Open Access

ARTICLE

Using the Taguchi Method and Grey Relational Analysis to Optimize the Performance of a Solar Air Heater

Manar B. AL-Hajji^1,*, Nabeel Abu Shaban², Shahnaz Al Khalil², Ayat Al-Jarrah³

1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology Al-Zaytonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
3 Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Hashemite University, Zarqa’, Jordan

* Corresponding Author: Manar B. AL-Hajji. Email:

Energy Engineering 2021, 118(5), 1425-1438. https://doi.org/10.32604/EE.2021.016413

Received 04 March 2021; Accepted 04 June 2021; Issue published 16 July 2021

Abstract

Solar energy is regarded as one of the promising renewable energy sources in the world.The main aim of this study is to use the Taguchi-Grey relational grade analysis to optimize the performance of two Solar Air Heaters (SAHs). A typical Grey–Taguchi method was applied. The Orthogonal Array, Signal-to-Noise ratio, Grey Relational Grade, and Analysis of Variance were employed to investigate the performance characteristics of SAH. Experimental observations were made in agreement with Jordanian climate 32°00′ N latitude and 36°00′ E longitude with a solar intensity of 500 W\m². The operating factors selected for optimization are the tilt angle (T) with three levels (0°, 22°, 45°), inlet velocity (V) with two levels (1.2, 1.8 m/s), and absorber plate material (M) with two levels (Aluminum, wood). In this study, the Grey–Taguchi approach is validated by performing 12 individual experiments. The results show that the process factors sequence required for a maximum SAH efficiency (SAH µ) is V > T > M. Using this approach, we combined the Orthogonal Array design with Grey Relational Analysis. As a result of that, the level of each operating conditions which optimizes both process responses (Temperature difference, ∆T and Solar air heater efficiency, SAH µ) can be specified with a minimum number of tests compared with classic Grey Relational Analysis. The optimal operating conditions of a SAH for multiple performance characteristics are determined as T2, M2, and V2, respectively, which are in congruence with the experimental results.

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