Heating of air between two transparent vertical plates by solar energy and aplicatton to drying systems

11 (M.Sc Thesis) Yücel FIRAT GAZİ UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY July 1997 ABSTRACT In this research, solar air window collector of solar house present at Faculty of Engineering and Architecture of Gazi University was used. The solar air window collector was sligûy modified for this purpose. Heated air obtained from solar air collector was sent by appropriate piping system into a drying chamber placed into solar house. Solar air window collector was installed on the south face of solar house. Solar air heater collector is composed of two glass panes. Glass pane facing inside of the solar house was insulated externally to eliminate heat losses into the house. The Venetian blind system made of rotatable slats was placed between glass panes and used to absorb incoming solar energy into the system. The slats are made of aluminum and they were painted black. The Venetian blind system in its full open position makes 90° agnle with respect to vertical plane. The angles are measured with respect to horizontal x-axis and counter clockwise direction is assumed to be positive. Heated air obtained from the solar air window collector was circulated through the drying chamber by a fan. Drying experiments at different air flow rates were performed. The various parameters such as air flow rates, room and ambient air temperatures, inlet and outlet temperatures of drying chamber, inlet and outlet temperatures of solar air collector and solar radiation were measured. The effects of various parameters on solar air collector was investigated experimentally. Green pepper and green beans were dried and drying time is given for each of theese agricultural products. The results indicate that the present system can be used effectively and efficiently for drying purposes. Science code Key Words Page number Adviser 625.04.02 Solar energy, Solar air collector, Drying 129 Associate Professor Dr. Nevzat ONUR