Title: Experimental study and comparison of integrated solar dryer with and without reversed absorber and reflector

Authors: Vijay R. Khawale; Bhojraj N. Kale; Vilas G. Dhore

Addresses: Mechanical Engineering Department, Yeshwantrao Chavan College of Engineering, Nagpur, India ' Mechanical Engineering Department, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar College of Engineering and Research, Nagpur, India ' Mechanical Engineering Department, K.J. Somaiya College of Engineering, Vidyavihar, Mumbai, India

Abstract: The aim of this manuscript is to recommend a solar crop dryer with reversed absorber and reflector which collects the maximum possible solar emission. For experimentation, the model was made adjustable such that it can satisfy the required conditions. Two types of solar dryers are used: 1) solar dryer without reversed absorber and reflector; 2) solar dryer with reversed absorber and reflector. The average collector efficiency (η_c), drying efficiency (η_d) and the picking efficiency (η_p) of multi-pass SCD with reversed absorber and reflector (SD6) values were 34%, 49% and 64% respectively. Excel software was used to find the changes in moisture content with the time and constants by graphical method. These values show that SD6 is more effective than any other solar dryer. The experimental data is more suitable for Pages' model than other models. Pages' model gives the best results with the maximum value of R² and the minimum value of MBE and RMSE. It has been found that SD6 is the most effective solar dryer and can be used to dry other agriculture food products also.

Keywords: flat plate collector; solar crop dryer; reversed absorber; reflector; red chilli.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRET.2023.127564

International Journal of Renewable Energy Technology, 2023 Vol.14 No.1, pp.1 - 15

Received: 22 Mar 2021
Accepted: 28 Jan 2022
Published online: 09 Dec 2022 *

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