CFD Investigation on the Effect of Relative Pitch of Trapezoidal Baffles on the Thermo-Hydraulic Performance of a Solar Air Heater
The use of artificial baffles is an effective passive method for enhancing heat transfer in solar air heaters (SAHs). This study numerically investigates the thermo-hydraulic performance of a channel equipped with trapezoidal baffles. Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), the study analyzes the effect of the relative pitch (P/W) of the baffles and varying inlet velocities (v = 2 to 6 m/s) on the Nusselt number ratio (Nu/Nu0), friction factor ratio (f/f0), and the overall Thermo-Hydraulic Performance Factor (TPF). The results indicate that the introduction of trapezoidal baffles disrupts thermal stratification but increases pressure drop. The model with a relative pitch of P/W = 0.105 (Model P3) demonstrated the optimal balance between heat transfer enhancement and flow resistance, achieving the highest TPF.