Application of Random Search Technique to Optimize Performance of Solar Air Heater

Abstract

The present study involves implementation of random search technique in order to optimize the thermal performance of a flat-plate solar air heater. The maximum thermal performance was evaluated over a wide range of operating conditions and the optimal sets of design and operating parameters were predicted. The range of input data considered in this study includes: Reynolds number, tilt angle, solar radiation intensity, emissivity of glass plate, number of glass cover plates and surrounding temperature. In this work, thermal performance corresponding to optimal set of parameters has been evaluated. The results depict that the maximum thermal performance has been obtained is equal to 70.39% corresponding to optimal set of design and operating parameters at V = 3 m/s,  = 67.89o and T = 319.88 K. The result obtained has been compared with GA and found to be satisfactory.