Thermal Performance and Cost Assessment Analysis of a Double-Pass V-Trough Solar Air Heater

Eduardo Venegas-Reyes, Naghelli Ortega-Avila, Yuridiana Rocio Galindo-Luna, Jonathan Ibarra-Bahena, Erick Cesar López-Vidaña and Ulises Dehesa-Carrasco ()
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Eduardo Venegas-Reyes: Subcoordinación de Agua, Energía y Proyectos Productivos, Instituto Mexicano de Tecnología del Agua, Paseo Cuauhnáhuac 8532, Progreso, Jiutepec 62550, Morelos, Mexico
Naghelli Ortega-Avila: SECIHTI—Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados S.C., Calle CIMAV 110, Ejido Arroyo Seco 34147, Durango, Mexico
Yuridiana Rocio Galindo-Luna: Departamento de Ingeniería de Procesos e Hidráulica, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, San Rafael Atlixco 186, Col. Vicentina, Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México 09340, Mexico
Jonathan Ibarra-Bahena: Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Priv. Xochicalco s/n, Col. Azteca, Temixco 62588, Morelos, Mexico
Erick Cesar López-Vidaña: SECIHTI—Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados S.C., Calle CIMAV 110, Ejido Arroyo Seco 34147, Durango, Mexico
Ulises Dehesa-Carrasco: Subcoordinación de Agua, Energía y Proyectos Productivos, Instituto Mexicano de Tecnología del Agua, Paseo Cuauhnáhuac 8532, Progreso, Jiutepec 62550, Morelos, Mexico

Clean Technol., 2025, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-18

Abstract: Solar air heating systems offer an effective alternative for reducing greenhouse gas emissions at a profitable cost. This work details the design, construction, and experimental evaluation of a novel double-pass V-trough solar air heater with semicircular receivers, which was built with low-cost materials readily available in the Mexican market. Thermal performance tests were conducted in accordance with the ANSI-ASHRAE 93-2010 standard. The results indicated a peak collector efficiency of 0.4461 and total heat losses of 8.8793 W/(m 2 °C), with an air mass flow rate of 0.0174 kg/s. The instantaneous thermal efficiency varied between 0.2603 and 0.5633 with different air flow rates and an inlet air temperature close to the ambient temperature. The outlet air temperature reached 70 °C, making it suitable for dehydrating fruits or vegetables at competitive operating costs. Additionally, a second-law analysis was carried out, and the exergy efficiency was between 0.0037 and 0.0407. Finally, a Levelized Cost of Energy analysis was performed, and the result was USD 0.079/kWh, which was 31% lower than that of a conventional electric air heater system.

Keywords: solar thermal; solar concentrator; solar drying; solar heat; LCOE (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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