Experimental investigation and energy-exergy-environmental-economic analysis of modified indirect solar dual collector dryer while drying myrobalan slices

The paper presents the performance evaluation of a modified indirect solar dual collector dryer (MIS2CD) integrated with a thermal storage system for drying myrobalan slices. The design of the solar collector and solar collector with thermal storage was to supply uninterrupted thermal energy to the drying chamber during sunny and sunset hours. To evaluate the dryer performances, one lot (20 kg) of myrobalan was dried in the MIS2CD, and as a result, the thermal efficiency and energy supply period of MIS2CD increased by 12 +/- 02% and 41 +/- 1.2%, respectively. Drying characteristics of myrobalan slices in MIS2CD, TD, and OSD were studied and compared. A two-term exponential model best explains the drying kinetics of myrobalan slices dried in MIS2CD. The dried sample in MIS2CD results in lesser Delta E* values than TD and OSD methods. The highest exergy efficiency of 78.2% and lower exergy losses were recorded. The energy payback period of the MIS2CD was evaluated as 1.42 years. The CO2 emitted and CO2 reduced reduction are calculated for drying myrobalan in MIS2CD for a lifetime (20 years) of 67.85 kg and 20.65 tons, respectively. The capital cost of the solar dryer design was estimated depending on the economic considerations of the state. The drying hours were increased in MIS2CD against OSD by 59% on the annual sunny days (210 days). The sample drying period MSD and TD to reach the final moisture level of 7% was 9 h and 5 h, respectively. The total economic benefit is 22,622 INR (annually), and the 2.08 benefit-cost ratio for myrobalan dried in MIS2CD compared to TD. The MIS2CD's payback period is nearly 2.18 years, much less than the dryer's lifetime.

Automated summary

This paper presents the performance evaluation of a modified indirect solar dual collector dryer (MIS2CD) integrated with a thermal storage system for drying myrobalan slices. The findings show that the thermal efficiency and energy supply period of MIS2CD increased by 12+/-2% and 41+/-1.2%, respectively. The drying characteristics of myrobalan slices in MIS2CD were compared to TD and OSD methods, and a two-term exponential model best explains the drying kinetics in MIS2CD. The CO2 emissions and CO2 reduction for drying myrobalan in MIS2CD were calculated for a lifetime of 20 years, resulting in 67.85 kg and 20.65 tons, respectively. The economic evaluation showed a total benefit of 22,622 INR (annually) and a benefit-cost ratio of 2.08 for myrobalan dried in MIS2CD compared to TD. The payback period of MIS2CD was evaluated as 2.18 years, much less than the dryer's lifetime.