Energy
S. Prem Kumar; G. Kumar
Abstract
In solar drying, the moisture content of a product is reduced through the use of sunlight. Solar drying is practiced since civilization for the drying of crops. The dried crop has a longer shelf life and requires less storage space. For crop drying, hot air is required in the moderate temperature range ...
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In solar drying, the moisture content of a product is reduced through the use of sunlight. Solar drying is practiced since civilization for the drying of crops. The dried crop has a longer shelf life and requires less storage space. For crop drying, hot air is required in the moderate temperature range of 40 to 75℃. Solar dryer makes it possible to obtain better product quality. Over the past 20 years, numerous experimental projects have been carried out in the field of solar dryers. Most conventional dryers are not able to operate continuously during the off sunshine time. However, attempts were made to develop uninterrupted solar drying systems by incorporating an energy storage facility and a hybrid mode of operation. Sensible and latent heat storage methods are widely used to store solar energy. Heat storage materials store energy in the form of heat during sunshine and release it whenever it is required. Biogas backup, Chemical heat pump, Photo Voltaic, and Fluidized bed methods were integrated with solar dryers for uninterrupted operation. In this article, the discussion is made about different dryers. Also, the challenges and scope in the area of the solar dryer are highlighted.
S. Premkumar; K. Ramanarasimha; E.S. Prakash
Abstract
This work presents the design and development of solar crop dryer with drained SAE 20/40 from vehicles oil as heat storage material. The details design, fabrication and experimental analysis procedure of the developed dryer are explained. The crops used during the experiments were potato slices ...
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This work presents the design and development of solar crop dryer with drained SAE 20/40 from vehicles oil as heat storage material. The details design, fabrication and experimental analysis procedure of the developed dryer are explained. The crops used during the experiments were potato slices (2 kg) and ginger (2 Kg) while air velocity maintained at 10 m/s. Potato slices of upper and lower trays have taken the drying time of 5 hours and 6 hour to reach safe storage moisture content of below 15 % and whereas ginger of upper tray and lower tray have taken drying time of 9 and 10 hours to reach moisture content of below 15. The maximum value of instantaneous of the collector (Oil bath) efficiency reported was 57. 48 % and minimum value was 18.59 %.
