Abstract
This work focused on the numerical study of the thermal performance of a solar collector in order to improve the indirect solar drying of fruit in an environment with high solar potential. It aims to contribute to the reduction of post-harvest losses observed during periods of high production. From the retained physical model, an equivalent electrical scheme has been established and energy balance was applied to each slice of the model using the nodal method. The obtained different equations were discretized using the implicit method of finite differences, and solved by the iterative Gaussian Pivot method written in FORTRAN program. The obtained results showed that, from April to June (mangoes harvest period in Ngaoundere city) the raining period in Adamawa Region, the solar air collector that length to width ratio is between 2 and 3, is sufficient to carry out indirect solar drying of fruits with forced convection. The outlet air temperature of the solar collector was between 45 and 60°C with an average value of 50°C, and the thermal efficiency was between 65 and 95% with an average value of 80%. Double glazing improves efficiency of the solar air collector for a small footprint.
Highlights
Solar energy is the most significant source of the renewable energy on the planet
The present work focused on numerical modeling of the thermal behavior of an unidirectional air solar collector double passes and double glazing, for the drying of fruits in the city of Ngaoundere
The main results obtained showed that during the period from April to June, period of harvest of mangoes in the city of Ngaoundere, a collector double passes and double glazing having a length to width ratio between 2 and 3 (2 ≤ L/w ≤ 3), is sufficient to perform indirect solar drying of fruits during the daylight
Summary
Solar energy is the most significant source of the renewable energy on the planet. The quantity of this energy flux reaching the earth’s surface, i.e. 1.76.1017W, is today largely higher than the total power consumption [1]. One of the simple and direct applications of this natural and free energy is the conversion of the solar irradiation into heat, which can be used either for solar heating of building, solar refrigeration, industrial processes, and the solar collector In this last case, conversion is done using the collectors, with the aim of heating water or air for domestic uses [2] and industrial applications [3, 4]. Conversion is done using the collectors, with the aim of heating water or air for domestic uses [2] and industrial applications [3, 4] It can be employed for the drying of the agricultural produce. Solar collectors can be employed for the drying of agricultural produce
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