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Thermodynamic analysis of a triple-pass solar dryer for drying potato slices

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ABSTRACT

An indirect-type triple-pass forced convection solar dryer has been developed and the performance parameters such as thermal, pickup and exergy efficiency are studied for drying potato slices. The triple-pass solar dryer consists of a blower, triple-pass solar collector integrated with sensible heat storage (sand) bed along with absorber plate and aluminum wire mesh and drying chamber. The experiments were conducted at the optimum value of air mass flow rate of 0.062 kg s−1. The experimental results showed that the maximum collector outlet air temperature of 62 °C was observed at 1.00 pm and the respective solar irradiance of 998 W m−2. The initial moisture content of the potato slices was reduced from 76% (wet basis) to the final moisture content of 13% (wet basis) in 4.5 h. The solar collector thermal efficiency was varied from 12 to 66%, and the mean value of 45% was observed. The pickup efficiency of the solar dryer for drying potato slices was varied from 2.5 to 62.9%, and an average of 29.9% was observed. The exergy efficiency varies from 2.8 to 87.02%, and the mean value for the day was obtained as 53.57%. The thin-layer drying characteristics of potato slices have been studied, and Midilli and Kucuk model was proposed as most suitable drying model.

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Abbreviations

Ac:

Area of the solar air heater (m2)

C :

Capital cost (Rs)

C p :

Specific heat (kJ kg−1 K−1)

Exdci :

Exergy inflow in the drying chamber (W)

Exdco :

Exergy outflow from drying chamber (W)

Exdes:

Exergy (W)

Exloss :

Exergy loss (W)

h i :

The absolute humidity of air entering the chamber (kg per water per kg of dry air)

h as :

The adiabatic saturation humidity of air entering the chamber (kg per water per kg of dry air)

h fg :

Latent heat of evaporation (kJ kg−1 K−1)

I :

Solar irradiation (W m−2)

LC:

Loading capacity (kg)

M wb :

Moisture content of samples on wet basis (%)

M e :

Equilibrium moisture content (%)

M i :

Initial moisture content (%)

MR:

Moisture ratio (%)

M t :

Moisture content on wet basis at time t (%)

\(\dot{m}_{\text{a}}\) :

Mass flow rate of air (kg s−1)

m evap :

Moisture evaporated (kg)

m f :

Final mass of the product (g)

m i :

Initial mass of the product (g)

N :

Life of the dryer (years)

R 2 :

Correlation coefficient

T i :

Temperature of air at the inlet of the collector (°C)

T o :

Temperature of air at the outlet of the collector (°C)

T a :

Ambient temperature (°C)

T dci :

Inlet air temperature at drying chamber (°C)

T dco :

Air temperature at the drying chamber outlet (°C)

t :

Time (s)

W :

Total mass of water removed (kg)

W o :

Sample mass at t = 0 (kg)

W t :

Sample mass at any time t (kg)

η Ex :

Exergy efficiency (%)

η p :

Pickup efficiency (%)

η the :

Dryer thermal efficiency (%)

χ 2 :

Reduced chi-square

EPBT:

Energy payback time

IP:

Improvement potential

RMSE:

Root mean square error

SEC:

Specific energy consumption

SMER:

Specific moisture extraction rate

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, DDCSM Polytechnic College, Palacode, Dharmapuri Dt, Tamil Nadu, 636808, India

    S. Kesavan

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Coimbatore Institute of Engineering and Technology, Narasipuram (Po), Coimbatore, India

    T. V. Arjunan & S. Vijayan

Authors
  1. S. Kesavan
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  2. T. V. Arjunan
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  3. S. Vijayan
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Correspondence to S. Kesavan.

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Kesavan, S., Arjunan, T.V. & Vijayan, S. Thermodynamic analysis of a triple-pass solar dryer for drying potato slices. J Therm Anal Calorim 136, 159–171 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-018-7747-0

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