Performance study of different solar dryers: A review

A.G.M.B. Mustayen, S. Mekhilef and R. Saidur

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2014, vol. 34, issue C, 463-470

Abstract: Crop drying is essential for preservation in agricultural applications. It is performed either using fossil fuels in an artificial mechanical drying process or by placing the crop under the open sun. The first method is costly and has a negative impact on the environment, while the second method is totally dependent on the weather. By contrast, using a solar dryer is comparatively cheaper and more efficient. Some solar dryers run without electrical grid power or fossil fuels. This paper presents the state of various kinds of solar dryers that are widely used today. The indirect, direct, and mixed mode dryers that have shown potential in drying agricultural products in the tropical and subtropical countries are discussed. Aside from identifying the active and passive mode solar dryers, we also highlight the environmental influence on solar energy (harnessing) that plays a vital role in the solar drying sector. This paper also presents the related technologies that can help improve existing solar dryers.

Keywords: Solar energy; Convective solar dryer; Indirect solar dryer; Direct solar dryer (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (25)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032114001816
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:rensus:v:34:y:2014:i:c:p:463-470

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/bibliographic
http://www.elsevier. ... 600126/bibliographic

DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2014.03.020

Access Statistics for this article

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews is currently edited by L. Kazmerski

More articles in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().