Solar air heater for residential space heating

Abstract

Space heating appliances require significant amount of primary as well as secondary energy. In most of the countries, energy requirements for such utilities are met by burning fossil fuel or from conventional electricity. Such usual practices for space heating result in significant increase in greenhouse gas emission and fossil fuel depletion. In the line of global emphasis on energy conservation and switch-to-clean energy approach, solar thermal energy can be harnessed using solar air heater for space heating purpose. This paper studies the potential of using solar air heater in space heating applications. Associated critical issues like demand–supply mismatch, installation space constraint, annual utilization factor and undesirable variations in output temperature are highlighted. Further, current research trends toward improving applicability of solar air heater are also briefly discussed.