Dual chamber solar dryers: Maximizing thermal performance for diverse product drying
The drying of agricultural and marine products demands specific temperature conditions. Existing dryers are often limited to a single product type and have a limited temperature range. This research addresses this challenge by developing a hybrid dryer that efficiently uses solar energy and biomass...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier B.V.
2025
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| Online Access: | http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/43621/1/Dual%20chamber%20solar%20dryers.pdf |
| _version_ | 1824451759084404736 |
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| author | Prabhu, C. Naveen Dhanushkodi, S. Sudhakar, K. |
| author_facet | Prabhu, C. Naveen Dhanushkodi, S. Sudhakar, K. |
| author_sort | Prabhu, C. Naveen |
| collection | UMP |
| description | The drying of agricultural and marine products demands specific temperature conditions. Existing dryers are often limited to a single product type and have a limited temperature range. This research addresses this challenge by developing a hybrid dryer that efficiently uses solar energy and biomass heating to dry several products. This dryer consists of a dual-chamber solar flat plate collector (FPC). One steel chamber integrates a biomass heater and a polycarbonate chamber connected exclusively to the FPC. Marine items requiring higher temperatures ranging from 78 to 85 degrees Celsius are processed in a steel drying chamber with a 40 kg capacity. In contrast, the agricultural products requiring 50-65°C are dried in a polycarbonate drying chamber. Experimental tests involved drying 3 kg of anchovy fish in the steel chamber, 2 kilograms of Indian gooseberry, and 1 kg of Moringa oleifera leaves in the polycarbonate chamber. The drying chamber's moisture content, drying time, and efficiency are assessed and compared with traditional sun drying techniques. The hybrid drying mode achieved a target moisture content of 8% (w.b) within 9 hours with an average efficiency of 36%. In comparison, solar forced drying achieved the desired moisture content of 4% for Indian gooseberries in 6 hours and 5.2 % for drumstick leaves in 2 hours, with an average system efficiency of 25%. Notably, the hybrid forced mode proved twice as fast as open sun drying, presenting versatile drying solutions for small-scale farmers. Future improvements may include scaling up the design, integrating automation and monitoring systems to enhance usability. |
| first_indexed | 2025-02-19T02:39:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | UMPir43621 |
| institution | Universiti Malaysia Pahang |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-02-19T02:39:44Z |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publisher | Elsevier B.V. |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | UMPir436212025-01-17T07:58:26Z http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/43621/ Dual chamber solar dryers: Maximizing thermal performance for diverse product drying Prabhu, C. Naveen Dhanushkodi, S. Sudhakar, K. T Technology (General) TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery The drying of agricultural and marine products demands specific temperature conditions. Existing dryers are often limited to a single product type and have a limited temperature range. This research addresses this challenge by developing a hybrid dryer that efficiently uses solar energy and biomass heating to dry several products. This dryer consists of a dual-chamber solar flat plate collector (FPC). One steel chamber integrates a biomass heater and a polycarbonate chamber connected exclusively to the FPC. Marine items requiring higher temperatures ranging from 78 to 85 degrees Celsius are processed in a steel drying chamber with a 40 kg capacity. In contrast, the agricultural products requiring 50-65°C are dried in a polycarbonate drying chamber. Experimental tests involved drying 3 kg of anchovy fish in the steel chamber, 2 kilograms of Indian gooseberry, and 1 kg of Moringa oleifera leaves in the polycarbonate chamber. The drying chamber's moisture content, drying time, and efficiency are assessed and compared with traditional sun drying techniques. The hybrid drying mode achieved a target moisture content of 8% (w.b) within 9 hours with an average efficiency of 36%. In comparison, solar forced drying achieved the desired moisture content of 4% for Indian gooseberries in 6 hours and 5.2 % for drumstick leaves in 2 hours, with an average system efficiency of 25%. Notably, the hybrid forced mode proved twice as fast as open sun drying, presenting versatile drying solutions for small-scale farmers. Future improvements may include scaling up the design, integrating automation and monitoring systems to enhance usability. Elsevier B.V. 2025-03 Article PeerReviewed pdf en cc_by_nc_4 http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/43621/1/Dual%20chamber%20solar%20dryers.pdf Prabhu, C. Naveen and Dhanushkodi, S. and Sudhakar, K. (2025) Dual chamber solar dryers: Maximizing thermal performance for diverse product drying. Results in Engineering, 25 (103967). pp. 1-14. ISSN 2590-1230. (In Press / Online First) (In Press / Online First) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2025.103967 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2025.103967 |
| spellingShingle | T Technology (General) TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery Prabhu, C. Naveen Dhanushkodi, S. Sudhakar, K. Dual chamber solar dryers: Maximizing thermal performance for diverse product drying |
| title | Dual chamber solar dryers: Maximizing thermal performance for diverse product drying |
| title_full | Dual chamber solar dryers: Maximizing thermal performance for diverse product drying |
| title_fullStr | Dual chamber solar dryers: Maximizing thermal performance for diverse product drying |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dual chamber solar dryers: Maximizing thermal performance for diverse product drying |
| title_short | Dual chamber solar dryers: Maximizing thermal performance for diverse product drying |
| title_sort | dual chamber solar dryers maximizing thermal performance for diverse product drying |
| topic | T Technology (General) TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery |
| url | http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/43621/1/Dual%20chamber%20solar%20dryers.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT prabhucnaveen dualchambersolardryersmaximizingthermalperformancefordiverseproductdrying AT dhanushkodis dualchambersolardryersmaximizingthermalperformancefordiverseproductdrying AT sudhakark dualchambersolardryersmaximizingthermalperformancefordiverseproductdrying |