Taguchi Method For Optimization

Solar air heaters (SAHs) are renewable energy systems designed to convert incident solar radiation into useful thermal energy, which can be utilized in a wide range of human applications. However, SAHs generally exhibit relatively low thermal efficiency due to insufficient heat transfer between the absorber plate and the flowing air stream. In order to enhance the performance of SAHs, researchers have employed various optimization techniques to determine the optimal combination of design, operational, and environmental parameters. Among various techniques, the Taguchi method has gained considerable prominence as an effective statistical tool, as it reduces the number of experimental trials while yielding reliable and optimized results. The primary objective of the present work is to provide a comprehensive review of the application of the Taguchi method by previous researchers for optimizing the performance parameters of SAHs. Nevertheless, a thorough examination of the existing literature reveals that, to date, no detailed and comprehensive review has been conducted focusing specifically on the application of the Taguchi method for SAH performance optimization.