Abstract
In the present study, two indirect type solar dryers were designed, fabricated and experimentally investigated, one is equipped with a conventional flat plate collector, and the other is integrated with offset strip fins (OSF). The objective is to study the effect of OSF on the performance of the dryer. A series of experimental tests were conducted at the applied research unit in the semi-arid region of Ghardaia using locally available materials. The first test was starting the solar dryers with an empty chamber and the second with filled product. The peak and average temperature difference at the outlet of the collector were 11.3 and 8 °C respectively, in favor of OSF absorber. The courgette was dried to 0.69 (kg water/kg dry basis) from an initial moisture content of 26.24 (kg water/kg dry basis) in 20 h 18 min and 35 h 45 min in the solar dryer with OSF and without, respectively. The results show a high drying rate using the dryer with OSF compared the dryer with conventional collector. Also, Midilli-Kucuk model provided the best agreements between experimental and predicted moisture ratios. Average effective moisture diffusivity of 1.798x10−09 and 1.179x10−09 m2/s for the dryer with OSF and without, respectively. A 33 % increase in economic efficiency in favor the OSF dryer with 0.95 years payback period. Also, a reduced amount of GHGs makes the dryers environmental friendly.
Published Version
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