Evaluation of the performance analysis of an improved solar air heater with Winglet shaped ribs.

The present article is focused to improve the thermal performance of solar air heater using Liquid crystal thermography (LCT) approach, an improved type solar air heater comprises of winglet type rib roughened surface. In the present case, an experimental analysis and its effects on heat transfer and collector efficiency are examined using non-dimensional roughness parameters taken as relative roughness pitch (P/e) ranges between 5–12, attack angle (α) values of 30 degree-75 degree and relative roughness width (W/w) ranges between 3–7.These experimental results when compared with the smooth channel was improved by 17 % to 46 % under the given conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]