Modeling and Improving the Performance of Cabinet Solar Dryer Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

Abstract

In this study, a new approach for numerically modeling of an entire cabinet solar dryer is proposed. Collector, drying chamber and chimney are the three principle sections considered in the present modeling. The collector section containing a cover and an absorber plate is modeled applying energy and fluid flow equations to obtain temperature distribution inside the collector. Due to the non-linear behavior of the governing equations as well as variety of effective variables, an iterative method is employed for solution. Regarding the geometry complexity of the drying chamber along with the air compressibility (that in turn causes coupling of momentum and energy equations) drying chamber is simulated by CFD method. Chimney’s effect and effective parameters in suction are comprehensively considered in the present model. The numerical results are in line with experimental results which show that the model can be applied with certainty to employ the dryer for drying highly demanded and time-consuming products in a scientific, sanitary, and timely manner. The model is then optimized by adding some baffles to achieve higher efficiencies and accelerate the drying process.

Solar dryers for tropical food preservation: Thermophysics of crops, systems and components

“…Holes at its base and at upper parts of the sides allow buoyancy driven moisture removal (Tiwari and Ghosal, 2005;Chua and Chou, 2003). That can be enhanced by the addition of a chimney (Ghaffari and Mehdipour, 2015). Adequate moisture removal is essential both for the drying process and to prevent insolation transmission being reduced by moisture condensating inside the glass cover.…”

Solar dryer performance simulation: Experimental and numerical study

“…Ghaffari and Mehdipour (2015) presented a novel modeling and optimizing method for indirect natural convection solar dryers by the use of thermodynamic equations and a CFD model. It was observed that by adding a few baffles in the lower part of the drying chamber and directing hot air toward the products, efficiency was increased and drying time was decreased.…”

Computational fluid dynamics analysis of cabinet‐type solar dryer

“…Although cannot replace experiments fully, simulation by CFD proved to be a reliable optimization tool to reduce the time required by the experiments. CFD analysis can also help to understand the performance of the system under varying parameters (Amanlou & Zomorodian, 2010;Ghaffari & Mehdipour, 2015). Mirade (2003) reported the simulation results for twodimensional meat dryer to recognize air flow homogeneity over the product and inferred that ventilation cycles play an important role in drying.…”