Testing appraisal of a vertical cabinet turmeric solar dryer unified heat storage reservoir and ETC unit
摘要
In present study, a novel vertical cabinet solar dryer unified heat storage reservoir and an evacuated tube collector (VCSD-HSR-ETC) has been tested for drying 3-mm-thick turmeric slices at inlet air velocities of 0.2, 1.2 and 2.2 m s−1. The impact of varying air velocities and phase change material (Palmitic acid) on the performance parameters, such as thermal efficiency, environmental effects, drying kinetics and economic viability of the developed VCSD-HSR-ETC unit, has been investigated for drying turmeric slices. The storage material increased the drying period by approximately 18%. The VCSD-HSR-ETC setup reduced the moisture content of fresh turmeric from 82 to 5.12% (wet basis) over a drying period of 11 h. The thermal and exergetic performance of VCSD-HSR-ETC setup was better at a higher air velocity of 2.2 m s−1. The developed VCSD-HSR-ETC setup mitigates 18953.30 kg of CO2 over its entire lifespan and it has a minimum energy payback time of 3.05 years at an inlet air velocity of 2.2 m s−1. The Midilli–Kucuk model has perfectly described the drying behavior of turmeric slices. The least payback period for the VCSD-HSR-ETC setup was found to be 0.17 years at an air velocity of 0.2 m s−1.