International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 38 (2011) 749756

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International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer

j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w. e l s ev i e r. c o m / l o c a t e / i c h m t

Thermal behavior in solar air heater channel tted with combined rib and
delta-winglet
P. Promvonge , C. Khanoknaiyakarn, S. Kwankaomeng, C. Thianpong
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Available online 21 March 2011 Effects of combined ribs and delta-winglet type vortex generators (DWs) on forced convection heat transfer
and friction loss behaviors for turbulent airow through a solar air heater channel are experimentally
Keywords: investigated in the present work. Measurements are carried out in the rectangular channel of aspect ratio,
Heat transfer AR = 10 and height, H = 30 mm. The ow rate is presented in the form of Reynolds numbers based on the inlet
Rib hydraulic diameter of the channel ranging from 5000 to 22,000. The cross-section shape of the rib placed on
Turbulent ow
the absorber plate to create a reverse-ow is an isosceles triangle with a single rib height, e/H = 0.2 and rib
Solar air heater
Vortex generator
pitch, Pl/H = 1.33. Ten pairs of the DW with its height, b/H = 0.4; transverse pitch, Pt/H = 1 and three attack
Delta winglet angles () of 60, 45 and 30 are introduced and mounted on the lower plate entrance of the tested channel
to generate longitudinal vortex ows. The experimental results show that the Nusselt number and friction
factor values for combined rib and DW are found to be much higher than those for the rib/DW alone. The
larger attack angle of the DW leads to higher heat transfer and friction loss than the lower one. In common
with the rib, the DW pointing upstream (PU-DW) is found to give higher heat transfer rate and friction loss
than the DW pointing downstream (PD-DW) at a similar operating condition. In comparison, the largest
attack angle ( = 60) of the PU-DW yields the highest increase in both the Nusselt number and friction factor
while the lowest attack angle of the PD-DW provides the best thermal performance.
2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction
One of the commonly used passive heat transfer enhancement
techniques in single-phase internal ows in channel solar air heaters
is the use of ribs placing periodically in the absorber plate. For
decades, ribs [1] have been used in thermal systems due to their high
thermal loads and decreased dimensions. The use of ribs completely
makes the change of the ow eld and thus the distribution of the
local heat transfer coefcient. Periodically mounted ribs in the
absorber plate of solar air heater channels can help to interrupt
hydrodynamic and thermal boundary layers leading to an increase in
heat transfer rate. Several studies have been carried out to investigate
the effect of rib geometry and arrangements on heat transfer and
friction loss for roughened surfaces of heat exchanger channels or
solar air heaters. Saidi and Sunden [2] and Tatsumi et al. [3]
investigated numerically the turbulent ow and heat transfer
behaviors in square ducts with ribs on two opposite walls and
discrete angled ribs on one wall, respectively. They found that
noticeable heat transfer enhancement is obtained downstream of the
ribs due to strong secondary ow motion. Sahu and Bhagoria [4]
examined broken transverse ribs in solar air heaters, reported that the
Communicated by W.J. Minkowycz.
Corresponding author.
E-mail address: kppongje@kmitl.ac.th (P. Promvonge).
roughened absorber plate yields the heat transfer rate at 1.251.4
times over the smooth rectangular duct and the maximum thermal
efciency is in the range of 5183.5%. Mittal et al. [5] studied and
compared the absorber plate with six different types of roughness
elements. Their results showed that the channel with inclined ribs
including V-shaped ribs performs better heat transfer rate than
others. An experiment of Aharwal et al. [6] was conducted to study
heat transfer behaviors of a solar air heater channel with inclined
square split-rib with a gap on one wall and the results showed that the
gap in the inclined rib enhances the heat transfer of the channel. The
increase in Nu and friction factor was, respectively, in a range of 1.5
2.6 times and 2.32.9 times the smooth channel. The maximum
Nusselt number and friction factor values were found for the gap at
relative gap position of 0.25 and width of 1.0. Effects of transverse or
porous ribs on thermal characteristics in rectangular channels were
numerically studied by Yang and Hwang [7] and Luo et al. [8].
Varun et al. [9] investigated heat transfer and friction character-
istics by using inclined/transverse ribs on the absorber plate of a solar
air heater and reported that the best performance is at relative
roughness pitch of 8. Momin et al. [10] experimentally studied on
thermal characteristics of a solar air heater channel tted with V-
shaped ribs for e/D = 0.020.034 and the angle of attack () = 30
90 for a xed P/e = 10. They found that at = 60, the highest
Nusselt number and friction factor values obtained by the ribs are,
respectively, 2.30 and 2.83 times the smooth channel. Promvonge and

0735-1933/$ see front matter 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2011.03.014
750 P. Promvonge et al. / International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 38 (2011) 749756

generation of decaying swirl/vortex ow in the duct/channel. The

Nomenclature
tangential ow injection/propeller/coil wire/twisted tape to induce a
swirling uid motion along the tube [1620] is a popular technique for
A convection heat transfer area of channel, m2
round tubes. For channels, the wings/winglets classied as delta,
AR aspect ratio of channel (W/H)
triangular and rectangular wing/winglet types [2123] are introduced
b winglet height, m
to generate vortex ows. The winglets are designed to create
Cp specic heat of air, J/kg K
longitudinal vortices that help to increase turbulence levels resulting
D hydraulic diameter, m
in improved heat transfer performance, albeit with a minimal
e rib height, m
pressure drop penalty.
f friction factor
For using combined/compound turbulators, Promvonge and Eiamsa-
H channel height, m
ard [24] experimentally investigated the effect of various nozzles
h average heat transfer coefcient, W/m2 K
together with a snail type swirl generator on heat transfer and friction
I current, A
characteristics in a uniform heat ux tube and found that the heat
k thermal conductivity of air, W/mK
transfer increases considerably for using both enhancement devices and
L length of tested channel, m
is about 2050% higher than using a single enhancement device.
m air mass ow rate, kg/s
Inuence of combined conical ring and twisted tape inserts in a round
Nu Nusselt number (hD/k)
tube on thermal behaviors was reported in Ref. [25]. In addition,
Pl longitudinal pitch of rib, m
Promvonge [26] also studied the thermal behaviors of using coiled wire
Pt transverse pitch of delta winglet, m
in common with twisted tape swirl generator for generating vortex
P pressure drop, Pa
ows and reported that the compound turbulators provide higher
Pr Prandtl number
thermal performance than the single turbulator. However, the use of
Re Reynolds number (UD/)
combined nozzle/coil turbulators and snail type swirl generators as
Q heat transfer, W
mentioned earlier was faced up to a substantial increase in the pressure
T temperature, K
drop. The effect of the two winglet pairs together with the inline/
t thickness of rib, m
staggered triangular ribs on thermal characteristics in a channel heat
U mean velocity, m/s
exchanger was examined by Promvonge et al. [27] and to obtain higher
V voltage, volt
thermal performance, the staggered rib and the winglet with lower
V volumetric ow rate, m3/s
angle of attack were suggested. Chompookham et al. [28] also studied
W width of channel
the inuence of combined two winglet pairs and inline/staggered
DW delta winglet type vortex generator
wedge ribs on heat transfer rate in an AR = 10 channel and found that
PD-DW delta winglet pointing downstream
the staggered wedge rib pointing downstream provides better thermal
PU-DW delta winglet pointing upstream
performance.
The literature review cited above indicates that both enhancement
devices, the rib turbulator and the vortex generator, are among the
Greek letters
most effective and practical methods for augmenting heat transfer in
attack angle of DW, degree
channels. In channel solar air heater systems, the investigation on
density of air, kg/m3
using the isosceles triangular rib mounted only on the absorber plate
thermal enhancement factor
in conjunction with the delta-winglet type vortex generator (DW) has
kinematic viscosity, m2/s
rarely been reported. Thus, the main aim of the present work is to
investigate the heat transfer and ow friction characteristics in a
channel solar air heater equipped with combined rib and DW
Subscripts turbulators. The ribs are placed only on the absorber plate with a
a augmented single rib height, e/H = 0.20 and rib pitch, Pl/H = 1.33. The use of
b bulk multiple DWs (ten pairs) tted at the entrance of the tested channel is
0 smooth channel expected to create multiple longitudinal vortex ows in order to
conv convection prolong the residence time of the ow and to wash up the reverse
i inlet ow trapped behind the ribs leading to higher heat transfer rate in the
o out channel. The present results are also compared with the results from
pp pumping power the single use of the DWs or the ribs alone. Experimental results using
s channel surface air as the test uid from the rib and the DW with three angles of attack
( = 60, 45 and 30) and two arrangements of the DW; pointing
upstream (PU) and pointing downstream (PD) are presented in
Thianpong [11] studied experimentally the thermal performance of turbulent channel ows in a range of Reynolds number from 5000 to
wedge ribs pointing upstream and downstream, triangular and 22,000.
rectangular ribs in an AR = 15 heater channel and found that the in-
line wedge rib pointing downstream performed the highest heat 2. Experimental setup
transfer but the best thermal performance is at the staggered
triangular rib. Thianpong et al. [12] investigated the thermal A schematic diagram of the experimental apparatus is presented in
behaviors of isosceles triangular ribs on the AR = 10 channel walls. Fig. 1 while the details of the triangular ribs mounted on the upper
Extensive literature reviews over hundred references on various rib wall or the absorber plate and the DW geometry are depicted in Figs. 2
turbulators used for solar air heaters were reported by Varun et al. and 3, respectively. In Fig. 1, a circular pipe was used for connecting a
[13] and Han et al. [14]. high-pressure blower to a settling tank, which an orice ow meter
In general, the swirl/vortex ow generator is used in augmentative was mounted in this pipeline while a rectangular duct including a
heat transfer in several engineering applications to enhance the rate calm section and a test section was employed following the settling
of the heat and mass transfer equipment such as heat exchanger [15], tank. In Fig. 2, the channel conguration is characterized by the
vortex combustor, drying process, etc. There are several methods of channel height, H and the longitudinal pitch of rib, Pl, the respective
 P. Promvonge et al. / International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 38 (2011) 749756 751

Fig. 1. Schematic diagram of experimental apparatus.

values of which are 30 mm and 40 mm. The overall length of the
channel is 2000 mm which included 10 pitches of the test section with
the channel width, W, of 300 mm. The ribbed absorber plate was
fabricated from a 12 mm thick aluminum plate, 300 mm wide and
440 mm long (L). The rib dimensions are 4 mm high (e) and 20 mm
thick (t). The form of the ribbed plate was accomplished by means of
wire-EDM machining. For all cases of test runs, ten pairs of the DW
with height, b/H = 0.4 and transverse pitch, Pt = H = 30 mm fabricat-
ed from a 0.30 mm thick aluminum strip are mounted on the tested
channel entrance by using hot glue with three attack angles () of 60,
45 and 30, as can be seen in Fig. 2. In this experiment, a combination
of the two phenomena, (1) the re-circulating/reverse ow induced by
the ribs and (2) the vortex ows created by the DWs, is supposed to be
effective in the vicinity of the absorber plate. In addition, both
turbulators are expected to provide better mixing of the uid between
the core and the heated wall surface, thereby enhancing the heat
transfer rate.
In Fig. 1, the AC power supply was the source of power for the
plate-type heater, used for heating the upper plate of the test section
only to maintain a uniform heat-ux on the absorber plate. Wood
bars, which have a much lower thermal conductivity than the metallic
wall, were placed on the inlet and exit ends of the absorber plate to
serve as a thermal barrier at the inlet and exit of the test section. Air as
the tested uid in both the heat transfer and pressure drop
experiments, was directed into the systems by a 1.45 kW high-
pressure blower. The operating speed of the blower was varied by
using an inverter to provide desired air ow rates. The ow rate of air
in the systems was measured by an orice plate pre-calibrated by
using hot wire and vane-type anemometers. The pressure drop across
the orice was measured using inclined manometer for controlling
the airow rate. In order to measure temperature distributions on the
absorber plate, ten thermocouples were tted to the plate wall. The
thermocouples were attached in holes drilled from the rear face and
centered of the wall with the respective junctions positioned within

Fig. 2. Test section with PD-DW and PU-DW arrangements.

752 P. Promvonge et al. / International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 38 (2011) 749756

a 100
for Nusselt number and 10% for friction. The uncertainty in the axial
velocity measurement was estimated to be less than 5%, and
90 pressure has a corresponding estimated uncertainty of 5%, whereas
smooth channel
Dittus-Boelter correlation the uncertainty in temperature measurement at the channel wall was
80 about 0.5%.

70 3. Data reduction

60
The Nusselt number (Nu) and the friction factor (f) in a ribbed
channel tted with the DWs are calculated in the present work. The
Nu

50
independent parameters are the Reynolds number, the DW direction
40 and the attack angle. The Reynolds number based on the channel
hydraulic diameter (D) is given by
30
Re = UD = : 1
20
The average heat transfer coefcients are computed from the
10 measured temperatures and heat inputs and will be evaluated from
the experimental data via the following equations:
0
2500 5000 7500 10000 12500 15000 17500 20000 22500 25000
Re Q air = Q conv = mCp To Ti = VI 2

b Q conv
.10 h=
3
A T s Tb
.09 smooth channel
Blasius correlation in which,
.08
Tb = To + Ti = 2 4
.07
and
.06
Ts = Ts = 10: 5
.05
f

.04 The term A is the convective heat transfer area of the heated upper
wall whereas T s is the average surface temperature obtained from
.03 local surface measured temperatures along the axial length of the
heated channel. Then, average Nusselt number is written as:
.02
hD
.01 Nu = : 6
k

0.00 The friction factor is calculated by:

2500 5000 7500 10000 12500 15000 17500 20000 22500 25000
Re
P = LD
f= 7
Fig. 3. Verication of (a) Nusselt number and (b) friction factor for smooth channel. 1 = 2U 2

where P is a pressure drop across the test section and U is mean air
2 mm of the inside wall and axial separation was 40 mm apart. To velocity in the channel. All of thermo-physical properties of the air are
measure the inlet and outlet bulk temperatures, two and four determined at the overall bulk air temperature from Eq. (4)
thermocouples were positioned upstream and downstream of the The thermal enhancement factor, , dened as the ratio of h of an
test duct entry and exit, respectively. All thermocouples were type K, augmented surface to that of a smooth surface, h0, at a constant
1.6 mm diameter wire. The thermocouple voltage outputs were fed pumping power:
into a data acquisition system and then recorded via a personal   1 = 3
computer.
Two static pressure taps were located at the top of the principal
=
h
h0 j pp
=
Nu
Nu0 j pp
=
Nu
Nu0
f0
f
8

channel wall to measure axial pressure drops across the test section
including the vortex generator, used to evaluate average friction
factor. These were located at the center line of the channel. One of
these taps is 30 mm upstream of the leading edge of the channel and
the other is 30 mm upstream of the trailing edge. The pressure drop
was measured by a digital differential pressure and a data logger
connected to the 3 mm diameter taps and recorded via a personal
computer.
To quantify the uncertainties of measurements the reduced data
obtained experimentally were determined. The uncertainty in the
data calculation was based on Ref. [29]. The maximum uncertainties of
non-dimensional parameters were 5% for Reynolds number, 8%
4. Results and discussion
4.1. Verication of smooth channel
The present results on heat transfer and friction characteristics in a
smooth wall channel are rst validated in terms of Nusselt number
(Nu) and friction factor ( f ). The Nu and f obtained from the present
smooth channel are, respectively, compared with the correlations of
DittusBoelter and Blasius found in the open literature [30] for
turbulent ow in ducts.
 P. Promvonge et al. / International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 38 (2011) 749756 753

Correlation of DittusBoelter, transfer enhancements in comparison with the smooth channel and
the Nu values for using both turbulators increase with the rise of Re.
0:8 0:4
Nu = 0:023 Re Pr for heating: 9 This is because the ribs interrupt the development of the boundary
layer of the uid ow and create the reverse/re-circulating ow
Correlation of Blasius, behind ribs while the DW pairs generate the longitudinal vortex ows
that assist to wash up the reverse ow trapped behind ribs into the
0:25
f = 0:316 Re for 3000 Re 20; 000: 10 core ow. A close inspection reveals that the use of the combined rib
and DW leads to considerably higher heat transfer than that of the rib
Fig. 3a and b shows, respectively, the comparison of Nu and f alone. The rib along with the DW of higher value also provides
obtained from the present work with those from correlations of Eqs. (9) higher heat transfer than that of lower value, as can be seen in
and (10). In the gure, the present results agree well within 8% for Fig. 5a. For the rib combined with the PU-DW, the increase in Nu value
both Nu-correlation of DittusBoelter and f-correlation of Blasius. is about 255% over the smooth channel. In addition, the PD-DW and
PU-DW arrangements show a slight difference in heat transfer rate for
4.2. Effect of combined rib and delta winglet the combined ribs and DWs. The use of the rib and the DW provides a
higher heat transfer rate than that of the rib alone at some 50%
The present results on thermal characteristics in a uniform heat whereas the PU-DW with the ribs gives 23% higher heat transfer than
ux absorber plate equipped with the e/H = 0.2 rib of isosceles the PD-DW with the ribs. This indicates the merit of using compound
triangular cross-section and the DW are presented in Fig. 4. In the turbulators to promote each other the heat transfer enhancement in
gure, the use of combined rib and DW provides considerable heat the channel.

a a .55
175
o o
rib + 60 DWs, PD rib + 60 DWs, PD
.50
o
rib + 60 DWs, PU rib + 60o DWs, PU
150 o
rib + 45 DWs, PD
o
rib + 45 DWs, PD
o
rib + 45 DWs, PU
.45 o
rib + 45 DWs, PU
o
rib + 30 o DWs, PD rib + 30 DWs, PD
o
rib + 30 DWs, PU .40 o
rib + 30 DWs, PU
125
triangular rib triangular rib
smooth channel .35 smooth channel
rib, e/H = 0.2; DWs, b/H = 0.4
100 .30
Nu

.25
75
.20

50 .15

.10
25
rib, e/H = 0.2; DWs, b/H = 0.4 .05

0 0.00
2500 5000 7500 10000 12500 15000 17500 20000 22500 25000 2500 5000 7500 10000 12500 15000 17500 20000 22500 25000
Re Re

b b
3.25 14
o
rib + 60 DWs, PD o
rib + 60 DWs, PD
13
rib + 60o DWs, PU o
rib + 60 DWs, PU
rib + 45o DWs, PD rib + 45o DWs, PD
3.00 12 o
rib + 45o DWs, PU rib + 45 DWs, PU
o
rib + 30o DWs, PD rib + 30 DWs, PD
11 o
rib + 30o DWs, PU rib + 30 DWs, PU
triangular rib triangular rib
2.75 10
rib, e/H = 0.2; DWs, b/H = 0.4
9
Nu/Nu 0

f/f 0

2.50 8

2.25 6

2.00 4

3 rib, e/H = 0.2; DWs, b/H = 0.4

1.75 2
2500 5000 7500 10000 12500 15000 17500 20000 22500 25000 2500 5000 7500 10000 12500 15000 17500 20000 22500 25000
Re Re

Fig. 4. Variation of (a) Nusselt number and (b) Nusselt number ratio with Reynolds Fig. 5. Variation of (a) friction factor and (b) friction factor ratio with Reynolds number
number for various turbulators. for various turbulators.
754 P. Promvonge et al. / International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 38 (2011) 749756

The Nusselt number ratio, Nu/Nu0, dened as a ratio of augmented a

110
Nu to Nu of smooth channel plotted against the Re value is displayed in
Fig. 4b. In the gure, the Nu/Nu0 tends to decrease slightly with the o
60 DWs, PD
rise of Re for using the combined turbulators. The average Nu/Nu0 100 o
60 DWs, PU
values for the combined rib and DWs with = 60, 45 and 30 are,
o
45 DWs, PD
o
90 45 DWs, PU
respectively, around 2.54, 2.46 and 2.38 for the PU-DW and 2.48, 2.41 o
30 DWs, PD
and 2.31 for the PD-DW. o
30 DWs, PU
The effect of using the rib and the DWs on the isothermal pressure 80
drop across the tested channel is presented in Fig. 5. The variation of
the pressure drop is shown in terms of f with Re. In the gure, it is 70

Nu
apparent that the use of the combined ribs and DWs leads to a
considerable increase in f over that of the rib alone or the smooth 60
channel. The increase in f value for the combined turbulators is much
higher than that for the smooth channel and is also higher than that in 50
Nu, however. Unlike Nu, the PU-DW gives much higher f than the PD-
DW. As expected, the f obtained from the combined rib and DWs is
40
signicantly higher than that from the rib alone, especially for the
DWs, b/H = 0.4
higher attack angle and the PU-DW arrangement. The increase in f of
30
the combined ribs and DWs is in a range of 4.65 to 10.05 times over
the smooth channel, depending on the attack angle, the DW 2500 5000 7500 10000 12500 15000 17500 20000 22500 25000
arrangement and Re values. The f of the combined ribs and DWs is Re
found to be higher than that of the rib alone around 122134%.
Fig. 5b presents the variation of the friction factor ratio, f/f0, with b
1.750
the Re value. It is observed that the f/f0 tends to increase with raising
the Re. The PU-DW and the higher attack angle provide a considerable 1.725
o
60 DWs, PD
o
increase in the f/f0 than the PD-DW and the lower attack angle under 60 DWs, PU
o
45 DWs, PD DWs, b/H = 0.4
the same operating condition. The mean f/f0 values for using the rib 1.700 o
45 DWs, PU
and the DWs with = 60, 45 and 30 are, respectively, about 9.04, o
30 DWs, PD
7.83 and 6.68 for the PU-DW and around 8.19, 7.16 and 5.88 for the 1.675 o
30 DWs, PU

PD-DW in the range of Re studied. This implies that the use of lower
1.650
angle of attack and the PD-DW can help to reduce considerably the
Nu/Nu 0

pressure loss. 1.625

4.3. Effect of rib 1.600

Comparisons of the heat transfer and friction loss in the channel
tted with the rib alone are also depicted in Figs. 4 and 5, respectively.
It is visible in Fig. 5 that the rib provides higher heat transfer rate than
the smooth channel for all Re values due to the higher ow blockage
(e/H = 0.2) creating the stronger reverse/re-circulation ow from the
rib. The heat transfer rate obtained from the ribs is around 90% over
the smooth channel. In addition, the triangular rib gives almost
uniform values of Nu/Nu0 for all Re values as seen in Fig. 4b.
The variation of the isothermal f value with Re is also depicted in
Fig. 5. In Fig. 5a, the f value for the rib alone is found to be much larger
than the smooth channel and tends to be nearly uniform with the
increase of Re. The average increase in friction losses is about 3.9 times
the smooth channel as shown in Fig. 5b.
4.4. Effect of delta winglet and its orientation
Fig. 6a and b presents the comparison of Nu and Nu/Nu0 values in
the channel tted with only the DW of three different attack angles
( = 60, 45 and 30) for PU-DW and PD-DW arrangements. It is
visible in Fig. 6a that the Nu value for the DWs alone increases with
the rise of Re and the DW with the larger attack angle value provides
higher heat transfer rate than that with the lower one. This can be
attributed to the higher ow blockage of the DW with the larger
attack angle by considering the projected area of the DW in the ow
direction. The channel tted with the PU-DW provides higher heat
transfer rate than that with the PD-DW for all Re values. The heat
transfer rates obtained from using the DWs alone with = 60, 45
and 30, are, respectively, around 63%, 59% and 56% above the smooth
channel for the PU-DW and about 61%, 57% and 54% for the PD-DW as
seen in Fig. 6b. In addition, the use of the DWs results in a slight
decrease of the Nu/Nu0 for increasing Re value.
1.575
1.550
1.525
1.500
2500 5000 7500 10000 12500 15000 17500 20000 22500 25000
Re
Fig. 6. Variation of (a) Nusselt number and (b) Nusselt number ratio with Reynolds
number for various DW attack angles.
Fig. 7a and b shows the variation of isothermal f and f/f0 values
with Re at three different attack angles of the DW for two DW
arrangements, respectively. In Fig. 7a, the f value for the larger attack
angle of the DW is found to be considerably higher than that for the
lower one and tends to reduce slightly with the increase in Re. The rise
in f for the DW is much higher than the smooth channel, especially for
the case of = 60. The f value for the PU-DW is found to be
considerably higher than that for the PD-DW and tends to be nearly
uniform with the increase of Re. The average increases in the f for the
DWs with = 60, 45 and 30 are, respectively, about 3.5, 3.2 and 2.8
times the smooth channel for the PU-DW and about 3.3, 3.0 and 2.6
times for the PD-DW as can be seen in Fig. 7b. This means that the
presence of the PD-DW with the lower attack angle ( = 30) leads to
a similar increase rate in Nu and f values in the tested channel.
4.5. Performance evaluation
The variation of the thermal enhancement factor with Re values for
all turbulators is depicted in Fig. 8. For all, the data obtained by
 P. Promvonge et al. / International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 38 (2011) 749756 755

1.6
a .175
o
rib + 30 DWs, PU
o
30 DWs, PU
o
rib + 30o DWs, PD 30 DWs, PD
o o
o rib + 45 DWs, PU 45 DWs, PU
60 DWs, PD 1.5 o o
o rib + 45 DWs, PD 45 DWs, PD
60 DWs, PU
o rib + 60o DWs, PU 60o DWs, PU
45 DWs, PD DWs, b/H = 0.4
.150 o
rib + 60 DWs, PD o

Thermal enhancement factor

o 60 DWs, PD
45 DWs, PU
triangular rib
30o DWs, PD 1.4
o
30 DWs, PU
rib, e/H = 0.2; DWs, b/H = 0.4

.125
1.3
f

.100 1.2

1.1
.075

1.0
2500 5000 7500 10000 12500 15000 17500 20000 22500 25000
.050
2500 5000 7500 10000 12500 15000 17500 20000 22500 25000 Re
Re
Fig. 8. Variation of thermal enhancement factor with Reynolds number for various
turbulators.
b 5.0
o
60 DWs, PD
o
turbulent regime, Re = 5000 to 22,000. The experimental result reveal
60 DWs, PU
4.5 o
45 DWs, PD DWs, b/H = 0.4 that the combined rib and the DW provides considerable heat transfer
o
45 DWs, PU augmentations, Nu/Nu0 = 2.32.6 and also causes a moderate pres-
o
30 DWs, PD sure drop increase, f/f0 = 4.710.1, depending on the attack angle and
4.0
30o DWs, PU Re values. The Nu augmentation tends to decrease slightly with the
rise in Re. The use of combined rib and PD-DW at lower angle of attack
3.5 provides higher heat transfer of about 4065% and better thermal
f/f 0

performance than the rib/the DW alone, leading to more compact heat

exchanger. The best operating regime for using these compound
3.0
turbulators is found at the PD-DW arrangement, lower attack angle
and/or Re values.
2.5

Acknowledgement
2.0

1.5
2500 5000 7500 10000 12500 15000 17500 20000 22500 25000
Re
Fig. 7. Variation of (a) friction factor and (b) friction factor ratio with Reynolds number
for various DW attack angles.
measured Nu and f values are compared with the smooth channel data
at an equal pumping power. It is visible in the gure that the
enhancement factors for the combined turbulators generally are
found to be above unity and much higher than those for employing a
single turbulator. This indicates that the use of the rib in common with
the DW leads to the advantage over that of a single enhancement
device. The enhancement factor tends to decrease with the rise of Re
values for all turbulators used. It is worth noting that along with the
rib, the enhancement factor of the PD-DW is higher than that of the
PU-DW. Among all turbulators used, the enhancement factor of the
30 PD-DW together with the rib is found to be the best and is about
1.39 at the lowest Re employed while that of the 30 PU-DW along
with the rib is slightly lower and around 1.36.
5. Conclusion
An experimental study has been conducted to investigate airow
friction and heat transfer characteristics in a solar air heater channel
tted with the combined triangular rib and the DW turbulators for the
The funding of this work from the Energy Policy and Planning Ofce
(EPPO), Ministry of Energy, Thailand is gratefully acknowledged.
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