Thermo-enviroeconomic assessment of a solar dryer of two various commodities

Swellam W. Sharshir, Abanob Joseph, Mamoun M. Elsayad, Mofreh H. Hamed and A.W. Kandeal

Energy, 2024, vol. 295, issue C

Abstract: The energy, environmental, and health issues necessitate the development of renewable energy-based food processing, especially solar drying. However, the low efficiency and high production costs of such systems are still challenges and have been widely considered. Accordingly, this work aimed to present a solar drying system for processing two various products: eggplant and grapes. In advance, three types of solar air heaters were tested and compared to select a proper one for the drying system: finned plate, evacuated tube, and modified evacuated tube solar air heaters. The findings indicated that the modified evacuated tube solar air heater had the highest thermal efficiency (67.92%), exergy efficiency (2.97%), and average temperature difference (27.48 °C). Then, this selected heater was employed in the proposed drying system. The considered parameters included dryer exit temperature, mass ratio, water removal rate, overall thermal efficiency, and cumulative drying exergy efficiency. Additionally, economic and environmental calculations were used to estimate the cost for each product, the payback period for each type, and CO2 reduction. As a result, the cost per kg of dried eggplant and grapes was 3.38 and 8.16 $/kg, saving 66.24 and 29.07%, respectively.

Keywords: Solar air heater; Evacuated tubes; Solar drying; Grapes drying; Eggplant drying; Thermal performance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:295:y:2024:i:c:s0360544224007242

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.130952

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