Title: Analysis of solar drying unit with phase change material storage systems

Authors: Akanksha Gupta; S.K. Shukla; A.K. Srivastava

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, B.H.U., Varanasi-221005, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, B.H.U., Varanasi-221005, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, B.H.U., Varanasi-221005, India

Abstract: In present study, a solar dryer integrated with PCM storage has been modelled for analysing the drying process to describe the characteristics of the product being dried. An equipment model describing the effect of heat and mass transfer in the material on the drying medium has also been developed. The mathematical model has been solved using MATLAB. It has been inferred that this model provides a good prediction of temperature and moisture distribution of material, and temperature and moisture distribution of the drying air along the dryer as well as with time. Also the PCM storage system integrated with solar dryer for drying of fruits and vegetable and other food products is found to be promising low cost option for preservations.

Keywords: solar drying systems; phase change materials; optimum collector temperature; air temperature; ambient temperature; PCM storage systems; mathematical modelling; heat transfer; mass transfer; moisture distribution; fruit; vegetables; food products; food preservation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJASM.2013.053804

International Journal of Agile Systems and Management, 2013 Vol.6 No.2, pp.164 - 174

Received: 17 May 2012
Accepted: 04 Nov 2012
Published online: 18 Jul 2014 *

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