2Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of M’Sila, University Pole, Road Bordj Bou Arreridj, M’Sila 28000, Algeria; Laboratory of Materials and Mechanics of Structures (L.M.M.S), University of M’Sila, University Pole, Road Bordj Bou Arreridj, M’Sila 28000, Algeria
3Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Biskra, Algeria
Abstract
In the present study, an experimental investigation was performed to study the effect of mean absorber and collector temperatures on the mean air and chimney temperatures. In the dry climate of Biskra University, experiments were carried out using a solar chimney prototype that presented the following characteristics: 0.50 m for the collector's radius, 10 cm for the collector's height, 10 cm for the chimney radius, and 1 m for the chimney's height. The temperature at the various study points has been measured using temperature measurement systems. The experimental results show that the temperatures of the absorber, collector, and air follow the same pattern. The temperature in the chimney follows the same pattern; it degrades following a linear law depending on the position. The absorber's mean temperature rises in accordance with the collector's mean temperature rise, according to a linear law with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.94. The mean air temperature rises in tandem with the mean absorber and collector temperatures in a model that follows an exponential law (R2=0.84). Additionally, the mean temperature of the chimney rises in tandem with the mean temperatures of the absorber and collector, according to a mathematical model following a polynomial law (R2=0.87). So the absorber temperature is a key parameter that affects the solar chimney performance.