Numerical Modeling of Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop in a Modified Solar Heater Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

In this paper, a numerical modeling of heat transfer and turbulent flow in a solar heater with Delta-Winglet vortex generators is presented. Calculations by the finite volume are conducted using the SIMPLE algorithm. Air turbulent flow with various mass flow rates under the Reynolds number of 5000-22000 was investigated. The CFD predictions were compared with the experimental data and good agreement was observed. The results showed that Nusselt number and friction factor in a system fitted with combined rib and delta-winglet vortex generators are higher than those of traditional ribbed systems. In addition, a system fitted with combined ribbed top and bottom walls and vortex generators through the inlet was proposed, and increase in Nusselt number was shown in comparison with previous systems.