Investigation on heat transfer enhancement of conventional and staggered fin solar air heater coated with CNT-black paint-an experimental approach.

The present study aims at a detailed experimental study of a passive-type solar air heater (SAH) on the effect of coating the absorber plate with higher thermal conductive black paint under forced circulation method and studied under the climatic conditions of Chennai. Furthermore, to enhance the thermal performance index of conventional SAH, additional enhancement such as coating and staggered fins are fixed to the absorber plate of duct which simultaneously increases the turbulent intensity, kinetic energy to enhance the temperature of outlet air. Comparisons are made with a solar air heater without coating and staggered fin in order to assess the thermal performance.