Design and Performance Evaluation of a Solar-Assisted Biomass Drying System with Thermal Storage |
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Authors: | M Augustus Leon |
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Affiliation: | Mechanical Engineering Department, Dalhousie University , Halifar, Nova Scotia |
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Abstract: | A solar biomass hybrid air heating system that does not require a conventional auxiliary heater but can still provide a daily load fraction exceeding 90% and supply hot air at a steady temperature and flow rate continuously for 24 h a day has been developed. The system, which combines an unglazed transpired solar collector, rock bed, and a biomass gasifier stove with heat exchanger, was evaluated by drying chilli using air at 60°C and 90 m3/h. The chilli was dried from 76.7% moisture (w.b.) to 8.4% over 32.5 h of continuous drying. The dryer reduced the drying time by 66% compared to open sun drying and provided 91.6% load fraction during the 24-h operation. The temperature of hot air supplied was stable at 60±3°C for about 21 h during the entire drying duration. |
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Keywords: | Air heating Biomass gasifier stove Chilli drying Hybrid drying system Unglazed solar collector |
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