratio is a concept focused on increasing the height of turbulence promoters n times from the first row to the last row to generate high air temperatures at the outlet side. As a result, the difference in heat transfer performance according to the increasing and decreasing ratio was minimal; however, it was confirmed that the pressure drop increased in the order of 1.3, 1.2, and 1.1, because the increased resistance to air flow due to increased installation height of the turbulent promoters. Accordingly, it was found that the thermohydraulic performance parameter (THPP) increased in the order of 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3. Because of the changes for various shape conditions were not taken into account, additional consideration is required to select suitable conditions.

Performance Evaluation of Air-Based Photovoltaic Thermal Collector Integrated with Dual Duct and Semicircular Turbulator in Actual Climate Conditions

“…Kumar et al [7] conducted a CFD analysis on triangular PVTC air channels using forward-facing chamfered rectangular ribs and confirmed that these ribs enhanced both the heat transfer performance and friction factor. Recently, Kim et al [8] assessed the pressure drop and heat transfer performance of turbulator shapes within PVTCs using CFD analysis. The performance was compared with triangular, square, and semicircular turbulator shapes with increasing turbulator ratios, and it was verified that, based on the THP, semicircular shapes provided the highest performance, followed by triangular and square shapes.…”