Title: Design and performance evaluation of solar tunnel dryer for drying of industrial product

Authors: Mahendra S. Seveda

Addresses: Department of Farm Power and Machinery, College of Agricultural Engineering and Post Harvest Technology, Central Agricultural University, Ranipool, Gangtok, Sikkim – 737135, India

Abstract: A tunnel like framed structural covered with ultra-violet-stabilised polythene sheet walk-in type solar tunnel dryer was designed and used for drying industrial product (Di-basic calcium phosphate) on industrial scale. This paper deals with the basic design criterion used for design and performance evaluation of solar tunnel dryer and result of drying of Di-basic calcium phosphate in actual use. A solar tunnel dryer was designed and commissioned at M/s Phosphate India Pvt. Ltd, Udaipur (27° 42′ N, 75° 33′ E), Rajasthan, India with a floor area of 78.75 m² for drying a batch of 1,500 kg Di-basic calcium phosphate, having a initial moisture content of 62.87% dry basis and to get a desired moisture content of 10.62% dry basis within two days.

Keywords: solar tunnel dryers; dryer design; moisture content; industrial drying; drying rate; solar energy; solar power; performance evaluation; calcium phosphate.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRET.2015.070150

International Journal of Renewable Energy Technology, 2015 Vol.6 No.3, pp.245 - 260

Accepted: 18 Jun 2014
Published online: 28 Jun 2015 *

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