This paper presents a numerical analysis on turbulent flow and forced-convection characteristics of rectangular solar air heater tube fitted with staggered, transverse, V-shape, modern obstacles on the heated walls. Air, whose Prandtl number is 0.71, is the working fluid used, and the Reynolds number considered equal to 6×103. The governing flow equations are solved using a finite volume approach and the semi-implicit pressure linked equation (SIMPLE) algorithm. With regard to the flow characteristics, the quadratic upstream interpolation for convective kinetics differencing scheme (QUICK) was applied, and a second-order upwind scheme (SOU) was used for the pressure terms. The dynamic thermo-energy behavior of the V-shaped baffles with various flow attack angles, i.e., 50°, 60°, 70°, and 80° are simulated, analyzed, and compared with those of the conventional flat rectangular baffles with attack value of 90°. In all situations, the thermal transfer rate was found to be much larger than unity; its maximum value was around 3.143 for the flow attack angle of 90° and y = H/2.

The airflow through a two-dimensional horizontal rectangular cross-section channel in the presence of two baffles has been numerically examined and analyzed in the steady turbulent regime. The baffles were of the zig-zag type or plane one. The calculations are based on the finite volume approach and the average Navier–Stokes equations along with the energy equation, have been solved using the SIMPLE algorithm. The nonuniform structured quadrilateral-type element mesh is used in this study. The fluid flow patterns represented for Reynolds numbers based on the hydraulic diameter of the channel ranging from 5000 to 20 000. Effects of various Reynolds number values on flow fields, dimensionless axial velocity profiles, as well as local and average friction coefficients in the test channel is presented. The obtained results show that the flow structure is characterized by strong deformations and large recirculation regions. In general, the fluid velocity and skin friction loss rise with the increase in the flow rate and hence the Reynolds number.