Heat and Mass Transfer in a Solar Dryer with Biomass Backup Burner
Majority of pepper farmers in Malaysia are using the
open-sun method for drying the pepper berries. This method is time
consuming and exposed the berries to rain and contamination. A
maintenance-friendly and properly enclosed dryer is therefore
desired. A dryer design with a solar collector and a chimney was
studied and adapted to suit the needs of small-scale pepper farmers in
Malaysia. The dryer will provide an environment with an optimum
operating temperature meant for drying pepper berries. The dryer
model was evaluated by using commercially available computational
fluid dynamic (CFD) software in order to understand the heat and
mass transfer inside the dryer. Natural convection was the only mode
of heat transportation considered in this study as in accordance to the
idea of having a simple and maintenance-friendly design. To
accommodate the effect of low buoyancy found in natural convection
driers, a biomass burner was integrated into the solar dryer design.
[1] R.K. Goyal and G.N. Tiwari, "Parametric study of a reverse flat plate
absorber cabinet dryer: A new concept," Solar Energy, vol. 60, pp. 41-
48, 1997.
[2] A.K. Mahapatra and I. Imre, " Parameter sensitivity analysis of a directly
irradiated solar dryer with integrated collector," Solar Energy, vol. 59,
pp. 227-231, 1997.
[3] M.A. Hossain and B.K. Bala, "Drying hot chili using solar tunnel drier,"
Solar Energy, vol. 81, pp. 85-92, 2007.
[4] A. Ayensu, "Dehydration of food crops using a solar dryer with
convective heat flow," Solar Energy, vol. 59, pp. 121-126, 1997.
[5] F.K. Forson, M.A.A. Nazha and H. Rajakaruna, "Modeling and
experimental studies on a mixed mode natural convection solar crop
dryer," Solar Energy, vol. 81, pp. 346-357, 2007.
[6] B. Bena and R.J. Fuller, "Natural convection solar dryer with biomass
backup heater," Solar Energy, vol. 72, pp. 75-83, 2002.
[7] A. Madhlopa and G. Ngwalo, "Solar dryer with thermal storage and
biomass backup heater," Solar Energy, vol. 81, pp. 449-462, 2007.
[8] H.H. Chen, C.E. Hernandez and T.C. Huang, "A study of the drying
effect on lemon slices using a closed-type solar dryer," Solar Energy,
vol. 78, pp. 97-103, 2005.
[9] P. Purohit, A. Kumar and T.C. Kandpal, "Solar drying versus open sun
drying: A framework for financial evaluation," Solar Energy, vol. 80,
pp. 1568-1579, 2006.
[10] A.G. Ferreira, C.B. Maia, M.F.B. Cortez and R.M. Valle, "Technical
feasibility assessment of a solar chimney for food drying," Solar Energy,
vol. 82, pp. 198-205, 2008.
[11] CD-Adapco. STAR-CD Version 4.02 Methodology. Computational
Dynamics Limited, Japan, 2001.
[1] R.K. Goyal and G.N. Tiwari, "Parametric study of a reverse flat plate
absorber cabinet dryer: A new concept," Solar Energy, vol. 60, pp. 41-
48, 1997.
[2] A.K. Mahapatra and I. Imre, " Parameter sensitivity analysis of a directly
irradiated solar dryer with integrated collector," Solar Energy, vol. 59,
pp. 227-231, 1997.
[3] M.A. Hossain and B.K. Bala, "Drying hot chili using solar tunnel drier,"
Solar Energy, vol. 81, pp. 85-92, 2007.
[4] A. Ayensu, "Dehydration of food crops using a solar dryer with
convective heat flow," Solar Energy, vol. 59, pp. 121-126, 1997.
[5] F.K. Forson, M.A.A. Nazha and H. Rajakaruna, "Modeling and
experimental studies on a mixed mode natural convection solar crop
dryer," Solar Energy, vol. 81, pp. 346-357, 2007.
[6] B. Bena and R.J. Fuller, "Natural convection solar dryer with biomass
backup heater," Solar Energy, vol. 72, pp. 75-83, 2002.
[7] A. Madhlopa and G. Ngwalo, "Solar dryer with thermal storage and
biomass backup heater," Solar Energy, vol. 81, pp. 449-462, 2007.
[8] H.H. Chen, C.E. Hernandez and T.C. Huang, "A study of the drying
effect on lemon slices using a closed-type solar dryer," Solar Energy,
vol. 78, pp. 97-103, 2005.
[9] P. Purohit, A. Kumar and T.C. Kandpal, "Solar drying versus open sun
drying: A framework for financial evaluation," Solar Energy, vol. 80,
pp. 1568-1579, 2006.
[10] A.G. Ferreira, C.B. Maia, M.F.B. Cortez and R.M. Valle, "Technical
feasibility assessment of a solar chimney for food drying," Solar Energy,
vol. 82, pp. 198-205, 2008.
[11] CD-Adapco. STAR-CD Version 4.02 Methodology. Computational
Dynamics Limited, Japan, 2001.
@article{"International Journal of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Sciences:50115", author = "Andrew R.H. Rigit and Patrick T.K. Low", title = "Heat and Mass Transfer in a Solar Dryer with Biomass Backup Burner", abstract = "Majority of pepper farmers in Malaysia are using the
open-sun method for drying the pepper berries. This method is time
consuming and exposed the berries to rain and contamination. A
maintenance-friendly and properly enclosed dryer is therefore
desired. A dryer design with a solar collector and a chimney was
studied and adapted to suit the needs of small-scale pepper farmers in
Malaysia. The dryer will provide an environment with an optimum
operating temperature meant for drying pepper berries. The dryer
model was evaluated by using commercially available computational
fluid dynamic (CFD) software in order to understand the heat and
mass transfer inside the dryer. Natural convection was the only mode
of heat transportation considered in this study as in accordance to the
idea of having a simple and maintenance-friendly design. To
accommodate the effect of low buoyancy found in natural convection
driers, a biomass burner was integrated into the solar dryer design.", keywords = "Computational fluid dynamics, heat and masstransfer, solar dryer.", volume = "4", number = "2", pages = "142-4", }