Design and performance evaluation of a solar-assisted drying system. (13th September 2010)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shukla, S.K.; Sharma, A.K.
• Is Part Of: International journal of materials engineering innovation. Volume 1:Number 3/4(2010)
• Page Start: 338
• Page End: 349
• Publication Date: 2010-09-13
• Subjects: drying systems -- dryer efficiency -- solar dryers -- optimum collector temperature -- Aonla drying -- collector efficiency -- solar air heating -- heat exchangers -- hot air temperature; Materials science -- Periodicals; Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Materials -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; 620.11
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-2754

Abstract

A solar air heating system that does not require a conventional auxiliary heater, but can still provide a daily load fraction exceeding 90% and supply hot air at a steady temperature and flow rate continuously for ten hours a day, has been developed. The system, which combines flat plate solar collector heat exchanger and blower, was evaluated by drying Aonla and Cabbage using air at 60°C and 90 m³/h. The Aonla was dried from 80.0% moisture (w.b) to 7.29% over 20 hours of continuous drying. The dryer reduced the drying time by 70% compared to open sun drying, and provided 92.5% load fraction during the ten-hour operation. The temperature of hot air supplied was stable at 60±3°C for about ten hours for two days during the entire drying duration.