In this paper we have developed a simple analytical model to investigate the effect of increased heat transfer area on a conventional type air heater. This has been done by incorporating rectangular fins, or by vee-corrugating the absorber plate of a conventional type air heater. However, the heat transfer coefficient has been assumed to be constant, in our present analysis. Performance curves are found for different collector configurations, and a marked increase in efficiencency is noticed with the increase in number of fins. The fliud temperature is also found to increase with the addition of fins, the effect being more at lower flow rates. The effect of vee-corrugating was found to be less promising than addition of fins.
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