The mathematical model for determination of auxiliary energy required to maintain set air temperature in the drying chamber is proposed for cabinet type solar dryer.The model is developed considering the heat exchanges across the dryer control volume with solar radiation intensity and set temperature as input. The sole purpose is to minimize the auxiliaries. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique is used to simulate the air flow inside the drying chamber for different operating conditions.The simulations results for the temperature are very close to the results from mathematical model. The dryer configuration discussed in illustrative example found to have minimum auxiliary consumption at 45 C with total auxiliary expense of 97.3 kWh per day. When applied to full calendar year, the optimum temperature is found to be function of ambient temperature and solar radiation intensity. The results obtained from mathematical model are found to be in well agreement with simulation results. The simulation results provide a region with 1.2 m to 1.6 m on Xordinate, 0.8 m to 1.0 m on Y-ordinate and 0.7 m to 1.2 m and 3.7 m to 4.3 m on Zordinate where average temperature can be sensed. It helps in modulating the auxiliary input/s in integration with solar heat.
One of the major constraints in the acceptability of solar dryer in industrial and commercial applications is lack of control on the drying process due to variable, periodic, and dilute availability of solar heat. For reliable operation, process control with auxiliaries become essential in industrial solar dryers. Integration of solar dryers with auxiliaries is also not studied substantially. This research document focuses on CFD simulation of cabinet-type solar dryer integrated with auxiliaries, which can be operated under different operating conditions. The dryer is equipped with auxiliary heaters and blowers to have precise control over the temperature inside the chamber. The simulations are carried out for drying temperature of 318 K. The results showed that as the day progresses (radiation intensity increases), the region of average temperature increases. The extent of temperature distribution also helps to locate the region of temperature around the drying temperature. Also to facilitate
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