Performance evaluation and comparative analysis of efficient and sustainable hybrid-mode solar drying for agricultural products
摘要
In view of the post-harvest losses caused by inefficient drying, the challenge for researchers is to develop an energy-efficient system with sustainable technology, which is the need of the hour. The study is an analysis of performance and sustainability of hybrid-mode solar drying system to dry farm products. This system uses solar-heated water together with solar-heated air to achieve a controlled environment to dry the slices of the apple, wheat seeds, and curry leaves. The time of drying, the energy used, the quality of products, the exergy efficiency, and the environmental impact of the experiments were measured against an open sun drying. The results revealed that the hybrid-mode dryer reduced a significant portion of the drying periods that the drying of slices of apples, wheat seeds, and curry leaves took 6.5, 8.0, and 5.5 h respectively compared to 12.5, 15.0, and 14.0 h when they were dried in open sun, respectively. The energy use was 1.3–2.0 k Wh−1 and the specific energy consumption of 0.12–0.25 kWh kg−1. With exergy efficiency of 65–72% compared to open sun drying. Product quality was retained, specifically regarding target end moisture levels and texture scores. Despite the CO2 emissions of 0.10 and 0.15 kg per batch being observed as a result of the input of auxiliary energy, the hybrid system was more sustainable in terms of minimized spoilage and increased drying reliability. Such findings illustrate that the hybrid-mode drying of the solar technique is effective and efficient in terms of the post-harvest process, as it reduces drying time, increases product quality and increases the efficiency of thermodynamics. The suggested system has great prospects for reducing the loss of post-harvesting and improving food preservation in agriculture.