Design and optimization of a domestic solar dryer: an analytical approach
ISSN: 0264-4401
Article publication date: 31 May 2024
Issue publication date: 13 June 2024
Abstract
Purpose
Food loss and wastage is an issue of global concern and the household sector is one of the biggest contributors to this. Solar drying has been explored by many eminent researchers as a solution to this problem but there have been concerns about the lack in designs, higher cost, lower performance, and consumer acceptability. The present research aims to design a small-scale domestic solar dryer by using computer software.
Design/methodology/approach
Response surface methodology (RSM) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) are used to design the domestic solar dryer. Initially, design variables (inlet and outlet vent height) are identified and a design of experiments has been created using RSM for set of experimental runs. The experimental runs suggested by RSM were carried out using CFD simulation in COMSOL Multiphysics software and the results were used for optimization of response variables (outlet velocity and drying chamber temperature) in RSM.
Findings
Outlet vent height was found to be most significantly affecting parameter to both the responses. The optimum values of inlet and outlet vent heights were 0.5 and 2.5 cm, respectively with the overall desirability of 0.728. The model accuracy was tested by conducting a confirmation test as post processing in design expert software.
Originality/value
Designing a solar dryer is a complex, costly and time consuming process, this study presents an easy, economic and fast method to design a new solar dryer. It would help researchers to design and develop new domestic as well as large size industrial solar dryer.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful to Guru Jambheshwar University of Sciences and Technology, Hisar, India and the Centre for Energy and Environment, Delhi Technological University, Delhi for providing all kind of facilities in the completion of this manuscript.
Citation
Shimpy, S., Kumar, M. and Kumar, A. (2024), "Design and optimization of a domestic solar dryer: an analytical approach", Engineering Computations, Vol. 41 No. 4, pp. 947-965. https://doi.org/10.1108/EC-12-2023-0916
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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