Department of Mechanical Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004, Punjab
*Corresponding author : vishiihans@pau.edu
Online Published on 07 July, 2023.
Farmers incur huge losses every year on account of post harvest losses. Use of solar dryers helps in reducing the post-harvest losses by improving quality and shelf life. A solar air heater is an important component of a solar dryer and its performance is improved with the application of heat transfer enhancement techniques. The enhancement in heat transfer of rectangular ducts having a configuration of broken arc ribs roughness is determined for Reynolds number ranging from 200016000. Two gaps equal to rib height were provided symmetrically in continuous arc-rib. Five broken arc rib roughened plates having relative gap position in the range of 0.2-0.8 (five values) have been tested. The arc angle and relative roughness height were fixed as 30° and 0.043, respectively. The maximum enhancement of heat transfer as compared to smooth duct is found to be 155.4% more for d/w of 0.65 and Re of 12000.
Broken arc rib roughness, Heat transfer enhancement, Post harvest losses, Solar air heater, Solar drying
