Parametric analysis of a sensible heat storage unit in an indirect solar dryer using computational fluid dynamics

The non-continuity of the drying process after sunset is one of the most significant limitations with solar dryers that has an impact on product quality and drying time. To overcome this problem, we installed a Thermal Energy Storage (TES) unit in an indirect solar dryer. Given the economic advantages offered by Sensible Heat Storage (SHS) systems and their availability, they are the best option to consider in a drying application. In this paper, we investigated a SHS unit integrated within a solar dryer under real meteorological conditions in eastern Morocco. The solar dryer with a storage system was simulated using the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approach, which was validated using experimental data from the literature. The research is mainly focused on the amount of material required, the proper porosity of the packed bed, and the overall performance of the solar dryer for various types of SHS materials. The obtained results proved that when compared to the case without storage, the efficiency of the solar dryer with sensible heat storage increased by about 2.47% at night. Regarding the study of different materials, granite stones showed better performance with a porosity of 40% and a packed bed thickness of 15 cm, where the temperature differences between the two cases with and without storage reached almost 5 at night.

Automated summary

The non-continuity of the drying process after sunset is a significant limitation in solar dryers. To overcome this, a Thermal Energy Storage (TES) unit was installed in an indirect solar dryer in eastern Morocco. With the use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations, the study showed that the solar dryer with sensible heat storage improved efficiency by approximately 2.47% at night.