Title: Modelling and analysis of solar dryer cum water heater through CFD and analytical methods

Authors: Subramaniam Senthilkumar; M. Natarajan; S. Duraikumar

Addresses: School of Mechanical Engineering, VIT University, Vellore, India ' School of Mechanical Engineering, VIT University, Vellore, India ' School of Mechanical Engineering, VIT University, Vellore, India

Abstract: Active utilisation of solar energy for heating and drying is need of the day for several domestic and commercial applications. Modelling and analysis of a typical solar crop dryer cum water heater has been presented in this paper. A thin layered bed solar dryer with water heater was modelled in solid works software. CFD analysis is carried out to evaluate thermal and air flow performance. A performance analysis by analytical modelling was conceded by energy balance equations for working fluids and solar dryer components. The results of analytical method and CFD analysis were associated. The optimum performance parameters of the system were arrived with varied flow rate data.

Keywords: modelling; simulation; CFD; performance analysis; solar energy; solar dryer; water heater; analytical method; energy balance; flow rate; velocity profile.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRET.2019.097012

International Journal of Renewable Energy Technology, 2019 Vol.10 No.1/2, pp.135 - 148

Received: 07 Feb 2018
Accepted: 31 Mar 2018
Published online: 14 Dec 2018 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article