Solar air heater based on double-ends open evacuated tube with & without phase change material: An experimental investigation

The application of hot air in drying, space heating, desiccant air conditioning, and desalination attracts the attention of researchers towards solar air heater. In the current study, the thermal performance of two solar air heaters is experimentally compared. Both solar air heaters consist of 30 double-ends open evacuated tubes, but one is integrated with acetamide i.e., phase change material (PCM) to investigate the effect of heat storage on the performance of solar air heater. The aperture area of each solar air heater is 4.687 m2and operated under the same weather conditions. The experiments are carried out with process air flowing at three distinct mass flow rates: 100 kg/h, 150 kg/h, & 200 kg/h. The maximum temperature of hot air obtained from the solar air heater with & without PCM are 100°C and 112°C, respectively at 100 kg/h. The efficiency of the solar air heater increased by 20.21%, 17.72%, and 13.1% at 100 kg/h, 150 kg/h, and 200 kg/h respectively due the use of PCM. The overall mitigation of CO2 over the assumed lifespan from the SAH with and without PCM is 219.92 tons and 174.69tons, respectively. Further, the cost of hot air obtained from the SAH with and without PCM is 0.00034$/kg & 0.00033 $/kg, respectively.