7E + Q analysis: a new multi-dimensional assessment tool of solar dryer for food and agricultural products

Abstract

Drying process has been employed since ancient times to preserve agricultural products by reducing the moisture content. Solar dryer is one of the most commonly used dryers due to its availability, reliability, and environmentally friendly nature. It is practical in rural areas since solar dryer can be fabricated with a simple design. Despite its potential, designing a long-term, feasible solar dryer is challenging without a good understanding of its performance parameters, such as energy, exergy, economic, environmental (4E) aspect, and its impact on product quality. Therefore, many attempts have been dedicated to conducting these analyses. Nonetheless, the information obtained is only one-dimensional, and they do not reflect the actual behaviour of a solar dryer. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive and critical review of the additional 3E parameters, namely energoeconomic, exergoeconomic, and enviroeconomic. Moreover, the effect of solar drying on product quality parameters (Q) will be discussed. Furthermore, a new idea to perform energy, exergy, environmental, economic, energoeconomic, exergoeconomic, and enviroeconomic (7E) and quality analysis (7E + Q) is proposed and outlined to improve the operability of the solar dryer. It is envisaged that 7E + Q analysis will pave the way for more effective and efficient solar dryers.Graphical