Solar Air Heater-Classifications and Performance Enhancement Techniques

Renewable energy-based energy resources and appliances have become the need of the hour in the global environmental challenges. Solar and wind energy-based appliances are the most popular in this domain. However, solar energy-based appliances outweigh wind energy-based appliances due to ease of construction, installation, robustness, and scalability. World consumes a significant ratio of total world energy production for heating, ventilation, and drying purposes. The solar air heater can save an appreciable amount of power consumption in these applications. In this chapter, a detailed discussion on various types of solar air heaters and methods to improve their heat transfer is discussed in detail. Solar thermal energy-based appliances can reduce the burden on electricity consumption in certain applications like heating, cooling, and drying in residential, commercial buildings, agriculture, and industries. The major problem with these appliances is low thermal efficiency which various modifications can improve in their designs and working conditions.