Design and evaluation of solar powered dryer system with integrated thermal energy storage

Abstract

Drying of food products in open air under sun is the most common and easiest way of drying. However, it cannot assure the hygiene of the dried product because of the involvement of wind-borne dust, rain, insects, rodents and birds. This will affects the quality of the product and hence may have contrary economic effects on domestics and global markets. Some of the problems associated with open-air sun drying can be solved through the use of a cabinet type or indirect type solar dryer. The major drawback of all these types of conventional solar dryers is that they cannot be used in cloudy weather or during night time. By incorporating Thermal Energy Storage (TES) we can make use of the dryer throughout the day or at least during late evenings. Water is one of the best sensible TES medium within its operating range. Solar water heater is a device used to collect solar energy and heat up water without any electrical or fossil fuel aid. So the idea of this project is to incorporate solar dryer with solar water heater so that the dryer can be used even at late evenings or in cloudy weather, and also it can be used as water heater for hot water consumption.