Effect of Boosting Solar Radiation Intensity on Thermal and Hydraulic Performance and Characteristics of Forced Circulation Food Dryer Provided with Roughened Solar Air Heater

Abstract

This paper focus on effects of boosting solar intensity on the thermal performance of solar food dryer coupled with roughened solar heater. Boosting of solar intensity increases the temperature of air entering into the food dryer without changing the specific humidity. The methods which have been used to increase the intensity of incidence radiation on the collector of food dryer are plane mirrors with tracking, parabolic reflectors and compound parabolic concentrator. It has been observed experimentally that boosting intensity improves performance characteristics of solar air heater and food dryer. It increases collector efficiency, dryer efficiency, loss of moisture content and diminishes the moisture content in the product at any time.