Conjugate heat transfer in solar collector panels with internal longitudinal corrugated fins: Part I - Overall results

A computational study is conducted to examine the fully developed laminar flow and heat transfer characteristics in solar collector panels with internal, longitudinal, corrugated fins. The fins are integrally attached to the upper and lower panel walls. The objective of the study is to determine the effects of varying the fin pitch (or fin angle), the fin thickness, the ratio of the thermal conductivity of the panel walls and the fin to that of the fluid, and the thermal boundary condition on the panel heat transfer and pressure drop. The solutions of the momentum and energy equations are obtained by using a control-volume-based finite difference algorithm. The results of the study are also applicable to the design of internally-finned channels in compact heat exchangers. The overall panel heat transfer increases when the fin pitch (or the fin angle) is decreased, when the fin thickness is increased, and when the thermal conductivity ratio is increased. The streamwise pressure drop increases with decreasing fin pitch (or fin angle) and increasing fin thickness. For a fixed fin thickness, the selection of a small fin pitch (or fin angle) over the range studied results in a higher heat transfer enhancement per unit pumping power.

Conjugate heat transfer in solar collector panels with internal longitudinal corrugated fins: Part I - Overall results Conference Paper