Speaker
Description
Efficient drying methods and post-harvest processes are crucial to reduce waste in fruits, vegetables, and agricultural products. Factors like moisture-related deterioration, climate change, mishandling, delayed shipping, improper storage, and sales delays contribute to post-harvest losses and quality degradation. Solar dryers, particularly indirect-type solar dryers (ITSD), offer a suitable and sustainable solution for preserving these products. ITSDs have several advantages over other types of solar dryers. This review focuses on evaluating the performance of different configurations of ITSDs in terms of drying time, maximum air temperature, drying efficiency for collectors, and overall dryer efficiency. The influence of various operating conditions on the thermal efficiency of ITSDs is also investigated. The study provides detailed information on the sensible and latent storage units and materials used in ITSDs, including those operating through natural or forced convection. The paper also explores the utilization of advanced technologies, such as desiccant systems, recycling processes, the use of Nanofluids and nanoparticles, and thermal energy storage, to enhance the thermal performance of solar dryers. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling is employed to optimize system parameters and predict temperature variations in the collector and dryer. Moreover, the review discusses the selection, use, and testing of thermal storage for ITSDs, along with potential challenges and recommendations. It emphasizes the need for evaluation and optimization studies that consider airflow, heat, and moisture transport parameters and predict product quality for optimal outcomes. In summary, this review comprehensively examines indirect-type solar dryers, their performance, and optimization. It highlights the potential for improving drying efficiency through the integration of advanced technologies and thermal energy storage.
| Conference Topic Areas | Track9: Smart Energy Storage, Integration and Utilization |
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