Design and experimental evaluation of a solar dryer for commercial high-quality hay production

E.A. Arinze, G.J. Schoenau and S. Sokhansanj

Renewable Energy, 1999, vol. 16, issue 1, 639-642

Abstract: Design, experimental functional performance and economic evaluation of an energy efficient commercial-type solar energy dryer for production of high-quality hay, especially for the export market, are presented. The newly developed solar hay dryer consists of a solar collector with aluminum absorber plate and spaced fins, a drying shed with perforated metal grate floor above the ground level, swing-away plywood frames and polyethylene curtains for effectively sealing the hay stack during drying operations, an insulated duct, and a crawl space below the floor where a 3-hp in-line centrifugal fan is housed for air circulation by suction. In late August and in early September, 1996, 160 small rectangular bales of alfalfa hay with about 25% bromegrass were successfully dried from 33% initial moisture content to 13% moisture and from 25% to 11% moisture in 4 and 3 days, respectively, under average weather conditions in Saskatoon, Canada. The air temperature rise above ambient was 13–15 °C during peak bright sunshine hours in August and 10–13 °C in September. Ambient relative humidities ranged from 30–90%. Unlike field-cured hay, the hay produced by the dryer was of high-quality and remained green in colour and attractive after drying. Compared to field drying or conventional natural gas drying system, the payback period on investment in full-scale solar hay drying system may be just one to two years.

Keywords: Solar drying; commercial high-quality hay production; functional and economic evaluation; export market (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1999
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:16:y:1999:i:1:p:639-642

DOI: 10.1016/S0960-1481(98)00242-0

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