Experimental Study of a New Mixed Solar Dryer Design Case Study: Tomato Drying

In this work we have presented the different stages of the realization and experimentation of a mixed solar dryer developed by the research group of the Solar Energy and Environment Laboratory, as well as the different components that constitute our dryer, and the ways followed to examine its functioning. Through this type of dryer, we can directly exploit the solar radiation to dry wood or bricks and at the same time take advantage of the surplus of radiation converted into heat to indirectly dry food, preserving its nutritional values. This will lead to the development of this type of solar dryer. The experimental study results shows that the subject of tomato lost 92% of their initial mass and especially the subjects placed in the first rack since they undergo at the maximum temperature of drying, so they are favourable to dry faster compared to the other subjects placed in the second rack.