Performance Evaluation of a Solar Wind-Ventilated Cabinet Dryer

Abstract

This work is an attempt to utilize the benefits of using forced convection solar dryers through the use of a rotary wind ventilator in the remote areas where electricity and other power sources are non-existent. The solar wind-ventilated cabinet dryer was designed, constructed and tested in Nigeria on latitude 7.5o N. The results obtained show that the temperatures inside the dryer and the air-heater were higher than the ambient temperature during most hours of the day-light. The drying of food items in the dryer was compared with open air drying of similar items. Comparatively, drying with the solar cabinet dryer showed better results than open air-drying. The results also revealed the dependence of the dryer performance on the proper air circulation through the system. The system efficiency increased as the air velocity through the system increased. During the period of test, the average air velocity through the solar dryer was 1.62 m/s and the average daylight efficiency of the system was 46.7%