The Mathematical Modeling, Diffusivity, Energy, and Enviro-Economic Analysis (MD3E) of an Automatic Solar Dryer for Drying Date Fruits

Khaled A. Metwally, Awad Ali Tayoush Oraiath (), I. M. Elzein, Tamer M. El-Messery, Claude Nyambe, Mohamed Metwally Mahmoud (), Mohamed Anwer Abdeen, Ahmad A. Telba, Usama Khaled, Abderrahmane Beroual and Abdallah Elshawadfy Elwakeel ()
Additional contact information
Khaled A. Metwally: Soil and Water Sciences Department, Faculty of Technology and Development, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, Egypt
Awad Ali Tayoush Oraiath: Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Omar Al Mukhtar University, Al Bayda P.O. Box 991, Libya
I. M. Elzein: Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, University of Doha for Science and Technology, Doha P.O. Box 24449, Qatar
Tamer M. El-Messery: International Research Centre “Biotechnologies of the Third Millennium”, Faculty of Biotechnologies (BioTech), ITMO University, St. Petersburg 191002, Russia
Claude Nyambe: International Research Centre “Biotechnologies of the Third Millennium”, Faculty of Biotechnologies (BioTech), ITMO University, St. Petersburg 191002, Russia
Mohamed Metwally Mahmoud: Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Energy Engineering, Aswan University, Aswan 81528, Egypt
Mohamed Anwer Abdeen: College of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Ahmad A. Telba: Electrical Engineering Department, King Saud University, P.O. Box 800, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia
Usama Khaled: Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Energy Engineering, Aswan University, Aswan 81528, Egypt
Abderrahmane Beroual: AMPERE Lab UMR CNRS 5005, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, University of Lyon, 36 Avenue Guy de Collongue, 69130 Ecully, France
Abdallah Elshawadfy Elwakeel: Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Aswan University, Aswan 81528, Egypt

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 8, 1-29

Abstract: Date fruit drying is a process that consumes a significant amount of energy due to the long duration required for drying. To better understand how moisture flows through the fruit during drying and to speed up this process, drying studies must be conducted in conjunction with mathematical modeling, energy analysis, and environmental economic analysis. In this study, twelve thin-layer mathematical models were designed utilizing experimental data for three different date fruit varieties (Sakkoti, Malkabii, and Gondaila) and two solar drying systems (automated solar dryer and open-air dryer). These models were then validated using statistical analysis. The drying period for the date fruit varieties varied between 9 and 10 days for the automated solar dryer and 14 to 15 days for open-air drying. The moisture diffusivity coefficient values, determined using Fick’s second law of diffusion model, ranged from 7.14 × 10 −12 m 2 /s to 2.17 × 10 −11 m 2 /s. Among the twelve thin-layer mathematical models, we chose the best thin drying model based on a higher R 2 and lower χ 2 and RMSE. The Two-term and Modified Page III models delivered the best moisture ratio projections for date fruit dried in an open-air dryer. For date fruit dried in an automated solar dryer, the Two-term Exponential, Newton (Lewis), Approximation diffusion or Diffusion Method, and Two-term Exponential modeling provided the best moisture ratio projections. The energy and environmental study found that the particular amount of energy used varied from 17.936 to 22.746 kWh/kg, the energy payback time was 7.54 to 7.71 years, and the net CO 2 mitigation throughout the lifespan ranged from 8.55 to 8.80 tons. Furthermore, economic research showed that the automated solar dryer’s payback period would be 2.476 years.

Keywords: mathematical modeling; thin-layer drying kinetics; environmental analysis; economic analysis; energy analysis; solar drying (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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