Dynamic Performance Assessment of Single-Glazed and Double-Glazed Solar Air Heater Systems for Textile Industry

Abstract

The textile industry requires considerable thermal energy, particularly for low-temperature drying and finishing operations. Conventional heating methods, commonly powered by fossil fuels, contribute to rising energy costs. Though, a solar air heater (SAH) stands out as a simple, affordable, and eco-friendly device that transforms solar radiation into thermal energy. It can be effectively utilized for space heating, crop drying, and industrial heating. SAHs utilize radiation, convection, and conduction heat transfer mechanisms. Minimizing conduction losses through insulation and better glazing is crucial. As such, a transient analysis was performed for flat-plate SAHs for the weather conditions of Adama City. It was found that the single-glass SAH shows a definite diurnal and seasonal pattern, with air temperatures reaching a maximum of 82.34°C in February and maintaining effective heating above 60°C between 10:00 and 14:00 for most months. In contrast, the double-glass SAH achieves air temperatures of up to 90.57°C in February, with prolonged retention of above 80°C between 10:00 and 14:00 for most months. As a whole, both configurations absorb solar energy efficiently, but double-glass SAH remains thermally superior to its single-glass counterpart in every working condition. Hence, the integration of SAHs into textile drying operations presents a sustainable and cost-effective alternative for supplying low-temperature thermal energy.

 Keywords: Low-Temperature Drying, Renewable Energy, Solar Air Heater, Thermal Performance.