Low-efficiency, rice-husk-based furnace-boiler systems are generally used for meeting thermal energy demand of paddy parboiling in India. Shortages in rice-husk availability are met with fuels such as coal, furnace oil, etc. Besides steam at low pressures, paddy parboiling operations require hot...

A framework for financial evaluation of a box-type solar cooker, using cost functions for its capital cost, has been developed. The annual benefits accrued to the user are quantified in terms of number of meals cooked per year and monetary worth of the fuel saved per meal. Expressions for some...

The top heat-loss factor (Ut) of a box-type solar cooker varies with plate temperature, wind heat-transfer coefficient and ambient temperature. A method for correlating Ut with these variables is presented for a cooker with double glazing. A set of equations is developed for correlating data...

We have developed the theory of a matrix air heater with a rear plate, investigated the role of individual components, and studied the performance differences for air flowing downwards and air flowing upwards through the matrix. The system is compared with an air heater of conventional design...

We have investigated a fin-type air heater, both experimentally and theoretically. In the experimental set-up, the fins are integrated with the upper plate of the conventional duct-type air heater with single glazing. The experiments were performed on two clear days for two different mass-flow...

We have investigated the performance of a solar water heater with collector and baffle plate for six continuous days during the summer and winter seasons. The following cases were studied: 1.(i) no flow,2.(ii) constant water flow rates,3.(iii) intermittent flow to meet requirements of hot water,...

A theoretical investigation for optimizing collector-cost effectiveness is carried out by considering various tube diameters, materials, tube spacing, fin materials, and thicknesses for black and other paints. The bond conductance is taken into account for various joining techniques. Various...

This paper deals with efforts to improve the performance of conventional, duct- type air heaters by providing rectangular fins in the air passage between the absorber and the rear plate. For this configuration, a mathematical model is developed by writing the energy balance equations at various...

We have developed the theory for a four-pass air heater. We have also studied the system performance with one, two, and three passes. The effect of the number of glass cover plates on one, two, and three passes has also been investigated. It is shown that the multiple-pass air heater performs...

The performance of a built-in storage water heater can be improved by using a baffle plate in the absorber tank. We have studied the following different design conditions: 1.(i) a water heater with baffle plate and with night insulation cover,2.(ii) with baffle plate and without night insulation...