Transient Temperature Distribution Research Articles

Distribution of temperature and residual stresses in GMA-DED based wire-arc additive manufacturing

PurposeGas metal arc-based directed energy deposition (GMA-DED) process experiences residual stress (RS) developed due to heat accumulation during successive layer deposition as a significant challenge. To address that, monitoring of transient temperature distribution concerning time is a critical input. Finite element analysis (FEA) is considered a decisive engineering tool in quantifying temperature and RS in all manufacturing processes. However, computational time and prediction accuracy has always been a matter of concern for FEA-based prediction of responses in the GMA-DED process. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of finite element mesh variations on the developed RS in the GMA-DED process.Design/methodology/approachThe variation in the element shape functions, i.e. linear- and quadratic-interpolation elements, has been used to model a single-track 10-layered thin-walled component in Ansys parametric design language. Two cases have been proposed in this study: Case 1 has been meshed with the linear-interpolation elements and Case 2 has been meshed with the combination of linear- and quadratic-interpolation elements. Furthermore, the modelled responses are authenticated with the experimental results measured through the data acquisition system for temperature and RS.FindingsA good agreement of temperature and RS profile has been observed between predicted and experimental values. Considering similar parameters, Case 1 produced an average error of 4.13%, whereas Case 2 produced an average error of 23.45% in temperature prediction. Besides, comparing the longitudinal stress in the transverse direction for Cases 1 and 2 produced an error of 8.282% and 12.796%, respectively.Originality/valueTo avoid the costly and time-taking experimental approach, the experts have suggested the utilization of numerical methods in the design optimization of engineering problems. The FEA approach, however, is a subtle tool, still, it faces high computational cost and low accuracy based on the choice of selected element technology. This research can serve as a basis for the choice of element technology which can predict better responses in the thermo-mechanical modelling of the GMA-DED process.

Simulating the Electrochemical-Thermal Behavior of a Prismatic Lithium-Ion Battery on the Market under Various Discharge Cycles

In this paper, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model to predict the transient temperature distributions of a prismatic lithium-ion polymer battery (LiPo) cooled by natural convection at various discharge cycles is developed. The thermal behavior of a lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery cell is important for its safety, performance and degradation, and it requires both measurement and modeling. However, most existing thermal models for Li-ion battery cells only account for steady-state temperature fields, while the exercise of a Li-ion battery cell is usually transitory. The Newman’s pseudo-2D approach was used to perform an electrochemical CFD analysis. This approach treats the porous electrode as a collection of equal-sized, isotropic, homogeneous spherical particles. This simplifies the electrode microstructure and assumes a smooth and uniform lithium insertion/extraction in the electrode. The model has been validated through variable discharge rate experimental tests in a controlled chamber. Additionally, infrared images of the battery cell during discharging are taken and the experimental numerical gradient temperature was compared. We have validated the CFD simulations by comparing the temperature, state of charge and voltage curves with experimental data. The model predictions match the experimental data very well. The difficulty in CFD battery simulations with an electrochemical approach lies in the setting of many physical parameters that are difficult to find. In this work, the parameters’ characteristics of the simulated battery are assumed and validated; these can be useful for modeling batteries of the same type. Consequently, the model developed in this work can be applied to predict the temperature distribution of the LiPo prismatic battery and can be used by the battery designers and by the designers of all systems that include batteries.

Transient Temperature Distribution in a Half-Space Due to Local Surface Heating Via Non-Fourier Fractional Dual-Phase-Lag Model

Abstract The non-Fourier heat transfer in a half-space is analyzed under sudden heating or cooling on a local surface. The non-Fourier heat transfer effect is described by the time-fractional dual-phase-lag (DPL) model, where the fractional derivative without singular kernel is used. An axisymmetric mixed initial-boundary value problem is solved by the use of the Hankel and Laplace transforms. Two typical cases of sudden temperature rising on a circular zone of the surface or an instantaneous surface heat source are analyzed. For sudden temperature rises, the heat flux and temperature gradient exhibit an inverse square-root singularity near the boundary of the heating zone and their dynamic intensity factors are computed numerically in the time domain. For the instantaneous surface point heat source, an exact solution of the transient temperature at any position in the Laplace domain is obtained. The effects of the fractional order and relaxation time on the temperature distribution and heat flux response are elucidated. The singular behavior of the transient thermal response and the non-Fourier effect of heat transfer are shown.

Transient non-Fourier thermal interactions of two parallel cracks in porous metal foam

Experimental evidence shows heat conduction in the porous media would be non-Fourier under specific circumstances. The novelty of this research lies in considerations of the non-Fourier effect and the interactions of two parallel thermally insulated cracks in the porous metal foam. The transient propagation characteristics are examined by utilizing the Dual-phase-lag model, which incorporates the certain time required to establish local thermal equilibrium between the solid framework and surrounding pores. Fourier transform and Laplace transform are employed to solve the mathematical model simulating a porous strip subjected to abrupt thermal shock. After reducing the problem to two groups of singular integral equations, the transient temperature distributions and heat flux intensity factors are determined with the help of numerical Laplace inversion. Numerical calculations are carried out to evaluate the impacts of crack positions, the relative density, phase lags, and two crack lengths on the thermal characteristics, which would contribute to a thorough understanding of the ultrafast process of porous materials operating in extreme conditions.

Transient temperature distribution in a multilayer semiconductor device with dynamic thermal load and non-uniform thermal contact resistance between layers

The thermal management challenge in microelectronic chips is exacerbated by their multilayer architecture and manufacturing processes that introduce non-uniform thermal contact resistance between adjacent layers. Most of the past work on development of thermal models to predict temperature distribution in microelectronic chips either does not account for such thermal contact resistance at all, or simply assumes it to be spatially uniform. This work presents an exact analytical solution for the transient temperature distribution in a multilayer chip with non-uniform thermal contact resistance between layers as well as dynamic, non-uniform heat generation. The problem is solved by first carrying out a Laplace transformation and then implementing a series solution, the coefficients of which are determined by solving a set of algebraic equations derived from the non-uniform thermal contact resistances between adjacent layers. While the problem is solved for a general M-layered chip, the solution for the practical case of a two-layer chip is also provided. Results indicate that the temperature distribution and its evolution over time is determined by the nature of the non-linear thermal contact resistance, and its overlap with the dynamic heat loads imposed on the chip. The impact of these and other relevant parameters is examined in detail. Results presented here improve the fundamental understanding of thermal transport modeling in multilayer semiconductor chips, with possible applications in other multilayer engineering systems as well.

Finite Element Method approach 3-dimensional thermophysical model for YORP torque computation

We present a new thermophysical model suitable for simulating the thermal conditions of small celestial bodies, such as asteroids and comet nuclei, as well as local topographic features like rocks, boulders, and craters. The model employs a Finite Element Method (FEM) approach to solve the 3-dimensional heat conduction problem, explicitly accounting for heat conduction between neighboring FEM elements. This sets it apart from other thermophysical models that typically neglect lateral heat conduction. The model takes into account scattering sunlight, self-heating due to thermal radiation, and both horizon and cast shadows. We validated our model against an analytical solution for the transient temperature distribution of a sphere under convective boundary conditions. Additionally, we compared our results with earlier thermophysical modeling works and observational data of asteroid (101955) Bennu. Using the shape models of Bennu as well as scaled versions of (162173) Ryugu, (25143) Itokawa, and (6489) Golevka to match Bennu’s surface area, we investigated the effects of shape and lateral heat conduction on the Yarkovsky-O’Keefe-Radzievskii-Paddack (YORP) torque. Results indicate that contact binary and non-classified/irregular objects experience a stronger YORP torque compared to spheroidal objects. The lateral heat conduction can enhance or dampen the YORP torque. Further analysis is important to obtain more robust statistical conclusions.

Numerical simulation of thermal effects in laser diode end-pumped solid-state lasers utilizing finite element method

Based on the finite element numerical analysis method, the temperature field distribution in the crystal with time is simulated by using the PDE-tool in MATLAB. The critical factors affecting the crystal transient temperature distribution are simulated and analyzed. According to the simulation parameters and results, a simplified method for solving the transient heat conduction equation is proposed. The transient thermal focal length is solved to obtain its distribution expression and an approximate analytical solution. The results provide a theoretical basis for the thermal analysis process of suppressing or utilizing the transient thermal effect in high-energy solid-state lasers.

Assessment of transient thermal distribution in a moving porous plate with temperature-dependent internal heat generation using Levenberg–Marquardt backpropagation neural network

ABSTRACT In the present paper, the transient temperature distribution within a moving porous plate is scrutinized by considering the internal heat generation, convection and radiation condition. Furthermore, an effective artificial intelligence technique is proposed for discussing the transient thermal behavior in a moving plate by employing the Levenberg-Marquardt backpropagation network. Using suitable non-dimensional terms, the governing partial differential equation (PDE) is transformed into its non-dimensional form. The transformed equation is then solved using the finite difference method (FDM) and the obtained thermal values (datasets) are used as target values in the process of neural network mapping. This network uses the training, testing, and validation processes to determine the solution of several scenarios established at various process times. The behavior of dimensionless transient temperature profile has been inspected for diverse values of non-dimensional parameters such as heat generation number, radiative parameter, porosity parameter, and conductive parameter with the assistance of graphs. The significant outcomes elucidate that, the transient temperature profile of the porous plate increases with the change in time. Further, it enriches for rise in the magnitude of Peclet number and heat generation number while it drops for enhanced values of porosity parameter.

Influence of Spacers and Skid Sizes on Heat Treatment of Large Forgings within an Industrial Electric Furnace

The influence of stacking patterns, through the different spacer and skid sizes, on the transient temperature distribution uniformity of large-size forgings in a 112-m3 electrical heat treatment furnace was investigated by conducting CFD simulations and real-scale experimental validation. A 3D CFD model of the electrical furnace was generated, including a heat-treating chamber, axial flow fans, large size blocks, skids, and spacers. Real-scale temperature measurements on instrumented test blocks during the heat treatment process were carried out to validate the CFD simulations. Results indicated that the CFD model was capable enough to determine the transient temperature evolution of the blocks with a maximum average deviation of about 6.62% compared to the experimental measurements. It was found that significant temperature non-uniformities of up to 379 K on the surfaces of the blocks due to the non-optimum stacking pattern were experienced by the blocks. Such non-uniformities could be reduced between 24% to 32% if well-adapted spacer and skid sizes were used in the stacking configurations. Based on simulation results and experimental validation work, optimum spacer and skid sizes for uniform temperature distribution were proposed for different stacking patterns.

Experimental Analysis of Charging and Discharging Characteristics of Sensible Energy Storage System

Abstract: To meet energy needs in the absence of an energy source, practical energy storage devices can be combined with home and industrial systems. The thermal properties of a practical energy storage system with numerous cylindrical channels are investigated in this work experimentally during the charging and discharging cycles. By adjusting the mass flowrate of air from 0.022 to 0.031 kg/s and the input air temperature from 45 to 75 °C, the transient temperature distribution, energy storage, energy release, and charging/discharging energy efficiency are assessed. At an intake temperature of 55 °C and an air mass flowrate of 0.031 kg/s, the maximum charging energy efficiency of 81.3% was discovered. The maximum discharging energy efficiency is discovered to be 74.3%, which corresponds to an air mass flowrate of 0.031 kg/s and an inlet temperature of 45 °C.

Transient thermomechanical analysis of a 1 kW solid oxide fuel cell stack based on 3D multiphysical field model

ABSTRACT In this paper, a model of a complete structured methane (CH4) internal reforming solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack is developed. Material properties are extracted from experiments to establish a numerical simulation model to elucidate the mechanical failure mechanism of the stack under the combined effect of multiple factors. The steady-state and transient temperature and stress distributions of the stack are investigated. Results show that the higher the number of stacked layers, the more inhomogeneous the temperature distribution, the lower the fuel and oxygen (O2) utilization and potential of the cell, and the reduced flow rate in the top layer. The maximum temperature difference decreases rapidly during the first 50 mins of the stack shutdown. The first principal stress at the anode of the co-flow stack first decreases in the first few minutes of shutdown, then increases rapidly and is higher than the value at time 0. The first principal stress in the anode of the counterflow stack first increases and then decreases, with an increase of about 100 MPa. The maximum first principal stresses of the electrolyte and cathode decrease nearly monotonically, and the first principal stresses are smaller than the steady-state values.

Non-Fourier thermal wave in 2D cellular metamaterials: From transient heat propagation to harmonic band gaps

Tailoring the nano/microarchitecture of advanced materials is a new root for manipulating their behavior to attain unparalleled multifunctional properties, including guided transitional waves. Elastic , acoustic, and electromagnetic wave responses in architected materials have extensively been studied, while only few studies have been allocated to the thermal wave propagation in these engineered materials. In this article, we explore the propagation of thermal waves in cellular metamaterials as a category of rationally-designed architected materials. First, the propagation of an instantaneous heat excitation through a two-dimensional (2D) cellular medium is investigated in steady-state and transient modes by Fourier and non-Fourier (Cattaneo-Vernotte and dual-phase-lag) heat conduction theories. The effects of relative density and microarchitecture of the cellular domain on the heat propagation characteristics are investigated, connecting these traits to the effective thermal conductivity of the cellular domain using an asymptotic homogenization method. Second, by implementing the Bloch theorem for non-Fourier heat conduction models, complex dispersion curves are obtained for five alternative cellular architectures with Archimedean tilings. The cellular microstructure, on the one hand, affects the transient temperature distribution resulting from an instantaneous source and temporarily creates domains with temperatures as high as two times the applied temperature difference in the external boundaries, while on the other hand, blocks harmonic thermal excitations in a range of frequencies (thermal band gaps) from passing the material. Moreover, the relative density of cellular architectures significantly affects the characteristics of thermal band gaps; for example, the first thermal band gap width may be reduced by 80% when relative density of cellular architectures changes from 0.2 to 0.6. Our findings can pave a path towards developing architected multifunctional metamaterials with programmable thermal isolation/guiding properties.

Analysis of a diffusion-reaction heat transfer problem in a finite thickness layer adjoined by a semi-infinite medium

Multilayer diffusion-reaction problems are of much interest for both heat and mass transfer. While past work in this direction has mainly addressed multilayer bodies of finite size, practical problems such as immersion cooling of Li-ion cells and thermal runaway in semiconductor devices necessitate considering one of the layers to be semi-infinite. This work presents theoretical analysis of a diffusion-reaction problem in a finite layer surrounded by an infinite medium on both sides, where heat generation proportional to the local temperature occurs in the finite layer. Transient temperature distributions in the two bodies are determined using Laplace transformation technique. Through analysis of the poles of the solution in the Laplace domain, it is proved that this problem is unconditionally unstable, in that temperature in the finite thickness layer is predicted to always diverge at large times. However, the time taken to reach the unstable regime is shown to depend strongly on the key non-dimensional parameters of the problem. Temperature in the finite layer is shown to exhibit non-monotonic behavior at small times, particularly for large values of the heat generation coefficient, which is explained on the basis of the balance between temperature-dependent heat generation, heat dissipation into the semi-infinite medium and eventual slowdown of heat dissipation due to temperature rise. The impact of thermal properties on thermal behavior of the system is examined. A practical problem related to thermal safety design of a Li-ion cell is solved. Results from this work expand the state-of-the-art in theoretical analysis of diffusion-reaction problems, and also offer practical tools for thermal design of engineering problems including Li-ion cells and semiconductor devices.

Temperature Field Analysis and Cooling Structure Optimization for Integrated Permanent Magnet In-Wheel Motor Based on Electromagnetic-Thermal Coupling

Aiming at the impact of heat generation and temperature rise on the driving performance of a permanent magnet (PM) motor, taking the PM in-wheel motor (IWM) for electric vehicles as an object, research is conducted into the temperature distribution of the electromagnetic–thermal effect and cooling structure optimization. Firstly, the electromagnetic–thermal coupling model considering electromagnetic harmonics is established using the subdomain model and Bertotti’s iron loss separation theory. Combined with the finite element (FE) simulation model established by Ansoft Maxwell software platform, the winding copper loss, stator core loss and PM eddy current loss under the action of complex magnetic flux are analyzed, and the transient temperature distribution of each component is obtained through coupling. Secondarily, the influence of the waterway structure parameters on the heat dissipation effect of the PM-IWM is analyzed by the thermal-fluid coupled relationship. On the basis, the optimization design of waterway structure parameters is carried out to improve the heat dissipation effect of the cooling system based on the proposed chaotic mapping ant colony algorithm with metropolis criterion. The comparison before and after optimization shows that the temperature of key components is significantly improved, the average convection heat transfer coefficient (CHTC) is increased by 23.57%, the peak temperature of stator is reduced from 95.47 °C to 82.73 °C, and the peak temperature of PM is decreased by 14.26%, thus the demagnetization risk in the PM is improved comprehensively. The research results can provide some theoretical and technical support for the structural optimization of water-cooled dissipation in the PM motor.

Data-driven varying state-space model based on thermal network for transient temperature field prediction of motorized spindles

• 1) Rapid prediction of the transient temperature distribution. • 2) Parameter estimation driven by FE simulation and experimental data. • 3) Accuracy validated by thermal images of undetectable regions. • 4) Real-time correction of temperature prediction bias. Analyzing and modeling the thermal characteristics of the spindle is crucial to improving the thermal stability and intelligence of CNC machine tools. However, there is a lack of accurate real-time prediction methods for the transient temperature distribution inside the spindle. In this study, a thermal network consisting of thermal capacitances and resistors is constructed based on the thermal structure of a motorized spindle, and a varying state-space (VSS) model varying with node temperature and rotational speed is proposed to solve the thermal network. The parameters of this model are determined by a two-step estimation process, driven by simulation data of a finite element (FE) model under specific boundary conditions and experimental sensor data obtained from a series of thermal tests. The validation based on thermal experiment shows that the VSS model has high prediction accuracy with the average root mean square (RMS) bias of 0.5141°C. Thermal images of the rotating shaft also show that the proposed VSS model maintains high accuracy in predicting the temperature of the undetectable regions. In addition, a temperature prediction system (TPS) with bias correction is constructed based on two built-in temperature sensors in the spindle to further improve prediction accuracy, with the RMS bias reduced by 10.4% to 0.4606°C. All the results show that the real-time temperature field distribution of motorized spindles can be rapidly, accurately, and completely inferred based on the rotational speed and a few temperature sensors. The proposed modeling approach has the potential to be integrated into edge computing devices of intelligent spindles.

NUMERICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON TRACKING OF FREEZING FRONT DURING THE CRYOSURGICAL FREEZING OF A TISSUE-MIMICKING MEDIUM

We report a combined numerical and experimental approach to determine the transient three-dimensional temperature distribution in a biogel medium subjected to freezing operation by a single cryoprobe. The cryoprobe tip temperature was measured using thermocouples and imposed as a boundary condition in numerical simulations. Numerical simulations have been supported by optics-based experiments conducted under similar operating conditions wherein the principles of lens-less Fourier transform digital holographic interferometry (DHI) have been employed to map the freezing phenomenon in a completely non-intrusive manner. The combined numerical and experimental findings have been made use of to propose a novel methodology for assessing the cooling performance of the cryoprobe. Three different cryoprobe insertion depths (id) viz., 2, 4, and 6 mm, were considered. The numerical estimations for the freezing front were within ± 1 mm margin when compared with the DHI-based intensity data. In the context of temperature values, the numerical predictions were within a ± 5 K margin as compared to the thermocouple data placed at some select locations inside the freezing medium. In addition to the freezing front, we successfully tracked planning isotherm propagation, a parameter that holds importance during cryosurgical planning. Furthermore, the whole-field temperature data predicted using numerical simulations were used to determine the transient cooling capacity of the cryoprobe. The lens-less Fourier transform DHI, in conjunction with numerical simulations, provided a reliable way to obtain the whole-field temperature, which could potentially be used to investigate the cryoprobe cooling characteristics.

Inert ambiance-assisted laser ablation of CVD diamond leads to enhanced surface quality and grindability

Diamond is a versatile ultimate engineering material that has been recommended for numerous purposes, especially micro mills. Laser-assisted precision grinding is substantiated to be a promising approach for fabricating diamond micro tools. Yet, in practice, the short pulses that render express elimination will deteriorate the flatness of the tool surfaces, bringing about a boost in the risk of edge collapse and a shrink in yield during the subsequent precision grinding. The tactic of ambiance-assisted laser ablation, which introduces an auxiliary gas during the irradiation to promote the ablated domain quality, is proposed in this investigation. Specifically, a raster scanning-based transient temperature distribution simulation is erected to comprehend the ablation mechanism of the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond. Additionally, it can be deduced that the inert nitrogen with high cohesive energy curbs the instantaneous deflagration of oxidation on the Knudsen layer and the activity of dangling bonds that are desorbed at high temperatures. The nitrogen-assisted laser ablation of the diamond sample leads to a maximum dwindling in surface roughness of 33% compared to that with non-ambiance-assisted. Subsequently, the laser-ablated surface optimized by an inert atmosphere is precisely ground with a fine abrasive grinding wheel. The detection of the sharp cutting edge ( r β = 1.74 μm) with almost no notch and the ground flank surface with the roughness of 168 nm indicates that accessing the inert auxiliary atmosphere during ablation can enhance the surface quality of the machined diamond and the corresponding grindability.

Thermal-Force Coupling Analysis of Permanent Magnet Electrodynamic Wheel System for Maglev Car

The permanent magnet electrodynamic wheel system is a competitive alternative for the implementation of maglev car due to its levitation–propulsion integration ability. However, the temperature rise of conductive plate may deteriorate the operational performance even result in suspension failure, which underlines the importance of thermal analysis. In this article, the thermal-force coupling analysis is conducted by experiment combined with the co-simulation method. First, the heat resource generated by power loss in the conductive plate is obtained and verified by analytical model, simulation, and experiment, and the lumped thermal model is presented. Additionally, a knowledge of the transient temperature distribution and the variation of electromagnetic forces under different speeds are studied. Eventually, a proof-of-concept prototype of maglev car with its auxiliaries was manufactured and used for further thermal analysis. Temperature management is considered by increasing the volume of conductive plate and cooling the conductive plate via water medium, and a good heat dissipation effect is realized. The results reveal that the levitation forces have a pronounced attenuation because of the temperature, with the percentage of 38.8% and 37.4%, respectively, with respect to the initial room temperature. In low-speed region, the propulsion forces yield a subtle increase while it decreases slightly in high-speed region. Lowering the temperature can be accomplished by increasing the conductive plate volume or adopting water cooling. This article lays a temperature-related co-simulation method and experimental basis, and paves the way for considering the thermal effect in the practical application.

Analytical and numerical analysis of the dual-pulse lag heat transfer in a three-dimensional tissue subjected to a moving multi-point laser beam

An extensive algorithm based on both analytical and numerical solution methodologies is proposed to obtain transient temperature distributions in a three-dimensional living tissue subjected to a moving single-point and multi-point laser beam by considering metabolic heat generation and blood perfusion rate. Here, the dual-phase lag/Pennes equation is analytically solved by using the method of Fourier series and the Laplace transform. The ability to model single-point or multi-point laser beams as an arbitrary function of place and time is a significant advantage of the proposed analytical approach, which can be used to solve similar heat transfer problems in other living tissues. Besides, the related heat conduction problem is numerically solved based on the finite element method. The effects of laser beam transitional speed, laser power, and the number of laser points on the temperature distribution within the skin tissue are investigated. Moreover, the temperature distribution predicted by the dual-phase lag model is compared with that of the Pennes model under different working conditions. For the studied cases, it is observed that the maximum tissue temperature decreased about 63% by an increase of 6mm/s in the speed of the laser beam. An increase in the laser power from 0.8W/cm3 to 1.2W/cm3 results in a 28 °C increase in the maximum temperature of the skin tissue. It is observed that the maximum temperature predicted by the dual-phase lag model is always lower than that of the Pennes model and the temperature variations over time are sharper, while their results are entirely consistent over the simulation time. The obtained numerical results indicated that the dual-phase lag model is preferred in heating processes occurring at short intervals. Among the investigated parameters, the laser beam speed has the most considerable effect on the difference between the results of the Pennes and the dual-phase lag models.

Energy and exergy investigation of indirect solar dryer under natural and forced convection while drying muskmelon slices

• Energy-exergy analysis was performed in an indirect solar dryer without and with fans (NISD and FISD) • The average energy efficiency of drying chamber were 9.39% in NISD and 12.11% in FISD, respectively • The average exergy efficiencies of drying cabinet were found to be 45.87 and 55.73 % in both dryers • The environmental impact factor ranged from 0.2−15.51 and 0.07−7.90, in NISD and FISD, respectively. • 2E analysis concluded that FISD dryer works fine compared to NISD dryer The energy and exergy (2E) analysis were executed in the present work on indirect natural and forced convection solar dryers (NISD and FISD) and the outcomes were compared. The NISD consisted of a collector and a drying cabinet whereas, for FISD, the NISD was updated by fixing a divergent tunnel integrated with DC fans activated with PV panels at the inlet of the collector. Therefore, no commercial energy was used for both setups. The transient temperature and moisture distribution in the trays of the drying cabinet and energy efficiencies of the collector and drying cabinet were evaluated for both dryers. The exergy inflow, outflow, losses and efficiency of collector and drying cabinet and sustainability indices were examined in both dryers. The energy efficiency of collector and drying efficiency were 58.5% and 9.39% in NISD and 66.37% and 12.11% in FISD, respectively. In NISD, the exergy inflow of the collector and drying section were 409.9−1344.15 W and 2.73−96.63 W, whereas, in FISD, the same were 375.5−1344.28 W and 1.03−65.75 W, respectively. The exergy efficiencies of the drying cabinet and collector were found to be 45.87 and 3.46%, 55.73 and 2.43% in NISD and FISD, respectively. The improvement potential and environmental impact factor ranged from 0.11−29.1 W, 0.2−15.51 and 0.012−11.35 W, 0.07−7.90, in NISD and FISD, respectively. The sustainability index was increased by 60.69% and the waste exergy ratio decreased by 18.52% in FISD compared to NISD. The 2E analysis revealed that the performance was enhanced in FISD compared to NISD. Uncertainty analysis was conducted for all parameters and shown as error bars in all plots.