Performance and economic analyses on solar-assisted heat pump fluidised bed dryer integrated with biomass furnace for rice drying. (1st November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yahya, M.; Fahmi, Hendriwan; Fudholi, Ahmad; Sopian, Kamaruzzaman
• Is Part Of: Solar energy. Volume 174(2018)
• Page Start: 1058
• Page End: 1067
• Publication Date: 2018-11-01
• Subjects: Heat pump -- Fluidised bed -- Solar and biomass energy; Solar energy -- Periodicals; Solar engines -- Periodicals; 621.47
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2018.10.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-092X

Abstract

Highlights: Experimental study was carried out a solar-assisted heat pump fluidised bed dryer integrated with biomass furnace for rice drying. The energy-exergy-economic analyses and drying kinetic analysis were presented. The thermal dryer, pickup and exergy efficiencies in the average values of 15.4%, 43.8% and 41.3%, respectively. Improvement potential varied from 223.3 W to 1391.2 W, with an average values of 630.6 W. The payback period of the dryer was approximately 1.6 years. Abstract: This study is concerned with the performance and economic analyses on solar-assisted heat pump fluidised bed dryer integrated with biomass furnace for rice drying. The dryer decreased the moisture content of rice from 32.85% (dry basis) to 16.29% (dry basis) in 22.95 min, with a mass flow rate of 0.1037 kg/s at an average temperature of 80.9 °C and average relative humidity of 8.14%. The specific moisture extraction rate varied from 0.13 kg/kWh to 0.40 kg/kWh, with an average value of 0.24 kg/kWh. The specific energy, specific thermal energy and specific electrical energy consumptions varied in the range of 2.50–2.62, 0.98–3.03 and 0.90–2.78 kWh/kg, with average values of 4.76, 1.86 and 1.71 kWh/kg, respectively. The thermal dryer, pickup and exergy efficiencies varied in the range of 8.4%–25.6%, 23.7%–73.4% and 13.6%–61.8%, with average values of 15.4%, 43.8% and 41.3%, respectively. Improvement potential varied from 223.3 W to 1391.2 W, with an average value of 630.6 W. The payback period of the dryer was approximately 1.6 years. Furthermore, the experimental dimensionless moisture content data fitted well with the Page's model.