Review Article

Applications of Metaheuristic Algorithms in Solar Air Heater Optimization: A Review of Recent Trends and Future Prospects

Table 6

The very recent papers on the existing methods and techniques used by other researchers in the optimization of solar air heaters (2019-2021).

S. no.Authors, year, and referencesObjective of the studyMethods/techniquesConcluding important remarks

1.Zhu and Zhang (2020) [216]A numerical investigation on performance optimization of a microheat pipe array-based SAH(i) A three-dimensional steady-state numerical model using CFD software
(ii) Experimental system was built and used to verify the numerical model
The developed numerical model was validated in agreement with the experimental results.
2.Benhamza et al. (2021) [217]Exergy, energy, and improvement potential-dependent food drying multiobjective design optimization SAH(i) Experimental configuration
(ii) Response surface methodology (RSM) model
(iii) Mathematical model
An energy balance equation SAH numerical model was developed and also empirically validated. The 5.745% mean applicable error indicates that both the analytical and empirical results of the algorithm are similar. Moreover, the analysis of variance proved that the response surface methodology (RSM) regression models were very precise. As a result, they may be applied to SAH optimization.
3.Korpale et al. (2020) [218]Numerical simulations and optimization of SAHs(i) Empirical correlations and evaluation of maximum thermohydraulic efficiency of rectangular section ribs installed in SAHs
(ii) CFD simulations
(iii) Experimental
The errors were within acceptable limits, proving that the accuracy of empirical correlations used for the design of SAHs and proper selection of model equations were adequate.
4.Kumar et al. (2020) [85]The thermohydraulic optimization of SAH with packed bed duct(i) In this investigation, the heat exchange and fluid flow SAH features were numerically analyzed to obtain optimal performanceThe study concluded that there was a slight enhancement reduction with temperature rise for every set of the bed depth to packing element size ratios.
5.Sharma and Choudhary (2020), chapter 6 in Ref. [219]A multiobjective performance optimization of a ribbed SAH(i) CFD-Taguchi approachTheir efficient heat exchange application investigation appropriately offered an improved rib design.
6.Bezbaruah et al. (2019) [220]The truncated half-conical vortex generator SAH optimization using both general efficiency analysis and grey comparative analysis (GRA)(i) Numerical method
(ii) Grey relational analysis (GRA) optimization
They applied the disparate curves from the CFD code to confirm their results.
7.Dezan et al. (2020) [98]A thermohydraulic efficiency SAH duct optimization using irregular rectangular winglet row pairs(i) Proxy optimization
(ii) Multiobjective optimization
(iii) Numerical method
They apply to sustainable optimal channel-type SAHs.
8.Xiao et al. (2019) [221]Exergy destruction minimization-dependent turbulent heat exchange SAH optimization.(i) Heat exchange optimizationTheir results showed that the optimization technique was efficient for enhancing the SAH thermohydraulic efficiency.
9.Qader et al. (2019) [222]Modeling of inclined fin optimization design SAH.(i) Response surface methodology (RSM)
(ii) Simulation using ANSYS FLUENT v16.1 software
The thermal efficiency of the inclined fin SAH was better and more distinguished than the circle, square-sectioned, and L-shaped coarse SAH geometries.
10.Kumar et al. (2019) [223]The efficiency assessment and discrete multiple arc-shaped rib SAH optimization(i) Response surface methodology (RSM)
(ii) Analysis of variance (ANOVA)
(iii) Experimental
An extraordinary enhancement in the thermal efficiency of SAH varied with coarseness but led to higher SAH pumping power.
11.Debnath et al. (2019) [224]Integrated fuzzy method model for flat plate SAC optimization.(i) Experimental
(ii) Integrated fuzzy method
The accuracy of the obtained result for the SAC was found to be about 97.5%.