Annual Thermal Performance of an Industrial Hybrid Direct–Indirect Solar Air Heating System for Drying Applications in Morelos-México

Francisco Álvarez-Sánchez, Jassón Flores-Prieto and Octavio García-Valladares
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Francisco Álvarez-Sánchez: Tecnológico Nacional de México—CENIDET, Int. Internado Palmira S/N, Cuernavaca 62490, Mexico
Jassón Flores-Prieto: Tecnológico Nacional de México—CENIDET, Int. Internado Palmira S/N, Cuernavaca 62490, Mexico
Octavio García-Valladares: Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Privada Xochicalco S/N, Centro, Temixco 62580, Mexico

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 17, 1-20

Abstract: A theoretical–experimental annual analysis of a hybrid industrial direct–indirect solar air heating system performance for drying was conducted considering temperatures, useful energy Q u , efficiency ? , and solar fraction SF . The direct solar air heating system located in Morelos, México, has flat-plate solar air collectors, and the indirect system has flat-plate solar water collectors, a thermal storage tank, a cross-flow fin, and a tube heat exchanger. A validated TRNSYS program modeled the process; the validation was carried out by comparing each component outlet temperature and useful energy with the respective experimental field data. The analysis considered annual usage over seven days a week, nine hours a day (from 09:00 to 18:00 h), and three operation modes. For the direct, indirect, and hybrid operation modes, the Q u values were 31.60, 55.19, and 75.18 MWh/yr; the annual ? values were 0.44, 0.41, and 0.42; and the annual SF values were 0.45, and 0.73 for the indirect and hybrid mode, respectively. The hybridization of the direct–indirect solar air heating system increased annual performance by up to 58% in Q u and 42% in SF . The parametric analysis showed that a characteristic working nomogram of the hybrid system could be achieved, correlating the useful energy, efficiency, solar fraction, and operation temperature at a specified mass flow rate, and working temperature.

Keywords: solar energy; solar air heating; solar air hybrid heater; solar heaters optimization; solar heating (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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