Mathematical Modeling and Performance Analysis of a New Hybrid Solar Dryer of Lemon Slices for Controlling Drying Temperature

Wengang Hao, Shuonan Liu, Baoqi Mi and Yanhua Lai
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Wengang Hao: School of Energy and Power Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, China
Shuonan Liu: School of Energy and Power Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, China
Baoqi Mi: School of Energy and Power Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, China
Yanhua Lai: School of Energy and Power Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, China

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 2, 1-23

Abstract: A new hybrid solar dryer was designed and constructed in this study, which consisted of a flat-plate solar collector with dual-function (DF-FPSC), drying chamber with glass, fan etc. The DF-FPSC was firstly applied in drying agricultural products. The innovative application of hybrid solar dryer can control the drying chamber air temperature within a suitable range by different operation strategies. Drying experiments for lemon slices in the hybrid solar dryer were conducted by comparing open sun drying (OSD). Eight mathematical models of drying characteristics were employed to select the most suitable model for describing the drying curves of lemon slices. Furthermore, energy, exergy economic and environment (4E) analysis were also adopted to analyze the drying process of lemon slices. The results show that under the same experimental condition, the drying capability of the hybrid solar dryer was stronger than that of OSD. Meanwhile, it was found that the Two term and Wang and Singh models were the most suitable for fitting the lemon slices’ drying characteristics inside the hybrid solar dryer. The drying chamber air temperature can be controlled under about 60 °C during the process of lemon slices’ drying. The experimental results show the feasibility and validity of the proposed hybrid solar dryer.

Keywords: mathematical modeling; hybrid solar dryer; solar collector; lemon slices; performance analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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