Development of a solar-assisted dryer and evaluation of energy requirement for the drying of onion

98Citations
Citations of this article
134Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.
Get full text

Abstract

A solar-assisted forced convection dryer was developed to study the effect of airflow rate (2.43, 5.25, 8.09 kg/min), air temperature (55, 65, 75 °C), and fraction of air recycled (up to 90%) on the total energy requirement of drying of onion slices. The dryer was provided with a flat plate solar air heater having both the corrugations and triangular fins to the absorber plate. For drying of onion slices from initial moisture content of about 86% (wet basis) to final moisture content of about 7% (wet basis), the energy required per unit mass of water removed during without using recirculation of air was found between 23.548 and 62.117 MJ/kg water. The percent energy contribution by the solar air heater, electrical heater, and blower was found between 24.5% and 44.5%, 40.2% and 66.9%, and 8.6% and 16.3%, respectively. The savings in total energy due to fraction of air recycled were determined at 65 and 75 °C air temperature for the above three airflow rates. The maximum saving in total energy up to 70.7% was achieved by recycling of the exhaust air. The energy required per unit mass of water removed was found between 12.040 and 38.777 MJ/kg water. The percent energy contribution by the solar air heater, auxiliary heater, and blower was found between 22.4% and 40.9%, 33.6% and 62.6%, and 11.2% and 37.2%, respectively. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Sarsavadia, P. N. (2007). Development of a solar-assisted dryer and evaluation of energy requirement for the drying of onion. Renewable Energy, 32(15), 2529–2547. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2006.12.019

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free