Using a parametric study to analyse the performance of wood solar dryers with glazed walls

Abstract

Parameters characterizing wood and air were studied in order to analyze the performance of a wood solar dryer functioning under Moroccan climate. A mathematical model based on the climate data of Rabat city was used to investigate theoretically the wood drying process. Two wood speciesthuya (Tetraclinis articulate) and pine (Pinus pinaster)-were examined in the present study. The results obtained by computer simulations are in good agreement with the experimental values. Furthermore, our findings indicate that the use of a global mass transfer coefficient for low temperature convective and homogenous drying conditions allows the influence of the principal operating parameters (wood thickness, wood density, air temperature, air velocity and ventilation mode) on the drying time to be estimated with great accuracy. Analyses pertaining to the two studied wood species revealed that(1) pine dries more quickly than thuya, (2) the drying process is faster in the summer relative to other seasons, (3) increasing the air velocity by 100% results in a 20% reduction in the drying time, and (4) continued ventilation reduces the drying time by 43%.

Experimental Modelling of a Solar Dryer for Wood Fuel in Epinal (France)

“…Furthermore, apart from energy consumed for drying purposes, the amount of water to be extracted for drying of wood can also be influenced by the type of dryer and the volume of wood to be dried too. Bekkioui et al [15,16] and Bentayeb et al [11] presented a glazed solar dryer for temperate woods used in the Moroccan climate with a satisfactory performance for a small quantity of wood. However, the results obtained with the same dryer when deployed for long drying period with a large volume of wood in the industrial application was not satisfactory.…”

Performance analysis of direct solar dryer driven by photovoltaic thermal energy recovery and solar air collector for drying materials and electricity generation

“…Classification of solar energy applications into two main types: (1) electrical technologies (photovoltaic [PV]) that convert direct radiation into electricity and (2) solar thermal energy technologies and have many applications, such as solar dryers, solar water heaters, solar air heaters, and energy desalination. In the current period, solar dryers have spread and been introduced in many developing countries worldwide 2–5 . Solar dryers on top of everything else condense the danger of microbial spoilage extent public relations the quality of the final dried product.…”

“…In the current period, solar dryers have spread and been introduced in many developing countries worldwide. [2][3][4][5] Solar dryers on top of everything else condense the danger of microbial spoilage extent public relations the quality of the final dried product.…”