Experimental Energy–Exergy–Economic–Environmental Assessment of a Curvature–Vortex-Intensified Serpentine Solar Air Heater for Low-Carbon Thermal Applications.
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| Title: | Experimental Energy–Exergy–Economic–Environmental Assessment of a Curvature–Vortex-Intensified Serpentine Solar Air Heater for Low-Carbon Thermal Applications. |
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| Authors: | Thakur, Deep Singh1 (AUTHOR) deepst018@gmail.com, Kumar, Rajeev2 (AUTHOR), Shankar, Ravi1 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Energies (19961073). Apr2026, Vol. 19 Issue 7, p1719. 31p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Solar air heaters, *Vortex generators, *Carbon dioxide mitigation, *Exergy, *Cost benefit analysis, *Pressure drop (Fluid dynamics), *Heat transfer, *Thermal efficiency |
| Abstract: | Enhancing convective heat transfer in solar air heaters (SAHs) without disproportionate hydraulic penalty remains critical for decentralized low-carbon heating. This study experimentally investigates a serpentine-channel SAH equipped with distributed three-dimensional vortex generators under outdoor winter conditions. The configuration combines curvature-induced secondary motion with distributed vortex generation to intensify absorber–air heat transfer. Experiments were conducted over a mass flow range of 0.012–0.061 kg s−1, corresponding to a Reynolds number range of 2.1 × 103–1.07 × 104, using a smooth duct as the reference configuration. The enhanced configuration achieved peak thermal efficiencies of 81.6–85.4%, compared with 65.8–67.7% for the smooth collector, while daily averaged efficiency increased from 56–59% to 71–75%. Although pressure drop increased, thermo-hydraulic performance remained superior across the investigated Reynolds number range. Exergy efficiency was consistently higher for the enhanced system and remained within optical limit constraints. Environmental assessment based on grid emission factor displacement indicates approximately 33% greater annual CO2 mitigation potential, corresponding to about 6.6 tonnes over a 20-year service life. The levelized cost of heating was estimated at 3.1–4.4 ₹ kWh−1. These results indicate that compound curvature–vortex transport intensification can improve thermal efficiency and increase carbon mitigation potential under realistic operating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Database: | Energy & Power Source |
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| Header | DbId: enr DbLabel: Energy & Power Source An: 192959123 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Experimental Energy–Exergy–Economic–Environmental Assessment of a Curvature–Vortex-Intensified Serpentine Solar Air Heater for Low-Carbon Thermal Applications. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Thakur%2C+Deep+Singh%22">Thakur, Deep Singh</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> deepst018@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kumar%2C+Rajeev%22">Kumar, Rajeev</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Shankar%2C+Ravi%22">Shankar, Ravi</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Energies+%2819961073%29%22">Energies (19961073)</searchLink>. Apr2026, Vol. 19 Issue 7, p1719. 31p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Solar+air+heaters%22">Solar air heaters</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Vortex+generators%22">Vortex generators</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Carbon+dioxide+mitigation%22">Carbon dioxide mitigation</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Exergy%22">Exergy</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cost+benefit+analysis%22">Cost benefit analysis</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pressure+drop+%28Fluid+dynamics%29%22">Pressure drop (Fluid dynamics)</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Heat+transfer%22">Heat transfer</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thermal+efficiency%22">Thermal efficiency</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Enhancing convective heat transfer in solar air heaters (SAHs) without disproportionate hydraulic penalty remains critical for decentralized low-carbon heating. This study experimentally investigates a serpentine-channel SAH equipped with distributed three-dimensional vortex generators under outdoor winter conditions. The configuration combines curvature-induced secondary motion with distributed vortex generation to intensify absorber–air heat transfer. Experiments were conducted over a mass flow range of 0.012–0.061 kg s−1, corresponding to a Reynolds number range of 2.1 × 103–1.07 × 104, using a smooth duct as the reference configuration. The enhanced configuration achieved peak thermal efficiencies of 81.6–85.4%, compared with 65.8–67.7% for the smooth collector, while daily averaged efficiency increased from 56–59% to 71–75%. Although pressure drop increased, thermo-hydraulic performance remained superior across the investigated Reynolds number range. Exergy efficiency was consistently higher for the enhanced system and remained within optical limit constraints. Environmental assessment based on grid emission factor displacement indicates approximately 33% greater annual CO2 mitigation potential, corresponding to about 6.6 tonnes over a 20-year service life. The levelized cost of heating was estimated at 3.1–4.4 ₹ kWh−1. These results indicate that compound curvature–vortex transport intensification can improve thermal efficiency and increase carbon mitigation potential under realistic operating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=enr&AN=192959123 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.3390/en19071719 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 31 StartPage: 1719 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Solar air heaters Type: general – SubjectFull: Vortex generators Type: general – SubjectFull: Carbon dioxide mitigation Type: general – SubjectFull: Exergy Type: general – SubjectFull: Cost benefit analysis Type: general – SubjectFull: Pressure drop (Fluid dynamics) Type: general – SubjectFull: Heat transfer Type: general – SubjectFull: Thermal efficiency Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Experimental Energy–Exergy–Economic–Environmental Assessment of a Curvature–Vortex-Intensified Serpentine Solar Air Heater for Low-Carbon Thermal Applications. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Thakur, Deep Singh – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Kumar, Rajeev – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Shankar, Ravi IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 04 Text: Apr2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 19961073 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 19 – Type: issue Value: 7 Titles: – TitleFull: Energies (19961073) Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
