Title: Energetic and exergetic analysis of walk-in type solar tunnel dryer for Kasuri Methi (Fenugreek) leaves drying

Authors: N.L. Panwar

Addresses: Department of Renewable Energy Engineering, College of Technology and Engineering, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur 313 001, Rajasthan, India

Abstract: This study investigated thin layer drying characteristics of Fenugreek leaves in a walk-in type of solar tunnel dryer. Fenugreek leaves were dried from a moisture content of 89% (w.b.) to 9% (w.b.) in 16 h (two days). The obtained drying data were fitted to 11 different drying kinetics models. Of these, the model suggested by Verma et al. (1985) had the best fit with the drying behaviour of Fenugreek leaves. In addition, the thermodynamic behaviour of a walk-in type solar tunnel dryer was evaluated. The energy efficiency during the study varied from 0.841% to 1.613%. The exergy inflow and exergy outflow was varying from 16.35-25.01 kJ/kg to 0.23-1.167 kJ/kg, respectively. The exergy efficiency of the drying system ranged between 0.018% and 0.102%.

Keywords: thin layer drying; Fenugreek leaves; solar tunnel dryers; exergy efficiency; energy efficiency; drying kinetics; Kasuri Methi; leaf drying; moisture content; kinetic modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2014.062926

International Journal of Exergy, 2014 Vol.14 No.4, pp.519 - 531

Received: 21 Jun 2013
Accepted: 05 Aug 2013
Published online: 02 Mar 2015 *

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