Performance enhancement of solar air heater using hybrid methods: Focused review on current progress, challenges, and future opportunities with ribs, jets, and nanocoatings

Ankush Banyal, Dwesh Kumar Singh, Rajan Kumar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dr B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Government Hydro Engineering College, Himachal Pradesh

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy

Published online on March 10, 2026

Abstract

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy, Ahead of Print.
The improvement of solar air heater (SAH) performance has gained greater importance with the increasing demand for clean thermal energy. This review discusses the main techniques for increasing their efficiency, including jet impingement for targeted heat ...