Integration of a Carbon Nano-Florets Enhanced Double-Pass Solar Air Heater with Thermochemical Energy Storage for Continuous Space Heating in High-Altitude Military Applications
Abstract: Space heating in high-altitude regions such as Leh-Ladakh remains a critical challenge due to extreme climatic conditions, high energy demand, and heavy reliance on diesel-based systems. These conventional systems not only increase operational costs but also introduce logistical and environmental concerns. Although solar air heaters (SAHs) offer a viable alternative due to abundant solar irradiance, their inability to provide continuous heating limits their effectiveness. This study proposes an integrated thermal system combining a double-pass, double-glazed solar air heater enhanced with Carbon Nano-Florets (NCF) and a calcium chloride (CaCl?)-based thermochemical energy storage (TCES) unit. The NCF coating improves solar absorptivity through enhanced photon trapping, resulting in elevated absorber temperatures. The double-pass configuration increases air residence time, while double glazing reduces heat losses under low ambient temperatures. A comprehensive numerical model is developed using ANSYS Fluent to simulate coupled heat transfer, fluid flow, radiation, and thermochemical reactions. The results demonstrate a significant increase in outlet air temperature compared to conventional systems, enabling efficient dehydration of the storage material during daytime operation. During night-time, the stored energy is released through hydration reactions, ensuring uninterrupted heating. The system achieves charging efficiencies of approximately 30-35% and discharging efficiencies of 70-75%. The findings confirm that the proposed configuration provides a technically feasible and energy-efficient solution for continuous space heating in remote and high-altitude applications.
Keywords: Solar air heater, Thermochemical energy storage (TCES), Carbon Nano-Florets, High-altitude heating, CFD modelling, Military applications
How to Cite?: Dr. P. R. Dongarwar, "Integration of a Carbon Nano-Florets Enhanced Double-Pass Solar Air Heater with Thermochemical Energy Storage for Continuous Space Heating in High-Altitude Military Applications", Volume 15 Issue 4, April 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 65-75, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26401120150, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26401120150